The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-01-19

cause ] knew somebody ought TO see
that this stable isn't ruined. It's my
own uncle and aunt's stable, and ]
got ms much right here as anybody"
"You have not 7" Henry Rooter pro-
tested hotly. This isn't, either, your
ole aunt and uncle's stable"
at isn't"
"No, II is not! This isn't anybody's
stable. It's my and Herbert's news
paper building, and ! guess you
haven't got the face TO stand there
and claim you got a right to go In a
newspaper building and say you got
a right there when everybody tells
you to stay outside of it, l guess!"
"Oh, haven't II"
mo. you haven't-Ii" Mr.. Rooter
maintained bitterly. "You just walk
downtown and go in one of the lews-
paper buildings down there and tell
EN- you got a right TO stay there all
day long when they tell you to get out
q there! Just try It'll That's all j
askr'
Florence uttered q cry or derision.
"And pray, whoever told you ! was
bound to do everything you ask me to,
Mister Henry ROOter?' And she con-
cluded by reverting to hat hostile
impulse. so ancient, which in despair
of touching an antagonist effectively,
reflects upon his ancestors. IF you
got anything you want to ask, you go
ask your grandmother"
Here :" Herbert sprang to his feet,
outraged. you try and behave like
a lady,"
who'll make me?' she inquired.
"You got TO behave like a lady as
long as you're in our newspaper build
ing, anyway" Herbert said o%minously.
IF you expect to come up here after
you been told five dozen times to
keep out" .
For heavens sakes! J" his partner
interposed. "When we go'n' to get
our newspaper work done? She's your
cousin; l should think you could get
her out !"
''WeIl, I'm goin' to. amt II" Her
bert protested plaintively. 81 expect to
get neT out, uOn !! .
"Oh, you dor" Miss Atwater in
quired, with severe mockery. pray,
how do you expect to accomplish it,
pray?"
Herbert looked desperate, but was
unable to form a RI ply consistent with
some rules Of etiquette and gallantry
which he had begun to observe during
the past year or 50. Now, see here,
Florence" he SAID. You're old
enough to know when people tell you
to keep out of a place, why, it means
they want you to stay away from
there"
Florence remained cold TO this rea-
sOning. "Oh, pOot ~ she said.
"NOw, look here ~ her cousin re-
mo]nstrated, and went on with his ar
gument. "WergOt our newspaper work
TO DO, and you ought TO have sense
enough to know newspaper work like
this newspaper work we got on our
hands here isat-well, it amt any
child's play"
His partner appeared to approve Of
the expression, for he nodded severely
and then used ii himself. mo, you
bet it isn't any child's play !" he said.
mo, sir" Henry ROOter again
agreed. Newspaper work like this
isn't any child's play at all"
at isn't any child's play, Florence"
said Herbert. ut slct any child's
play at all, Florence. If it was just
chlId's play or something like that,
why it wouldn't matter so much your
always pOkin' up here, and"
"Well," the partner interrupted, ju-
diciaIly, awe wouldn't want her
around, even if it was child's play"
mo, we wouldn't; that's So" Her
bert agreed.
1--WE wouldn't want you around, any
how, Florence" Here his tone be-
came more ~plaintive. $50, for mercy's
sakes, can't you go o home and give
us a little rest? What you want, any
how?'
well, | guess it's about time you
was askin' me that" she said, not I'M
reasonably. IF you'd asked me thar
in the first place, instead of actin like
you'd never been taught anything, and
was only fit to associate with hood
lums, perhaps my time is of some
value, myself"
The lack of rhetorical cohesion was
largely counteracted by the strong
expressiveness of tone and manner; at
all events, Florence made perfectly
clear her position as a person of
worth, dealing with the lowest of all
her interiors. She went on, not paus-
ing:
II thought, being as l was related to
you, and all the family and everybody
else goin' to hat to read your ole
newspaper, anyway it'd be a good
thing if what was printed in 1t wasn't
all a disgrace to the family, because
the name of u famlly's got mixed up
with this newspaper; so here"
Thus speaking, she took the poem
from her pocket and with dignity
held 1t forth to her cousin.
Whats that?" Herbert inquired, not
moving a hand. He was but On anna
teur, yet already enough of an editor
TO have his SuSuicionS