The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-02-23

y 49, hN~
"Why, how could she get out of it,
His wife smiled pltyingly. "She
hasn't set a time for coming home,
has she? Don't you know enough of
Julia's ways to know she'll never in
the world stand up TO the music2 She
writes that all the family car, be told,
because she knows the news will leak
gu here and there, in confidence, lit
tie by little; so by the time she gets
home they'll all have been through
their first spasms, and after that she
hopes they'll just send her some for
giving flowers and greet her with
manly handclasps-and get ready to
usher at the wedding"
"WeI." said Mr.. Atwater, "Tm
afraid you're right. 1t does seem
rather like Julia TO stay away till the
first of the worst is over. I'm really
sorry for some of her lo]ve-lorners.
| suppose it will get whispered about,
and they'll hear it and there are
some of the poor things that might
take IL pretty hard"
Take II pretty hard!" she echoed
loudly. There's one of fem, at least,
who viii just merely lose his reasonP"
(Which oneT"
"Noble Dill"
At this, the slender form of Flor
enc underwent a spasmodic seizure,
in Ter chair, but as the fit was short,
and also ~noiseless, ii passed without
being noticed.
Yes" said Mr.. Atwater, thought
fully. ~ suppose he will."
He certainly will" Mrs. Atwater
declared. Mobiles mother told me
last week that he'd gotten so he
was just as liable TO drop a fountain
pen in his coffee as a lump Of sugar;
and when any n speaks TO him he
either doesn't know 1t, or else jumps.
When he says anything, himself, she
says they can scarcely ever make out
what he's talking about. He was try
ing enough before Julia went. away /;
but since she's been gone Mrs. Dill
says he's like nothing in her expert
ence She says he doesn't inherit II
Mr.. Dill wasn't. anything like this
about her"
Mr.. Atwater smiled family. Mrs.
Dill wasn't anything like julia"
No" said his wife. "She was
4 quite a sensible girl I'd hate to be
in her place, now. though, when she
tells Noble about thisr
-How can Mrs. Dill tell him, since
she doesn't know II herself?"
"Well-perhaps she ought 70 know
il. so that she could tell him. Some
body ought to tell him. and 1t ought
TO he done with the greatest tact. II
wight TO he Broken to him with the
most delicate care and sympathy, or
the consequences"
"NohOdy could foretell the onse-
%quences," her husband Interrupted
no matter how tactfully it's broken
TO Noble"
mo-" she said. II suppose THAT'S
true. | think he's likely TO lose his
reason unless 1t is done very tactful-
ly, though"
"Do you think we really ought TO
tell Mrs. DIN. Mollie7 I mean, seri-
ously: Do your"
For some moments she considered
his question then answered, "No. It's
possible we'd be following a Christian
course In doing II hut still we're rath-
err hound not to speak OF II outside the
family. and when II does get outside
the family I think we'd better not be
the ones responsible-especially since
II might easily be traced ito ms. T
think it's usually better TO keep out
Of things when there's any doubt"
Eyes" he said, meditating. II new
er knew any harm to come or peoples
sticking TO their own affairs"
But as he and his wife became ST.
lent for n time. musing I'm the fire.
light. their daughters special convic-
lions we're far from c~olnciding with
theirs, although she. likewise. was S.
Ient-a strangeness in her which they
should have observed. But so far
were they from a true comprehension
Of her. they were unaware that she
had more than q casual.
sinly interest In Julia Atwater's en-
gagement and In those possible con-
sequences 10 Noble Dill, which they
had sketched with some intentional
exaggeration, and decidedly without
the staggering seriousness attributed
to their predictions by their daughter.
They did not wen notice her exnres-
sion when Mr.. Atwater snapped on
the light. In order 10 read. and she
went quietly ont of the library and up
10 her W room.
On the floor. ear her bed. where
Patty F%airchild had left her coat and
hat. Florence made her second dis
covery. Two small. folded slips OF
paner lay there. drrvped by Miss Fair
child when she pun on her coat In the
darkening They were the re-