Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-09-04

| ScnlOsE came In while he was taking,
and with her another neighbor-Ernes-
tine remembered having met him once
before. His name was John Pryor,
and he was a printer. Ernestine un-
derstood the entreaty in Wills eyes
but her heart sank: Mamma did not
like funerals, and least Of all would
she like this one.
'Ill ask" she said uncertainty, and
went to the telephone which was hung
on theNkltchen wall. 1t seemed an
eternity before Ernestine heard her
mothers voice. Falteringly, she told
her what had happened-wondering
| why she had not called her sooner.
| But, darling" cried mamma. ITO
think OF you In all that trouble-Ill
send the car right after you. You must
| come home to mamma until this u al
! over-you've never been to 4 funeral
In your life, Ernestine. 1t will be 10
bard for you"
Mamma" said Ernestine with vex-
| alton. you know | can't come-I'm
needed here. It's something else ]
| called you, for. Mamma, they can't
have the funeral here at the house, be-
cause Wills mother is so Ill II would
be dangerous for her, and, Of course,
VIII doesn't want his father buried
from the funeral parlors, and he
doesn't belong to any church-we don't
know just what to do. mamma" She
couldn't say 1t. She simply could not.
ITS too bad you and VIII aren't
keeping house, said mamma. ''If you
had let papa help you you could do
this for VIII. now"
you don't want to, mamma!
thought perhaps-your house Is SO big
that you would do this for VIII.
I'm asking you to have WINS fathers
funeral at our-at your house, man.
ma" All their eyes were on her
her face was scarlet her eyes were
snffused with tears OF humiliation.
why, Ernestine," said mamma, In
troubled voice, II don't know. I'll
have to talk to grandmother
not we'll Walt a minute-hoId the
wire"
Ernestine stood In silence, saying to
VIII with her lips "Shes asking
papa" waiting In the endless interval,
certain OF refusal-already hurt and
resentful.
Elnestine," mammals voice was ter
ribly sympathetic, we're all just az
sorry as We can be, but papa doesn't
think Mr.. Todd would want It. 1t
doesn't seem practical. dear-the
funeral home right there in his own
neighborhood-lots OF people are
buried from such chapels every day,
darling. Don't ask mamma to do such
a hard thing"
Ernestine hung up the receiver with
out word and turned strained great
eyes upon Will. John Pryor regarded
her with sarcastic smile. He was
socialist, or an anarchist, or something,
Ernestine recalled.
"Will," he said with instant kind
ness, "let me have this funeral for
you? It's right here, In the neighhor-
hood. and 1t won't be bit OF trouble |
your father and belong to the same
society-it would be all right with
him, know"
"All right" said Will duly and
turned to the undertaken: "Fix 1t
that way-wIll you tend to the no
tices?'
'Will," Ernestine implored him, Its
not my fault--they don't understand
He patted her arm and tried to Gen.
troll his feelings.
That's all right, kitten. | know
you can't help tits just their way"
His face worked, and suddenly he
cenched his big hand. MY father
he was good enough to work for yours
for half his lifetime-good enough for
that-but not good enough for his dead
body
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. darling
oh, you must not say such a thing
sweetheart"
Let him cry said Mrs. Schluss
wisely, and Will cried upon Ernes-
tines shoulder-his tears wet her
biouSS, anu sic Aclu HIIIi, IGPllUE the
great sobs rack him, wondering dimly
II she would mourn for her father that l
way.
This would be her home, she re-
solved, kissing his tear-wet face, hold
Ing him to her heart She would stay
with VIII and his mother. Her people
had denied her husband the kindness
that was due among kinsfolk. They
had denied her. She felt that she
didn't care whether she ever saw them
again. II they had done this for VIII,
everything else would have followed,
but now, In common loyalty to her
husband, she had to recognize this
hurt.
She was almost fainting with weari-
ness. 1t seemed to her the night
would never end.
Papa came in his big car and took
Ernestine and VIII and Mrs. Schluss
10 the. burying ground. Will accepted
this courtesy with dignity. He was
not the person to bubble at a time
ike this.
The services of the Ethical society
UprQ brtof opa dinriEn5 $780, n-rn,