The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-02-04

F"TEK Bernard began to sing
most of the curious eyes were
~ diverted from Dolly to him,
and she regaincd her compo-
sure. I'arquhar had not looked at her.
1t was not his cue to let his eye wan
der during service. But Dolly was sure
from the dark flush which o%yerspread
his face that he had seen her enter.
She designed this meeting rs a test. If
he refused to acknowledge her before
his friends Dolly vowed that she would
never speak to him again. Her pride
Of birth was Keen. She went to the
length of thinking her brother the only
gentleman present. inasmuch as he
alone, so far as she knew. had the
right to bear arms. She took little
part in the religious ceremonies. Dolly
had her creed and held to it in practice,
but at this time she was too intent on
this world to think much Of the next.
She got up with ~alacrity after the
benediction and marshaled out Der
nard, glad to 90. The %organist was
now playing music soft and slow and
tenderly touching the pedals with boots
81 IL ~ llI4 At Ilt'ihSIA'N l'AL No"ii
two notes at once by accident. Music
was really the only subject about
which Bernard was sensitive. AS a
false quantity to Il 14atinist. as Il curse
to a Quaker. as a red rag to a bull, S
was Il wrong note to Bernard Fame.
Outside shonc the sun and breathed
the wind and danced the grasses over
the graves of women as young and
beautiful as Dolly, but she was not
thinking Of them. Tho stream of peo-
pie began to condcnsc into roups of
two and three, who gave each other
the accustomed greetings and echoed
cheerful wishes at cross purpose in a
babel of inanity. I'arquhar was shalk-
ing hands with Mrs. Merton. a fragile
little lady with dark eyes, frileusc, as
Dolly christencd her, who dressed very
we'll and talked plaintive nonsense in
an erratic fashion. Dolly knew by i'll
stinct that they We're speaking Of her.
She went on at an even pace. Farqu-
har broke from his friends and fol
lowed, and Dolly, with true Christmas
good will in her heart, found herself
shaking his hand in the overland style,
according to the custom Of the lady in
black frills.
II wish | could walk home your way.
I've a hundred things to say about that
Burnt House business, and one never
has a chance Of seeing MI. Fame. But
I've m invalid at home who's to take
his first airing today, and know he'll
60 too far if l don't look after him"
'Is that the chap you picked zip on
the road?' asked Bernard. who had
heard the story from the mon with To-
mantle embellishments.
"Oh, l didn't pick him up. Don't
think it. He was planted on me by
Providence. I say. Fame, if you've
nothing better to do l wish you'd come
In tonight and have a knockup at bill
lizards. 1t would be a Christian act, for
I've not a soul in the house except the
invalid, who toddlcs off to bye-bye at ="
II can't play billiards. was Ber-
nard's reply, rather proudly spoken.
fright. I'll teach you. There's
nothing / like better. Is there, Mrs.
Merton:"
Don't ask me. l never pretend to
fnthom you," said Mrs. Merton plain
lively, shaking her head. And she put
out a very small hand to Dolly.
"plcase don't snub me. Miss Fame. I'd
30 like to come and call, if you'll let
me. l was told you We're a dreadful
person, who dropped the h and divided
the ~hoof-skirt. | mean. Besides. it
was your turn to call first on me. But
you aren't dreadful, are you? So may
I Gomez"
Had there been any patronage in
Mrs. Merton's manne Dolly would
have been delighted to snub her, but
there was none. The formula of gra-
cious acceptance vas less easy than a
refusal, but Dolly let no one guess her
difficulties.
Their way home led through woods.
30 much rain had fallen that the
messy bride path was scored with
deep ruts full of water, and Dolly had
to hold her skirt away from the black
leaf mold. liaindrops held in crumpled
copper leaves shone semlike; smooth
young stems glistened. Only the gray
boles Of the forest trees looked warm
and dry. Dolly. herself like a russell
leaf, harmonized with the woodland
scenery, which seemed 4 frame made
for her.
Farther on down tho path, resigncdly