The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-23
SYNOPSIS

Lovely Susan Broderick lives In
the old family mansion with her
father Morris, brother John, Uncle
Worthy, his wife Edna, and Z spin
stsr aunt, Lutte. Although they
have lost their wealth the old folks
live In Z dream world Of social
prominence. They feel Inundated
when il 10 necessary to take in Z
paying guest" Susan 10 filled with
pity for the stranger; she knows
he will be ignored BY her snobbish
relatives. The family wonders
what Susan's 6anee. Wallace Stef-
fen, young banker, will think.
Susan 10 in favor Of telling him
the truth, but Aunt Edna frowns
on this saying, IF the man uses
have to see him. Don't say any
thing. Susan, unless you have to. =
John, working his way through
college, wants to give it up, and
get . job on The Express. His
fathers heart 10 set on the boy be-
coming q lawyer. Susan announces
her engagement to the family.
Everyone 10 delighted but John.
He looks at Susan in Z blank sort
Of way and then abruptly leaves the
room, saying he forgot Z telephone
call.
CHAPTER VIII
When Wallace came to call, he
and Susan usually sat in the little
reception room just acros,s the hall
from the parlor. Il was . cold
looking room with dark green wall
paper and . green carpet. There
was . square piano in one corner,
and IN old-fashioned whatnot load
ed with family photographs in an
other. On the mantel-piece stood
the tomh-ike white clock that a.
ways whirred before it struck. The
window curtains were much-mend-
ed Battenberg lace-relics Of the
glorious bygone days when the
brodericks had been able to buy
real lace for their front windows.
At night tho room was not 90
gloomy g IL was in the day time.
Especially on wallace nights
when Susan turned on the lamps
and lit Q frs in the brass-rodded
CRATE. -.
AZ tan minutes to eight on this
particular night when she went in
to start the fire she found John
standing there looking out into the
darkness Of the street. He swung
around from the windows when she
came IN and took his hands out OF
his pockets. !.
"Here, I'll light the firs for you.
He took the matches from her and
struck one to the crumpled news-
paper that lay under the logs:
1Going to marry Wallie," he
said, turning his head to look up
&c her. "Gosh, ! suppose ] should
have been expecting It, but ]
wasn't, thought you were Just
killing time with him"
"Don't you like him. joint"
He stood mp, scowling down ct
the sudden blaze that spranR up
IL the crate. 'sDo you like him!" he
SWhst / mean il this, Susan
DO you like him 90 much that 1t
doesn't make . particle Of differ
encs to you whether like him OF
not? Whether anybody likes him
or mott"
Susan looked 1t him, wondering
il that were the way she cared for
Wallace.
because that's how you ought
to like him IL you're going to marry
him." he went on, making . jerky
outward movement with his hands.
.The fact that the family thinks
he's q wonder-boy isn't going to Be
much Of help to you il you marry
him and find out that you aren't
80 very crazy about him. And ]
don't think you are. Susie: You
Just don't have the ear-marks Of Z
grand passion about you, somehow
:. / ought not to talk to you like
this, but / want to b sure that YOU
know what you're doing"
II do know, John" Susan
slipped one Of her hands into ons
Of his. eve had . sort Of idea fol
. long time that might marry him
II he asked me-and today when hl
did, I knew that I wanted TO-"
well, that's Just swell then.
had . Wild idea that you might b
taking Wallie just to get away from
this place. But it'd be better to di(
On your feet right here, like Lutte
and Aunt Edna, than TO live with
him unless you liked him . lot
There he 10 now"
He turned his head toward thu