The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-01-04

For Miriam tongue was no less ir
responsible than was Joe's. Her mood
was so mercurial that she drew time
and again the eyes of all at the table
She Chartered with an abandon that
scandalized Barbara; broke In and In.
terrupted every argument with hoy
denish trivialities. in one breath, to
appeal to Garry the next for refuta-
ton. And Garry, the light tongued and
quick witted. sat almost dumb of lip
before her happy garrulity. But his
eyes never left her; they spoke his
thoughts aloud. The quick lift and
droop of her eyelids, the brilliancy of
her lips. made Miriams face living
thing of happiness-made Barbaras ST.
lence seem even more profound. For
the latter's withdrawal from the hilar-
fly, dominated half the time by her
fathers booming bass, was nearly as
complete as that of Wickersham him
self.
Just once, shortly before they with
drew for the night, Steve caught a
CLEAN of mischief in the dark eyes she
turned toward him. She rose the next
moment and started slowly around the
room, poking demurely into corners
and closeted hooks. Every eye was
following her when she finally found
the thing for which she was searching.
She drew a red felt. yellow noticed
cushion from beneath the deer hide
covering a chair and held it up so that
all might read. What Is Home With
out Father" it ran, and when the
Joy that storined through the room
made it sure that the exhibition needed
no interpreter Fat Joe turned and hid
bis face. Miriam rose languidly and
Joined the other girl in an examination
of his handiwork Smooth face tinted
by the freight. copper hair almost dis
heveled in its disarray, she was an ex-
quisitely lovely thing. In her alto voice
she expressed her opinion.
Its an entirely new stitch to me.
Bobs." she arerred. Il don't think l
have ever before seen just this method
employed" And she turned to Stephen
O'Mara do you suppose, Mr.. O'Mara."
she asked. that might learn it from
the one who did this work for you?
It's rather"-and her head tilted to one
side-''it's rather a pretty thing"
Again they succumbed to mirth, and
then Joe rose, bristling, and went for
ward much as gamecock might step
out to do battle. He took the cushion
from the hands of the girls. who no
longer had strength enough even to
hold it.
IF you are aiming to do any sewing
around this camp" lie stated, you can
start in sewing on buttons. This kind
of work is entirely too nerve wearing
for amateurs"
He carried the cushion across the
room and placed it not where it had
been hidden by the deer hide, but in
colorful prominence against the back
of the chair. Long after he had cross
ed with Steve and Garry to their tents
he continued to explode with soft
chuckles.
Il never did say" he defended him
SELF, that that sentiment was strictly
appropriate. / always stated that it
was the best l could. And as for my
technique-well, either of you guys try
1t some time. You just take needle
full of that yellow worsted and start
tracking across couple of yards of
red and painless desert and see where
you come out. | know. because I've
done it. I'm pioneer. But if ever
tackle another job like that it's going
to he crazy quilt.
And Joe considered In spite Of the
din which answered him that his chal
lenge was ample.
1t was fully an hour after Fat Joe
their blankets when Steve, who had
elected to sit up for one last pipe even
though his body was aching with ia
tigue, heard behind him the approach
of her footsteps. Outside at the top
of the rise some fifty yards in front
of the tents he had seated himself on
log, chin buried in one palm and
eyes vacantly steady before him. But
even before he turned, before he rose
slowly to his feet. he knew who was
coming, knew and realized that she
should not have come. Wrapped in
long heavy coat. face half hidden by
the upturned collar. bare Of head, Bar
bara came quietly down to where he
waited. And without word of greeting
on the part OF either of them they sat
down together. facing the silvered
bowl of the valley.
Time passed before Barbara opened
her lips for a long. quivering intake
of breath.
81 never dreamed 1t could be so big
she murmured in awe. And then to
think that some day-within a few
months in reality-engines viii go
screening their signals across this
very place. 1t doesn't seem possible;
1t seems almost a shame to spoil 1t
too."
i've felt that way about 1t often"
Steve answered, almost duly. Il like
1t better myself as it is. 1t does ap-
pear to be long way ahead, doesn't 1t
that day of completion which you
- " X Z.