Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-02-09

| pOse 50. An-yOu don't thlnk--oa
course she hasn't had anything at all
to do with this9"
"Well, don't see how she could.
You know Aunt Fanny told us how
Herbert declared before them all, only
last Sunday night, that Florence
should never have one thing to do with
his printing-press, and said they
wouldn't even let her come near it."
Yes, that's a fact. I'm glad Her
bert made it so clear that she can't be
/ implicated. 1 suppose the family are
all pretty well down on Uncle Jo-
seph?"
Uncle Joseph is being greatly
blamed" said Mrs. Atwater primIy.
He really ought to have known better
than to put such an instrument into
the hands of boy of that age. OF
course it simply encouraged him to
print all kinds Of things. We none Of
us think Uncle Joseph ever dreamed
that Herbert would publish anything
like this, and of course Uncle Joseph
says himself he never dreamed such
thing; he's said so time and time
again, all afternoon. But of course
he's greatly blamed"
Il suppose there've been quite
good many of em over there blaming
him? her husband inquired.
"Yes-until he telephoned to a
garage and hired a car and went for
drive. He said he had plenty Of
money with him and didn't know when
he'd be back"
Serves him right" said Mr.. Atwa-
ter. Does anybody know where
Herbert is?"
"Not yet"
We'll" and he returned to a for
mer theme. 81 am glad we aren't i'm
plicated. Florence is right there with
you, is she?"
YES" she said. "She's right here,
reading. You aren't worried about
her, are your" she added.
"Oh, no; I'm sure it's all right.
only thought"
"Only thought what?'
well, it did strike me as curious"
said Mr.. Atwater; Especially after
Aunt Fanny's telling us how Herbert
declared Florence could never have
single thing to do with his paper
again"
"Well?"
"Well, here's her poem right at the
top of it, and a very friendly item
about her history mark Of last June.
1t doesn't seem like Herbert to be so
complimentary to Florence, all of a
sudden. Just struck me as rather GU
riOus; that's ALL"
"Why, yes" said Mrs. Atwater, sit
does seem a little odd-when you
think Of it,"
"Have you asked Florence if she
had anything to do with getting out
this weeks Oriole?"
"Why, no; it never occurred to me,
especially after what Aunt Fanny told
u.s." said Mrs. Atwater. "Tn ask her
now"
But she was obliged to postpone the
intended question. Sesame and
Lilies" lay sweetly in the chair that
Florence had occupied, but Florence
herself had gone somewhere else.
She had gone for a long, long ram
BILE; and pedestrians who encountered
her, and took note of her expression,
were interested; and, as they went on
their way, several of them interrupted
the course of their meditations to say
to themselves that she was the most
thOughtful-lOOking young girl they had
ever seen. There was a touch of visit
fulness about her, too; as of one
whose benevolence must renounce all
hope of comprehension and reward.
Florence, in fact, had about reached
the conclusion that far from the likeli-
hood of her receiving praise for her
thoughtful circulation Of the news
concerning her aunt Julia, there was
a strong probability that dire results,
wOrdy and otherwise, would ensue.
Hence her extreme thoughtfulness.
Among those who observed her un-
usual expression was a gentleman Of
great dimensions disposed in a closed
automobile that labOred through mud
holes in an unpaved outskirt Of the
town. He raped upon the glass in
front of him, to get the drivers atten-
ton, and a moment later the car
drew up beside Florence, as she stood
in deep reverie at the intersection Of
two roads.
Uncle Joseph opened the door and
took his cigar from his mouth. "Get
in, Florence" he said. "I'll take you
for a ride" She started violently
whereupOn ne restored the cigar to
his mouth, puffed upon it, breathing
heavily the while, as was his wont
and added: "Tm not going home. I'm
out for q nice long ride. Get in"
(To BE CONTINUED)