United States or Niger ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And it worried him that this morning she did not appear her usual self. "Mel, are you well?" he asked. "Yes, I am perfectly well," she replied. "I couldn't sleep much last night on account of that roar." "Don't wonder. This flood will be the greatest ever known in Middleville." "Yes, and that makes more suffering for the poor." "There are already many homeless.
"But cut it, and hurry to to what comes home to me. What's the matter with these Middleville girls?" "Lane, any intelligent man, who knows things, and who can think for himself, will tell you this that to judge from the dress, dance, talk, conduct of these young girls most of them have apparently gone wrong." "You include our nice girls from what we used to call Middleville's best families?"
Then Pepper made a sharp, passionate gesture that broke his cigar against the arm of his chair, and he cursed low and deep. Presently he addressed Lane again. "Whatever comes of any disclosures I make whatever you do you'll not give me away?" "Certainly not. You can trust me, Pepper," returned Lane. "Son, I'm a wise old guy. There's not much that goes on in Middleville I don't get on to.
But mother told me Daren had lost his standing in Middleville. She always hated Daren. Afraid I'd fall in love with him. The idea! I liked him, and I like him better now poor fellow!... And last, when El mentioned Daren, did you see Dal's face? I never saw Dal look like that." "Neither did I," replied Elinor. "Well, I have," spoke up Helen, with all of her mother's bluntness.
"Of course Dick Swann was in the service?" he asked. "No. He didn't go," replied Lorna. The information struck Lane singularly. Dick Swann had always been a prominent figure in the Middleville battery, in those seemingly long past years since before the war. "Why didn't Dick go into the service? Why didn't the draft get him?" "He had poor eyesight, and his father needed him at the iron works."
She helps me so.... She told me what you did at Fanchon's party." "She did! Well, what's your verdict?" he queried, grimly. "That break queered me in Middleville." "I agree with what Doctor Wallace said to his congregation," returned Mel. As Lane met the blue fire of her eyes he experienced another singularly deep and profound thrill, as if the very depths of him had been stirred.
"It's possible," declared Betty: "Perhaps he couldn't help looking like a tramp, because if he has lost all his money he can't afford any other clothes. Oh, I do hope we find him!" But it was a vain hope. They did not see the man along the road, and inquiries of several persons they met gave no trace. Nor had he reached Middleville, as far as could be learned. If he had, no one had noticed him.
Presently he found himself on the outskirts of Middleville within sound of the muffled roar of the flooded river, and he wandered in its direction. At sight of the old wooden bridge he remembered he had read that it was expected to give way to the pressure of the rushing water. On the levee, which protected the low-lying country above the city, were crowds of people watching the river.
"The one I had last year was a class of angels compared to what I have now. I reproved one girl whose mother wrote me that as long as Middleville had preachers like Doctor Wallace and teachers like myself there wasn't much chance of a girl being good. So I'm going to give up teaching." The little schoolmistress straightened up in her chair and looked severe.
But the fact I mean makes her stand out in this Middleville crowd like a light in the dark.... Lane, have you got on yet to the speed of the young people of this old burg?" "I'm getting on, to my sorrow," said Lane. "Ahuh! You mean you're getting wise to your kid sister?" "Yes, I'm sorry to say. What do you know, Pepper?" "Now, son, wait. I'm coming to that, maybe.
Word Of The Day