Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-09


through the F'lopper's window after
dark, and then she had held him ut
arms length.
"The matter with me?" she had said.
There isn't anything the matter with
me, is there? I'm-I'm playing the
game"
Madison walked to tho end Of the
wagon track and paused involuntarlly
on the edge Of the Patrtarch's lawn rs
be came out from the trees. Like low,
lulling music came the distant, mel.
lowed noise Of the breaking surf, and
the cottage was bower Of green now,
clothed in ivy and vine. Upon the
trellis the carly roses were budding.
the fragrance Of growing things blend
ed with the salt, invigorating breeze
from the ocean.
And upon the lawn, thanked with its
sturdy naples, all In leaf, that toned
the sunshine In soft falling shadows,
stood or sat or reclined on cots the
supplicants who still tarried, though
the Patriarch had gone. And now one
came reverently out Of the cottage door
from that room that was never closed,
now another went in. and still an.
other.
Madison smiled suddenly, broadly,
with immense satisfaction and con-
tentment, and then his eyes fixed them
selves quite as suddenly on the single
seated buggy that was coming toward
him on the driveway across the lawn.
That was Mamie Rodgers driving. and
that was Helena beside her.
Madison recalled instantly tho OBJ
ject Of his visit, and instantly he whis.
tied rather surprised little air under
his breath. How alluringly Helena's
brown hair cooled In wavy wealth upon
her headl There wasn't any need Of
rouge for color in the oval face. The
dark eyes were soft and deep and glor1-
Gus, and she sat there in little white
muslin frock as dainty as a medallion
from q masters brush.
Say" said Madison to himself, u
never quite got It before. Say, she's
she's lovely, and that's my Helena. It's
no wonder Thornton stared at her that
day We touched him for the fifty. and"
suddenly, chang Thornton
But tho buggy was beside him now,
and he lifted his hat as Mamie Rodgers
pulled up the horse.
Good afternoon, Miss Rodgers" he
said. "Good afternoon, Miss Vail
How IL the Patriarch toiay?"
HE Is very well, thank you" Helena
answered, and, being custodian OF the
whip. brushed a fy of the horses
flank.
Il was Just coming out to pay you
little visit" remarked Madison, trying
to catch her eye.
"Oh, l'ms so sorry said Helena
sweetly, still busy with the fly. INA.
mile is going to take me for drive,
and afterward we are going to her
house for tea"
"ohr muttered Madison, little
blankly.
Helena smiled at him. nodded and
touched the horse with the whip.
"Oh, Mr.. Madison" she called, II
forgot to tell you! had letter from
Mr.. Thornton today. and he's coming
back tomorrow"
-
The wind kissed Helena's face, bring
Ing dainty color to her checks, tossing
truant wisps Of hair this way and that
% the car swept onward. But she sat
strangely silent now beside Thornton
at the steering wheel.
At moments most unexpected, as
now. when motoring with Thornton in
the car he had brought back with him
on his return to Medley, when laugh
ing at the Flopper's determined pur-
suit Of Mamie Rodgers. when engaged
In the homely, practical details OF
housekeeping about the cottage, there
came flashing suddenly upon her the
picture Of Mrs. Thornton lying on tn.
brass bed in the car compartment that
night, every line Of the pale, gentle
face as vivid. as actual as though 1t
were once more before her in reality.
and In her ears rang again, stabbing
her with their unmeant condemnation,
those words Of sweetness, love and
purity that held her up to gaze upon
herself in ghastly. terrifying mockery.
And yet somehow 1t did not all seem
sham, this part she played, and that
very thought, too. frightened her.
What was It? A week, another, two
more, q month had slipped away since
Thornton had returned, and there had
been SO much Of genuineness crowded
into this sham part she played that It,
seemed at times It must be genuine.
She had come to love that little room
Of hers--love It for its dear simplicity.
the white muslin curtains, the rag mat,
the patch quilt on the bed; those daily
duties Of woman that she had never
done before, that she had ut first look.
ed at askance, brought now sense OF
keen. housewifely pride. The gentle
patience Of tho Patriarch, his love for
her, his simple trust in her had found
q quick and instant response In her
own heart, and daily her affection for
him had grown.
And there was Thornton, who appear
ed in q curious way to appease new
hunger that had como TO her for con-
tact with better thoughts and better
ideals.
What was II? Environment? Yes.
there must be something in that It
was having It's effect even on Pale
Face Harry and the Hopper. What