Sioux County pioneer., 1922-04-13

"SAUeAI pIAHllH6 pTSSSs vi buQpOSe
Herbert's the editor?''
"And that Rooter boy" Noble said
sadly. Il think maybe your little niece.
Florence, has something to do with it,
too" i
Something to do with 1T She
usually has all to do with anything she
gets hold OIL But what's 1t got to do
with me?'
you'll see!" 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 a trans
fixed hand.
"Oh!" she cried. "Oh, OH"
'"That's-that's what-I meant"
Noble explained.
Julia's eyes grew dangerous. "The
little tiends!" she cried. 'Oh, really,
this is a lopg-suffering family, but it's
time these outrages were stoppedl"
She jumped up. l"Isn't it frightful?"
she demanded Of Noble.
Eyes, it is" he said, with dismal
feryor. "Nobody knows that better
than do, Julia!"
II mean thisl" she cried, extending
the Oriole toward him with fine
sweep Of gesture. II mean this dread
full story about poor Mr.. Crum!"
but it's true, though" he said.
THAT'S what hurts me, Julia"
"Noble DillP
"Julia!"
:'Do you dare to say you believed
it7"
g He sprang up. "It isn't true?"
"Not one word Of it! told you
Mr.. Crum is only twenty-six. He's
not been out Of college more than
three or four years, and It's the most
terrible slander to say he's ever been
married at all!
Noble dropped back into his chair Of
misery. II thought you meant it
wasn't true"
"rve just t,ld you there isn't one
word of tr-''
But you're engaged to him."
Noble gnlped. you're engaged to
him, Julia T."
She appeared not to hear him. II
suppose it can be lived down." she
said. '"ro think Of Uncle Joseph put
ting such thing into the hands Of
those awful children!"
"But, julia, you are eng"
"Noble !" she said sharply.
"Well, you are eng" M
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 If used the word you
mention in writing home to the family.
may have used certain shade and
they may have thought l intended an
other"
"But, Julia" 4
"Mr. Crum Is a charming young
man." she continued, with the same
primness. II liked him very much. /
liked him very much indeed 1 liked
him very, very much. liked him
very"
UNNECESSARILY, ue interrupted,
"Don't say it any more, Julia"
mo; you don't understand. At first
liked him very much-in fact I still
do, Of course I'm sure he's one of the
best and most attractive young men in
the world. 1 think he's man any girl
ought to be happy with. If he were
only to be considered by himself. /
don't deny that I liked him very much
indeed, and don'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, Ishadn't-
hadn't really thought of what It meant
to give up living here at home, with all
the family and everything and friends
friends like you, Noble. hadn't
thought what 1t would mean. to me to
give all this up. And besides, there
was something very important. At the
time wrote that letter mentioning
poor Mr.. Crum to the family, Noble. /
hadn't hadn't" She paused, In
some distress. II hadn't
You hadn't what?" he cried. \
II hadn't met his mother!'
Noble leaped to his feet. Julia |
You aren't you aren't engaged?"
II am not" she answered decisively.
IT I ever was, in the slightest, 1 GER
tainly am not now. :ss ss3,
Poor Noble was transhgured. He
struggled !; making half-formed ges-
lures, speaking half-made words. #
Julia Julia ~" He choked,: "Julia,
promise me something7 Julia prom
ise to promise me something
Il will" she said quickly. '.What do
you want me to do q al
Give me your word" he said, still
radiantly struggling. Give me your
word your word ard sacred promise.
Julia you'll never be engaged to any
body at all l,l5 Z
At six minutes after four O'Clock sof
the second afternoon following Julia's
return, Noble Dill closed his own gate
behind him as he set forth upon the
j! four minute. walk that would bring him
Sosc