The Southern herald., 1922-01-06

idht Qulle lOl llllt anu llVuD''
with the rest Of the paper, because |
had to write every single word of it, or
else let Henry and Herbert try to,
and course they'd just Of ruined 1t.
Oh, it isn't so much to talk about J
guess; it just sort of comes to me to
do things that way"
Like 50 many other young unParthed
rehearsaIs, this one was never to be
played for an audience. Adults are un-
dependable. Thirteen attempts to eX
crcise Il great philanthropy, and every
grown person in sight, with the pos.
sible exception of Grpat-uncle Joseph
goes into wholly unanticipated fits OF
horror. Cause and effect have no re,
alton Fate operates without reason
able seduence-likp 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 fits; al
least. so Florence would have de-
scribed their gestures and incohrren
cies Of comment. And straight into such
titful 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 a most unpleasant form of
inqusitiOn awaited Herbert on his re-
turn to his home. And Henry Rooter
had the wisdom (and experience) Of
thirteen
"You better not" he said, wisely.
Honest, you better not, Herbert!
"WeIl we got apple dumpIings for
dinner" Herbert said his tone show
ing the strain Of mental uncertainty
Eliza told me this morning we were
goln' to have 'em. kind Of hate to
| 90, but guess better, Henry"
"Iou won't see any apple dump.
IlngS," Henry predicted
"Well, believe l better try 1t,
Henry"
You better come home with me.
My father and mOtherll be perfectly
willing to have you
~ know that" said Herbert. "But
| guess | better 90 home and try it,
anyhow, Henry. didn't have any
thing to do with what's in the OrioIe.
It's every last word ole Florence's do
Ing. ! haven't got any more right to
be picked ON for that than a child"
"Yes," Henry admitted. "But if you
20 and tell 'em 50, | 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. | wouldn't
tell 'em if was you, Herbert"
"Well, wasn't intending to-" Her
bert responded gloOmily; and the
thought of each, unknown to the other
was The same, consisting Of symbolic
likeness Of Wallie Torbin at his
worst. 81 ought to tell on Florence
by rights ought" said Herbert; "hut
I've decided won't. There's no telin
what she wouldn't do. Not that she
could do anything to me, particularly
-"
"Nor me, either" his friend inter
posed hurriedIy 81 don't worry abou
anything like that! Still, if was yol
| wouldn't tell. she's only a girl, w
got to remember"
yes" said Herbert. "Thats thu
way | look at it, Henry; and the wa,
| look at it is Just simply this: Ions
as she's a girl, why, simply let her 20
You can't tell what she'd do, and ST
what's the use to go and tell on
glrl?
"That's the way look at It," Henr
agreed. "Whats the use? If wa
in your place, I'd act just the sam
way you do"
well" said Herbert, II guess
better 20 on home, Henry. It's
good while after dark.
you're maxim a big mistake
Henry Rooter called after him. "Yo
won't see any apple dumpllngs, he
a hundred dollars! You better com
on home with me"
And Herbert no more than ha
! opened his front door before he pc
ceived that his friends advice hH
been excellent. So clearly Herbe
perceived this that he impulsively d
cided not to open the door any fa
ther, hut on the contrary to close
and retire; and he would have dol
SO, had not his mother reached for
and detained him. She was, in fac
lust inside that door in the hall wi
ole OF his great-auntS, one of Il
aunts, two aunts-by-marriage, and ;
elderly unmarried cousin, who we
all Just on the point Of leaving. Ho
ever, they changed their minds al
decided to remain, now that Herbt
was among them.
II really seemed that to many n
sons who were gathered there, app
entity in important consultation,
y oppearance was distinctly welcor
His own feelings were In now
# mixed. They we're distinctly app
.. hensiye, and the vOlley of ming
or ouestlonings and reproaches VIII
I'd met him did not tend to remove the