Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-01-07

And that Rooter boy" Noble SAID
sadly. II think maybe your little niece
Florence, has something TO do with II,
too"
Something to DO with 1t? She
usually has all to do with anything she
gets hold of But what's 1t got to do
with ma?'
you'll see r he ~prophesled 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 meant"
Noble explained,
Julia's eyes grew dangerous. "The
little tiendsr she cried. oh, really,
this is a long suffering family, but it's
time these outrages were stopped"
She jumped up. Isn't 1t frightful?"
she demanded Of Noble.
Eyes, ii is" he said, with O dismal
feryor. Nobody knows that better
than / do, Jullar"
~ mean thisl' she cried, extending
the Oriole toward him with a fine
sweep OF gesture. II mean this dread
full story about poor Mr.. CrumW
"But it's true. though" he said.
THAT'S what hurts me, Julia"
"Noble Dillp
"Julia |"
do you dare to say you believed
it2s
He sprang up. at isn't true?
mot one word Of It'll ] told you
Mr.. Crum is only t%wenty-slx. He's
not been out Of college more than
three or four years, and It's the most
terrible SANDER to say he's ever been
married at all! !"
Noble dropped back into his chair of
misery. ~ thought you meant 1t
wasn't true"
i've just told you there isn't one
word Of tr--"
"But you're-engaged-toA him.
NDDlt SuipSh. NpENSSN ~
him, Julia y
She appeared not to hear him. u
suppose it can be lived down." she
said. ITO think of Uncle Joseph put
ting such q thing into the hands OF
those awful children |" ~
But, julia, You are eng"
mobile !" she said sharply.
well, you are eng
Julia drew herself up. DIFFERENT
people mean different things by that
word" she said with severity, like an
annoyed l%nstructress. There ark aus
number of shades Of meaning te
words; and If | used the word you
mention in writing home TO the FAMILY
| may have used n certain shade and
they may have thought l intended an.
other"
"But, julia"
mfr. Crum is n charming young
man." she continued, with the same
primness. 81 liked him very much. |
liked him very much indeed. | liked
him very, very much. l liked him
very"
Il understand" he interrupted.
Don't say II any more, julia"
No; you don't understand. At first
| liked him very much--in fact / still
do, Of course-I'm sure he's one of the
best and most attractive young men In
the world. | think he's a man any girl
ought to be happy with, II he were
only to be considered by himself. /
don't deny that ! liked him very much
indeed, and don't deny that for sew
eral days after heater he proposed
TO mel don't deny | thought some
thing serious might possibly come Of
II. But at that time, Noble, ! hadn't
hadn't really thought Of what II meant
to give up living here at home, with all
the family and everything-and friends
friends like you, Noble. hadn't
thought what II would mean TO me to
give all this up And besides, there
was something very important. At the
time / wrote that lettas mentioning
poor Mr.. Crum TO the family, Noble, |
hadn't-I hadn't" She paused, In
some distress. II hadn't"
"You hadn't whatY' he cried.
81 hadn't met his mothert -
Noble leaped to his feet. "Julla I!
You aren't--you aren't ~engaged?"
II am not" she answered decislvely.
III ! ever was. In the slightest, | GER
tainly am not now"
Poor Noble was TRANSPORTED. He
struggled; making half-forned ges-
lures, speaking balf-made words.
"Julia-Julia--" He choked: Julia,
promise me somethlng7 Julia-prom-
Use to promise me something"
Il WILL" she said quickly. what do
you want me TO dor
give me your word" he said, stiu
radiantly struggling. "Give me your
word-your word and sacred promise,
Julia-you'l never be engaged to any
body at air.
AT six minutes after four o'clock OF
the second afternoon following Julla's
return, Noble. Dill. closed his own gate
behind him as heeset forth upon the
four-minute. walk that would bring him
to JuLia's. He wore a bit OF Indoor
geranium in the buttoDhole of his new