The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-10-07

Gle Joseph had an unpleasant reputa-
ton as Joker.
The nephew desperately fell back
upon the hopeless device Of attempt
ing to drown out his opponents voice
as she began to reply. He became
vociferous with scornful laughter bad
ly cracked in the scorn. FLORENCE
got mad! !" he shouted, mingling the
purported information with loud cack-
lings. "She got mad because I and
Henry played games with Patty She's
tryin' to make up somep'm to get even.
She made it up! It's all made upl
She"
"No, no." Mr.. Atwater interrupted.
LET Florence tell us. Florence, what
was 1t about Herbert knowing he had
pretty eyes?"
Herbert attempted to continue the
drowning out. He bawled, "She made
1t up! It's somep'm she made up
herself She
Herbert" said ~ncle Joseph-ff
you don't keep quiet, I'll take back
the printing press"
Herbert substituted another gulp
for continuation Of his noise.
"Now, Florence" said Uncle Joseph,
"tell us what you were saying about
how Herbert knows he had such pref
ty eyes"
Then it seemed a miracle befell.
Florence looked up, smiling modestly.
"Oh, it wasn't anything, Uncle Jo-
seph," she said. II was just trying
to tease Herbert any way I could
think up"
ooh, was that ALP" A hopeful light
faded out Of Uncle Joseph's large
and inexpensive face. II thought
perhaps you'd detected him in some
indiscretiOn."
Florence laughed, II was just
teasin' him. It wasn't anything, Uncle
Joseph"
Hereupon, Herbert resumed a con-
fused breathing. Dazed he remained
uneasy, profoundly so; and gratitude
was no part Of his emotion. He well
understood that Florence was never
susceptible to impulses of compassion
in conflicts such as these; In fact, II
there was warfare between them, ex-
perience had taught him to be wariest
when she seemed kndest. He moved
away from her, and went into another
room where his condition was one Of
increasing mental discomfort, though
l. ,>So
in his great-uncle's copy Of paradise
Lost" These Illustrations, by NJ Gus
tave Dore, failed to aid in reassuring
his troubled mind.
When Florence left. he impulsively
accompanied her, maintaining nerv-
-ous silence as they compasse1 the
short distance between Uncle Joseph's
front gate and her own. There, how
ever, he spoke.
"Look here! You don't hat to go
and believe everything that ole girl
old you do your
"No." said Florence heartily. II
ont hat to-"
"Well, look here" he urged, help
oss but to repeat. you don't hat to
believe whatever it was she went and
told you. do your"
"What was it you think she told
me, Herbert?"
"All that guff-you know Well
whatever 1t was you said she told
you"
II didn't" said Florence. 81 didn't
say she told me anything at ALL"
"Well. she did, didn't she?"
"'Why, no." Florence replied. light
ly "She didn't say anything to me.
Only I'm glad to have your opinion
Of her. how she's such story-teller
and all-if l ever want to tell her,
and everything!"
But Herbert had greater alarms than
this. and the greater obscured the
lesser. Look here" he said. "if she
didn't tell you, how'd you know II
thenY
How'd l know what?'
''That-that big story ~ - -
sayin' knew had"-hc "r
"pretty eyes"
"Oh, about that!" Florence said, ara
swung the gate shut between t,.p,n