The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-11-08

removed the dust OF motoring, and the
women changed their clothes. Lesbia
had brought her blue mcssaline. and
she put that on. She was fairly trem-
bling with excitement, for she might
meet Sted any moment. If he should
be in the dining room when they went
to dinner!
But Sted was not there. There was
no sign Of him anywhere. Toward
evening Mrs. Hawley and I.eshia walk
ed down to the lake and along the
shore. 1t was all Very beautiful and
very still. A few boats were on the
water. From a nearby pier a lone
fisherman. who sat with his back to
them, was dangling a line for muskel-
lunge.
Lesbia's glance took the maj in
though without observing him par
ticularly. Suddenly he wound up his
line and rose. She heard Mrs. Hawley
give a little cry. .
"Lesbia! Look, there's sted:"
1t was Sted. He heard her ana
came right to them. peering at them
in the dimness. To Lesbia. in her
blue messalinc. With her hair very
tidy. he looked depressingiy unused
for pleasure in a gay. we'll dressed
crowd. His trousers needed pressing
and there was n button just hang
ing on his coat. and his coat itself was
all but ~threadbare! He shook hands
a%wkwardly with Mrs. Hawley.
"How do, Lesbia? When did you
lcome?" he asked.
Just before dinner"
Mrs. Hawley evidently saw
thing was wrong. II made Lesbia
conc. ] thought it was about time
she got out of that flat for a while.
The best home in the world gets on
your nerves when you've had too
much OF it.. ] have to get away every
SO often or I'd so crazy. Folks can
stand only about SO much of monot-
ony. There's George now. If he works
four weeks he has to play one. And
that's all right. That's as it should
be. We're both perfectly agreed on
that point"
ing water. He drew a deep breath.
II haven't had assday off in four
years." he said. slowly. I've gone
to the Office in the morning and come
l1onla at night. Tvs. never. said any
thing. but to tell the truth Mrs. Haw-
ley, I was settings so I hated both
places"
Then why in the world didn't you
pick Up ord go somewhere"
II don't know" replied Sted July.
II lo!" Lesbia cried. She was sit
ting up Very straight. her cheeks
highly flushed. Il know exactly. Mrs.
Eawley. I wouldn't let him. I didn't
believe in vacations. Father never
took any and l didn't see why Sted
should. Vacations cost Sc much. don't
you see? And 1 never saw any rea-
son for our having one. BY and by,
perhaps. when we've got so we can
- Her voice faltered.
Mrs. Hawley eyed her coldly. by
and by never comes. When you've
lived to my age you'll know that from
I experience. You want to grab every
mite OF pleasure as you go along. else
you'll v have any. My land!
Think OF going four years without a
vacation, sted in that little hot office,
five room fiat! why. four years OF
that kind Of life would bring George
and me. old as VIC, were, to the poln,
Of separation. WSEcouldn't stand it
No human nature could. Married
folks have to have. xacations-vaca.
ttonS from each otter sometimes at
well as vacations together. rive
thought for a good while Lssbia need.
ed to get away fromshome, SO l made
t11er come u here with me today. II
surprised me some. finding @ here
81 had to cornesout.2 here" to Sc,
Makely. the man I'm in that lumber
deal with. He's sick at his cottaz,
over there. I've got to see him agai,
in the morning. That's why I'm stay
ing over. ! thought I might as wei
fish a little while I was waiting"
George and T." said Mrs. Hawley
are going to stay till Monday. 70,
might as well STAY. ton. We're soinl
to keep Lesbia, anyway"
Lesbia. nut her arnaSfhrough Sted's
Please" she coaxei,
Sted looked down at her and smile,
consent. And the cloud Of misunder
standing rolled away from between
them forever.