Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-12-22

him from the doorway, half an hour
later; and he followed her to the din
ing-room ut isn't much of dinner,
Noble she said little TREMENDOUSLY be-
ing for once Though strictly as cook)
genuinely apologetic-but the scram-
bled eggs, cold lamb, salad and cof-
fee were quite as 'smuch of dinner"
as Noble wanted To him everything
on the table was hallowed, yet shred
ded through and through with an ex-
circulating melancholy.
Now Wen talk !" said Julia, when
she had brought him back to the fire
again, and they were seated before 1t.
Don't you want to smoker" He
shook his head dismally, having no
heart for what she proposed "Well,
then" she said briskly, but little rue
fully, 'let's get to the bottom Of things.
Just what did you mean you had in
black and white in your pockets"
Slowly Noble drew forth the his
torlc copy of the North End Daily Or
iole; and with face averted, placed 1t
In her extended hand.
what All TIC WOtiu. SiC
unfolding it; and then as its title and
statement of ownership came into
view, "Oh, yes l see Aunt Carrie
wrote me that Uncle Joseph had given
Herbert printing press. | suppose
Herbert's the editor?"
"And that Rooter boy" Noble said
sadly. 81 think maybe your little niece,
Florence, has something to do with it,
too"
something TO do with 1t? She
usually has all TO do with anything she
gets hold of! But what's 1t got to do
with meT'
you'll seel" he prophesied accu-
rately.
She began to read, laughing at some
of the items as she went along; then
she suddenly became rigid, holding the
small journal before her in trans
fixed hand.
.Oh y she cried. "Oh, OIL"
"That's-thats what meant"
Noble explained.
Julia's eyes grew dangerous. "The
little fiends I" she cried. ooh, really.
this is long suffering family, but It's
! time these outrages Were stoppedr'
She jumped up. isn't it frightful?"
! she demanded of Noble.
Yes, it is" he said, with dismal
fervor. Nobody knows that better
! than do, .Julia!"
81 mean this!" she cried, extending
the Ori0e toward him with fine
! sweep of gesture. 81 mean this dread
| full story about poor Mr.. Crum -
''But it's true, though" he said.
"That's what hurts me, Julia!'
.Noble Dilll'
"Julia I"
! do you dare to say you believed
| it?"
He sprang up. ut isn't true?"
"Not one word of it! ! told you
MIR. Crum is only twenty-six. He's
4 not been out of college more than
three or four years, and it's the most
terrible SANDER to say he's ever been
married at ALI"
Noble dropped back into his chair of
misery. Il thought sou meant it
wasn't true
I've just told you there isn't one
word of tr--'
"But you're-engaged--to him."
Noble gulped. you're engaged to
him, Julia.'
She appeared not to hear him. II
suppose 1t can be lived down." she
said. ITO think of Uncle Joseph put
ting such thing into the hands of
those awful children !"
But. Julia. you are eng"
Noble !" she said sharply.
swell, you are eng"
Julia drew herself up. Different
| people mean different things by that
word" she said with severity, like an
| annoyed instructress. "There are any
number of shades of meaning to
words; and IL l used the word you
mention i'm writing home to the family
| l may have used certain shade and
they may have thought intended an
other"
: "But, Julia"
SAuln 10 a young
man, she continued, with the same
primness. II liked him very much.
liked him very much indeed. liked
him very. very much. liked him
very"
II understand" he interrupted.
Don't say ii any more. julia"
'.No; you don't understand. At first
I liked him very inuch--in fact still
do, of course-Pm sure he's one Of the
best and most attractive young men in
the world. think he's a man any girl
ought to be happy with. If he were
only to be considered by himself I
don't deny that / liked him very much
indeed, and dou't deny that for. sew
eral days after he after he proposed
to mel don't deny / thought some
thing serious might possibly come Of
It. But at that time. Noble, hadn't
hadn't really thought of what II meant
to give On living here at home, with all
/ a. - a.. n 1T a.