Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-10

Swithin and his fatal forty days OF
storm. swung back to rain In n!sHt
and continued for two entire 1aye.
shutting the men In and making tneI.
restless. Only old Mr.. kip was NJ.
disturbed by the conditions, and Ak.
ing his great basket OF catnip. wens
forth into the wet to cry his wares
fdgety with the inaction. but stood lot
hours in the shelter Of the little porch,
watching the gratitude of his garaen
to the gray skies. and consoied MN,
self with the sight OF the
growth 1t made.
And during this period Pearl pc
came established as a household iact'
Her quietness. her patience, her some
what clumsy but thorough houseKeep-
ing, her evident happiness. were taken
completely for granted. 1t eemeo q as
Adam she became fitted into the
household much as had Gomorrah. the
cat. He liked to have her around, ne
was kind to her, he forgot her. n
was there; unobtrusive, useful. rather
pleasant than otherwise; but com
pletely without any personal reactlon
upon him. His little flame of that past
afternoon had died at birth, and never
once entered his head Pearl com,
planned to Woolcraft that Adam careo
more for the sweet peas than for folks.
And woolcraft's only answer was q
chuckle Of satisfaction.
But though Adam was blind TO
Pearl, the reverse was untrue. " wal
evident from the start that ne helo an
especial interest for her, and 1t was
Adam who got the best things at
table, little as he noticed it. Adam
whose plans were first. deferred to,
Adam who was first considered in
everything. And the less he noticed
it, the harder she strove. In q qulet
way, to please him. She FOLLOWED
everything that he did, watching aim
with devoted eyes, humbly. grateful
admiring, and Adam all the
went his way unconscious a tribe cross
and impatient Of the weather n the
only one who noted the look IN the
girls eyes vas Woolcraft.
And so those two days that were
like two weeks. went by, leaving a
sun-hlled morning laughing at itself
in the mirroring mud puddles. There
vas a vast TODD in the garden where
the green things were struggling to
free themselves from cloying sand and
watery graves, and Adam was early
abroad. Mr.. Kipp went off to fetch
the catnip roots from his old dwelling
place, and settle with his landlady
there-a party he was glad to be leav-
ing, though fearful of taking leave OF,
for, as he explained, he strongly sus-
pected her of matrimonial designs
upon himself. He went off bravely,
however, muttering something about
"bein' used to cats, thank the Lord
even the most scratchin' kind, which
it is a good thing I've tough old skin,
dog-gone her!' and was seen no more
till, night. ts
I Woolcraft was busy opening a drain
by the gate when Pearl appeared on
the veranda steps, a. light, old
fashioned wrap about her shoulders
her curly hair, brushed neatly back,
but uncovered, a large market-basket
upon her arm. There vas a touch OF
rouge upon her pallid cheeks. just a
touch, like a remnant of, the cheaE
%coquetry which she was gradually
dropping. But in contradiction to the
false color, she wore a stiff white
apron below the shawl. And standing
there beneath the poisoning morn
ing-glory vine, she made such a prett,
picture that Woolcraft dropped hi!
spade and gaped at her. Adam, from
the sweet pea trench, watched thu
little scene amusedly, as she came
slowly down the path, and the ex'
fighter in~stinctively grabbed Off hi
cap.
"I ought to go to market" Adam
heard her say. I'VE need some grub
Shall I ask Mr.. Van Week."
II got some money" Woolcraft in
terrupted her. "I'Il go with YOU You
hadn't ought to go alone. You ain
well enough" /
IT feel pretty swell since it's cleared
up SO f1ne," Pearl made answer
glazing over in Adams. direction
"Oughtn't I ask Mr. Van Week..