The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-30
CHAPTER VII.

Mamie grew slowly better, but the
baby was kept alive only by constant
attention Hunch did not go to the
house at all. Jess suggested it once or
twice. but it made Hunch look so black
that she began to avoid the subject.
For the rest of the time Hunch was
in better spirits than usual. After the
night with Bruce he had made I'D his
mind to drop Bruce and his family from
his mind. He had no right to interfere
in Bruce's domestic matters. The de-
cision brought relief, and Jess and he
were happier than at any time since
the beginning of their engagement.
They spent their evenings going to en-
tertainments or sitting in the parIor.
talking, with the lamp turned low
One night Hunch came in a little
earlier than usual, without knocking,
and found Jess bending over a paper
with sort of colored illustrations. She
slipped it into a drawer as he entered
the room.
What you reading?' he asked.
30. nothing
Yes. you was. I saw it," He laughed
and started to open the drawer, but
she stood against it,
Please don't look"
Don't you tell me- all your secrets %
80. well, look if you want to-
81 don't, unless you want me to,
Jess
She opened the drawer and drew out
the paper. 1t was illustrated with
plans for cheap cottages"
What's the matter with this?" he
asked. What are you afraid OPP
Nothing. Sometimes I think it's
kind of fun to pick out the houses I'd
| like-just for fun. you know
What one do you Iike?'
80. I don't know. / was just think
ing that maybe some day we'd" She
stopped and turned away. Hunch
thought that she was joking and he
took her shoulders and gently turned
her around. She was crying.
-Why-what's the matter, Jess %
She buried her face on his coat.
Hunch could not follow her sudden
changes. Now. he looked down at her
hair, puzzled waiting for her to ex-
plain. Finally he said:
You got to tell me what's the mat
ter, Jess
said-said you didn't love me. John
she said" Hunch tried to break in
but she went on: you weren't going
to-that we'd never get married. And
you-you never said anything about
getting married, john; Hunch looked
over her head at the wall He could
not tell her that he had not allowed
| himself TO think about it, that he had
been drifting steadily further from the
thought of it. And I'd thought may
be you'd speak about it and we'd talk
about a house-and wanted that-that
one on the front page with the shin
giles on the front It's a beautiful
house, john
Hunch stood silent for long time
why didn't you say something? o.,
John, il isn't true. is it? You do love
me. John?''
NO." said Hunch. cit amt true.
Wen be married just as soon as you're
ready, Jess
She didn't look up for a long time.
When she did her eyes were still wet.
Don't YOU think it would be kind
of fun, John, to talk about the house2''
They went over the plans, sitting on
the sofa by the front window, and
talked out every detail of the house.
Hunch agreed with nearly all of Jess
suggestions, even to the CRATE in the
front room, an expensive feature
When they were out in the entry and
Hunch was putting on his ulster. Jess
stood before him with her back against
the door.
Say, do you want me to tell you
somethinG?"
Course"