The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-01-13
|.O6e
ORIOLE

take quite IL iOI y tliilc ana ~ =
with the rest of the paper, he" !
had to write every single word c r
else let Henry and Herbert IT,, -,
and course they'd just of ruined it.
Oh, IT isn't so much to talk about |
guess: it just ort of comes to me to
edo things that way"
Like so many other young unearthed
rehearsals, this one vas 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 G%reat-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 Ats at
least. so Florence would have de-
scribed their gestures and incOheren-
cies of comment. And straight into such
/ a firful scene did the luckless 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 1t
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. Aud Henry ROOter
had the wisdom (and experience) Of
thirteen.
"You better not" he said, wisely.
Honest, you better not, Herbert!
well. we got apple dumplings for
dinner" Herbert said, his tone show
ing the strain Of mental uncertainty.
Eliza told me this morning we were
gOin' to have 'em. l kind of hate to
CO. but I-guess l better, Henry"
.You won't wee any apple dump
lings," Henry predicted.
well. l believe l better try 1t,
Henry"
You better come home with me.
My father and mOtherll be perfectly
willing to have you"
4 know fiSat,'' said Herbert. ''But
l guess ! better go home and try It,
anyhow. Henry. l didn't have any
thing to do with what's in the Oriole.
It's every last word ole FiOrence's do
ing l haven't got any more right to
be picked on for that than a child"
"Yes.' Henry admitted. But IL you
60 and retl EN- SO. l bet she'd get even
with you some way that would prob
ably get me in trouble, too, before we
got through with the job. I wouldn't
tell 'em II | was you, HERBERT"
well, 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. II 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 m e particularly
~
Nor me. either" his friend inter
posed hurriedly. Il don't worry about
anything like that! Still, If l was you
l wouldn't tell. She's only q girl, we
got to remember"
Yes" said Herbert. That's the
way l look at 1t, Henry and the way
| look at 1t ia just simply this: long
as she's a girl, why. simply let her 60.
You can't tell what she'd do, and 50
what's the use to 60 and tell on .
grip
That's the way I look at it." Henry
agreed. whats the use? If / was
in your place, I'd act just the sans
way you do"
.Well,' said Herbert. II guess l
better 60 on home. Henry. It's a
good while after dark"
You're maxim q big mIstake!"
Henry Rooter called after him. "You
won't see any apple dnmplings, l bet
a hundred dollars! YOH better come
on home with me-"
And Herbert no more than half
HuVpened his front door before he per-
ceived that his friends advice had
1ee1 excellent. So clearly Herbert
perceived this. that he impulsively de-
cidcd not to open the door any far
ther, Int on the contrary to close It,
and ret1re; and he would have done
so, hade9not 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.
1t really seemed that to many per-
sons who were gathered there, appar-
emily in important consultation. his
| a-ppearanee was distinctly welcome.
His own Feelings were in nowise
mixed. They were distinctly appre-
hensive, and the vOlley OF mingled