The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-01-13
N6e
O|RIOLE

had to write every single word { +
else let Henry and Herbert r., -,
and course they'd just of ruined it.
Oh, 1t isn't SO much to talk about l
guess it just sort of IN to me to
bsdo things that way"
Like so many other young unearthcd
rehearsals, this one was never to be
| played for an audience. Adults are I'M
| dependable. Thirteen attempts to eX-
ercise a great philanthropy, and every
grown person in sight, with the pos
sible exception Of Great-uncle Joseph,
goes into wholly unanticipated fits Of
horror. Cause and effect have no re-
lation: Fate operates without reason
able sequence--like a monkey.
And while Florence, thus pensively
disturbed, sat beside fat Uncle Joseph
during their long, long drive, relatives
of hers were indeed going into fits at
least. so Florence would have de.
scribed their gestures and %incoheren-
cies Of comment. And straight into such
a fitfhl cen did the lnckless Herbert
walk when driven home. after the
movies, BY thoughts OF food. at about
six that evening. Henry Rooter had
strongly advised him against return
ing.
1t may reasonably be felt that it
required no particular gift OF prophecy
to hazard the prediction that in all
probability q most unpleasant form of
inquisition awaited Herbert on his re-
turn to his home. And Henry R0oter
had the wisdom (and experience) Of
thirteen.
you better not he said, wisely.
Honest, you better not. Herbert!
We'll, we got apple dumplings for
dinner" Herbert said, his tone show
ing the strain OF mental uncertainty.
Eliza told me this morning VIZ were
goin' to have 'em. l kind Of hate to
CO. but I-guess l better, Henry"
you won't see any apple dump
lings,," Henry predicted.
well, l believe l better try it.
Henry"
You better come home with me.
My father and motherll be perfectly
willing to have you"
4 know tlnt,,' said Herbert. 'But
| guess l better 60 home and try 1t,
anyhow. Henry. / didn't have any
thing to do with what's in the Oriole.
It's every last word ole Florence's do-
Ing. | haven't got any more right to
be picked on for that than a child"
YES" Henry admitted. But IL you
go and rell 'em 80. | bet she'd get wen
with you some way that would prob
ably get me in trouble, too, before we
got through with the job. l wouldn't
tell EN- II l was you, Herbert! !"
swell, l wasn't intending to-" Her.
bert responded gloomily; and the
thought of each, unknown to the other,
was the same, consisting Of a symbolic
likeness OF Wallie Torbin at his
worst. Il ought to tell on Florence;
by rights l ought" said Herbert ; "but
I've decided l won't. There's no tellin'
what she wouldn't do. Not that. she
could do anything to me, particularly
~
Nor me, either" his friend inter-
lHJSNA IuA i uOu I HOIIv dUOul
anything like that! Still, If l was you
4 wouldn't tell. She's only a girl, We
got to remember"
Yes said Herbert. That's the
way l look at 1t, Henry and the way
l look at 1t is just simply this: long
as she's a girl, why. simply let her 30.
You can't tell what she'd do. and SO
what's the use to go and tell on
girl?"
That's the way I look at it." Henry
agreed. whats the use? If l wa
in your place, I'd act just the sans
way o do"
"Well.' said Herbert. II guess l
better go on home. Henry. It's a
good while after dark"
You're maxim a big mlstake!"
Henry Rooter called after him. you
won't e any apple dnmplings. | bet
a hundred dollars! You better come
on home with me-"
And Herbert no nor than half
1lsened his front door before he per-
ceived that his friends advice had
CACCllCllts 6O GlCdAly 1CIDCA
perceived this. that he impulsively de-
cided not to open the door any far
ther, <nt on the contrary to close 1t,
and reure; and he would have done
so, hadehot his mother reached forth
and detained him. She was, in fact,
just inside that door, in the hall with
one OF his great-aunts, n Of his
aunts, two aunts-by-marriage, and an
elderly unmarried cousin, who were
all just on the point Of leaving. How
ever, they changed their minds and
decided to remain, now that Herbert
was among them.
It really seemed that to many per-
sons who were gathered there, appar-
entity IN important consultation. his
appearanee was distinctly welcome.
His own yfselings were In nowise
mixed. They were distinctly appre-
-AA GAXE