The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-02-17
CHAPTER III. (ContInued.)

ut might be scarlet fever" Max
broke in c~heerfully. Il say, scarlet
fever on a Mongolian-what color
would he be, Jimmy? What do vel
low and red make? Green?"
Orange" Jim said shortly. 81 wish
you people would remember that we
are trying to eat"
The fact was. however. that nc n
was really eating. except Mr.. Harbi-
SON., who had given up trying to I'M
derstand us, considering, 10 doubt,
our subdued excitement as our nor
nal condition. Ages afterwaTd !
learned that he thought my face al
most tragic that night. and that he
supposed, from the way | glared
across the table, that / had quarreied
with my husband,
Il am afraid you are not we'll" he
said at last, noticing my food un-
touched on my plate. I'VE should
not have come, any Of us"
81 am perfectly WELL" | replied fe-
'verishly. II am never i'll. Il ate a
late luncheon"
He glanced at me keenly. Don't
fiet them stay and play bridge to-
night" he urged. Miss Caruthers can
be an excuse, can she not? And you
are really tagged. You look it."
81 think 1t is only i'll humor," |
said, looking directly at him. Il am
angry at myself. have done some
thing silly, and | hate to be silly"
Max would have said Impossible"
or something else trite. The Harbi-
son man looked at me with interested,
serious eyes.
rs It too late to undo it?" he asked.
And then and there / determined that
ne should never know the truth. He
could go back to South America and
build bridges and make love to the
Spanish girls Tor are they Spanish
down THEREBY and think of me always
as a married woman, married to a
dilettante artist, inclined to be stout
the artist, not land with an Aunt
Selma Caruthers who made buttons
and believed in the Cause. But never,
never should he think of me as a silly
little fool who pretended that she was
the other mans wife and had a lump
IN her throat because when a really
nice man came along, a man who
knew something more than polo and
motors, she had to carry on the decep-
tion to keep his respect, and be Sc
date and matronly. and see him
change from perfectly open admira-
ton at first TO a hands-off-she-is-my
host's-wife attitude at last.
1T can never be undone," i said
soberly,
Well, that's the picture as nearly as
! can draw IL; a round table with a
low centerpiece of orchids In laven-
ders and pink, old silver candlesticks
with nligree shades against the som
Der wainscoting. nine people, two of
them unhappy-Jim and i; one of
them complacent-Aunt Selma; one
puzzled-Mr. HARRISON; and the rest
Historically mirthfui. Add one sick
Japanese butler and grind in the mills
Of the gods.
Every one promptly forgot Takahiro
III the excitement Of the game we
were all playing. Finally. however.
Aunt Selma, who seemed to have Ia
kahiro on her mind. locked up from
her plate.
THAT Jap was specklcd," she as
serted. Il wouldn't be surprised II it's
measles. Has be been srifiing,
James,"
HAS he been snifhing?a Jim threw
across at me.
4 hadn't noticed IT. | said meekiy,
while the others choxed.
Max came 20 the rescne. "She re-
fused tc 4 II" be explained, dis
slnctly and to everybody. apropos alb
sointely 0f Eething. IL said on the
ns1 Seady cooked and predigested.'
SAe ose'arsS she didn't care who