The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-06-21

GU poor llltle XIII, lie SAUL d.
he thought upon their waggins
tongues.
ooh, Craig, you're wonderful
You're SO good you hurt. I'D al
most rather you SLAPPED mel"
Sybil was trembling violently.
IN my teeth are .ch
chat tering. I'm so %shivery!'
Nervous reaction" he told her,
and bundled her into her coat.
Then he called a cab, to take her
home. He tucked her in warmly,
and gratefully she pilrowed her
head on his shoulder. His arm
about her shoulders held her close.
The steps at her house were
icy. and, least she slip, he carried
her to the door. There he shook
hands, and stood for a minute,
s%peechless. with barred head, and
his face as wintry as the night.
Aren't you going to kiss me?'
she cried.
She raised her head. and he
touched her lips lightly, with his.
Good night, little girl"
She let herself in quietly. The
house was dark, and cold, and
cheerless. She tiptoed upstairs,
and down the hall to her room.
Undressing in the dark, she crawl
ed into bed, and curled up, to keep
warm, like a child, with her arms
about her knees.
Then, in the cold and the dark,
tears came-and all the bitter sor-
row and regrets that come at mid
night to tired women, alone with
their thoughts.
Valerie suggested a trip to
South Carolina. Sybil, herself, also
thought it would be better to go
away somewhere. But Mrs. Thorne
after consulting Mr.. Crandon felt
that nothing would be gained by
secrecy.
At three p. M, January second,
Mrs. Thorne told her psyche ana
lyist all about it. She had gone
to him directly from the store,
where she had ordered, of a dis
Greet clerk, 500 belated announce
ments of her daughters marriage.
/. Mrs. Edward Thorne an
nounces the marriage of her
daughter, Sybil. :"
Don't you think we had better
date them July?" she had asked
tearfuIly of Tad.
But Mother!" .expostulated Sy-
bill, Il didn't know him in July
! hadn't even met him!"
Valerie shrugged her shoulders
%eloquently.
'I1l drive you down town,
Mother" she offered. And you
IAN take a taxi to Mr.. Crandon's.
Tie afternoon sun was slanting
across the crimson rug in Mr..
Crandon's consultation room. In
the alcove beyond a maid was
busying herself with tea cups and
a delft cracker jar. There we're
spicy carnations in a blue vase, a
cracking fire, and a kettle hum
ming on the crane.
Mr.. Crandon had learned that a
confidential atmosphere is a de-
cided aid to psyche. He drew a
Boston rocker a little nearer the
blaze. and helped Mrs. Thorne off
with her moleskin wrap.
Il must have your help" Mrs.
Thorne said. settling a turkey red
cushion at her back. It's about
SybiI. She's going to have a ba-
by"
Nothing ever surprised Mr.. Gran
don. He pressed his finger tips to-
gether, and shifted his mild blue
gaze to a near-sighted contempla-
ton of a hangnail.
81 want you to tell me what line
to take with her." continued Mrs.
Thorne.
And then, from the beginning
she told the story as best she
could. She told about John Law
renee, and what a difficult girl Sy-
bill was at IS. She reviewed a few
earlier affairs, and told what she
knew of some later ones. She led
tactfully up to Craig Newhall.
Il think" she ~hazarded, that
there was a sort of understanding
between Craig and Sybil, but of
course l can't be sure. You see,
Sybil never tells her mother any
thing" Mrs. Thorne pressed a
black bordered handkerchief to
her eyes. Now when l was a
girl"
Yes, yes" soothed Mr.. Gran
don gently, and, patting her hand,
led her tactfully back to the sub
iect in hand. "Mr. Newhall is
something of an austere young
mani"
why, no, don't know as you'd
call him that demurred Mrs.
Thorne. Maybe he's not just
SYPHILIS type"
"As to that" interrupted Mr..
Crandon, has passion always been
a strong factor in your daughters