The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-06-28

sIlk-stockinged feet at the small coal
crate. Fall had come, and there was
sharp nip to the air.
swell, what do you think OF it as
far as you've goneT he asked alb.
ruptly.
II think It's fine," she candidly ad
mitted. 'Tm enjoying myself. like
1t. Don't your"
"As diversion" he observed
thoughtfully. ~ don't mind 1t. These
people are all very affable and pleas
ant, and they've rather gone out Of
their way to entertain us. But, after
all, what the dickens does 1t amount
to? They spend their whole life run
ming In useless circles. I should think
they'd get sick Of II. You WILL"
Hardly, Billum," she smiled. "We're
merely making up for two years Of iso-
lation. think we must be remarkable
people that we didn't fight like cats
and dogs. For eighteen months, you
know, there wasn't soul to talk to,
and not much to think about except
what you could do If you were some
place else"
you're acquiring the atmosphere"
he remarked sardonically, she
thought.
mo; Just enjoying myself" she re-
piled lightly.
"Well, If you really are" he an
swered slowly, 1--WE may as we'll settle
here for the winter-and get settled
right away. I'm rather weary Of being
a guest in another mans house, to tell
you the truth"
"Why, I'd love to stay here all win
ter" she said. "But I thought you In.
tended to knock around more or less"
"But don't you see, you don't partic-
ularly care to-" he pointed out; "and
1t would spoil the fun Of going any
place for me If you were not interest
ed. And when 1t comes to q show
down I'm not aching to be a bird Of
passage. One city is pretty much like
another to me. Wen take run over
to New York. I want to get some
books and things. Then we'll come
back here and get house or a fat
tell you right now," he laughed not
unpleasantly, "I'm not going to renig
on this society game. You can play It
as hard as you like, until spring. I'll
be there with bells on when 1t comes
to a dance. And I'll 60 to a show
when a good play comes along. But I
won't mix up with lot Of silly women
and equally silly she-men, any more
than Is absolutely necessary"
why, Bill" she exclaimed aghast.
well, ain't 1t So" he defended la
lilly. 'There's Kitty Brooks-she has
certainly got intelligence above the av-
erage. That Lorimer girl has brains
superimposed on her artistic tempera.
ment, and she uses 'em to advantage.
Practically all the rest that I've met
are intellectual nonentities-strong on
looks and clothes and amusing them.
selves, and that let's them out. Shucks
there isn't real man In the lot. May.
be I'll run across some people whd
don't take two-by-four view of life
II stay around here long enough. but
1t hasn't happened to me yet. I must
say that the habltual conversation Of
these people gives me q pain. That
platitudinous discussion Of the play to
night, for instance"
"That was droll." Hazel chuckled at
the recollection. and she recalled the
weary look that had once or twice
fitted over Bill's face during that
after-theater supper.
Bill snorted.
"Droll. Perhaps" he said. "Bla.
tant ignorance, coupled with a desire
to appear the possessor of culture, 10
sometimes amusing. But as a general
thing 1t simply irritates."
"You're hard to please" she replied
He shrugged his shoulders and re-
mained silent.
"Well," he said presently. "we'll take
that jaunt to New York day after to
morrow"
He was still sitting by the window
when Hazel was ready to 60 to bed
She came back into the room In 6
trailing silk kimono, and, stealins