Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-01-04
kopyriqht 1921 by ire Bell Syndicate. Inc.

M lSZ1- ~ me Dell Syndfcote, Inc.
else let Henry and Herbert Try 10.
and course they'd just of ruined il.
oh. ii isn't so much to talk about
guess; it just sort of comes to me to
do things that way"
Like so many other young unearthed
rehearsals, this one was never to be
played for an audience. Adults are an
! dependable. Thirteen attempts to ex-
ercise great philanthropy, and every
4 grown person in sight, with the pos.
sible exception of Great-uncie Joseph.
goes into wholly unantieipated fits of
horror. Cause and effect have no re-
iation Fate operates without reason
able Sequence-like a monkey.
And while Florence thus nenslvely
disturbed sat beside fat Uncle Joseph
/ during their long. long drive. relatives
of hers were indeed going into fits: nj
1 least. so Florence would have de.
scribed their gestures and incoheren-
cies of comment And straight into such
a fitful scene hl tht luckless Herbert
4 walk when driven home after the
movies hv thouehts Of food. n sbant
six that evening Henry Rooter had
strongly advised him against return
ing.
! 1t may reasonably be felt that II
required no particular gift of prophecy
TO hazard the prediction that in all
probability most unpleasant form Of
inquisition 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
/ 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. kind of hate to
go, but | guess l better. Henry"
you won't see any apple dump
lings," Henry predicted.
"Well, believe better try 1t,
Henry"
"You better come home with me.
My father and mother'll be perfectly
willing to have you
Il know that" said Herbert. But
! guess better go home and try II.
anyhow, Henry / didn't have any.
thing TO do with what's i'm the Oriole.
It's every last word ole FlOrence's do
ing. haven't got any more right to
be picked on for that than child
YES" Henry admitted. But if you
20 and tell 'em SO, ! bet she'd get even
With you some way that would prob
IDLY get me in trouble. too. before we
cot through with the job. l wouldn't
ell 'em If ] was you, Herbertl"
well, l WASH, intending TO-" Her
bert responded gloomily and the
thought of each. unknown to the other,
was the same, consisting of a symbolic
likeness of Walle Torbin al his
worst. Il ought TO tell ON Florence;
by rights l ought" said Herbert ''but
I've decided won't. There's no tellin'
what she wouldn't do. Not that she
could do anything TO me, particularly
l-v
"Nor me, either" hts friend inter
posed hurriedly. II don't worry about
anything like that Still. II was you
wouldn't tell. She's only girl. we
got to remember"
"Yes" said Herbert. THAT'S the
way look at IT, Henry; and the way
| look at Il is Just simply this: long
| as she's girl. why. simply let her go.
You can't tell what she'd do. and SO
what's the use to go and tell on u
grip
''That's the way look at it." Henry
agreed. whats the use7 II was
ia your place. I'd act Just the same
way you do"
swell" said Herbert. 81 guess
better go on home, Henry. It's
good while after dark"
You're maxim a big mistake T"
Henry Rooter called after him. you
won't see any apple dumplings. bet
hundred dollars! You better come
on home with me-"
And Herbert no more than half
opened his front door before he per-
ceived that his friends advice had
been excellent. So clearly Herbert
perceived this. that he impulsively de-
cided not to open the door any far
tier, but on the contrary to close 1t.
and retire; and he would have done
so, had not his mother reached forth
and detained him. She was, in fact,
just inside that door, In the hall with
one of his great-aunts, one of his
aunts, two aunts-by-marriage and an
elderly unmarried cousin, who we're
all just on the point Of leaving. How
ever, they changed their minds and
decided to remain, now that Herbert
was among them.
II really seemed that TO many per
SONS who were gathered there. appar-
emily in important consultation. his
appearance was distinctly welcome.
His own feelings were in nowfse
mixed. They we're distinctly appre-
hensive, and the volley Of mingled
questionings and reproaches which
met him did not tend 10 remove them.
Each member Of the party seemed TO