Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-22

long Jagged cut on the forearm, where
the glass had ripped along the flesh
for several inches. She gave a cry Of
horror and pity at the sight, and
bound it afresh with surprising skill
and knowledge. The. advice Of old
Kipp, who lowered jealousy over her,
was anticipated in every instance. The
girl was stealing his prerogative. as
indeed she was.
i've had 'em to FIX up BEFORE" she
answered, when he questioned her\a Al
to where she had acquired her skin.
"a friend Of mine used to get stuck
once in a while.
D. But on this. suggestive line Of inter-
est she would add nothing further, but
finished her .bapdaging, and despite
Adams protests that it was entirely
unnecessary, improvised a sling from
the silk muffler which was a part Of
his dress outfit, which he had put
away on his assuming possession of
the shack.
t. Takes of the strain: you better
leave it," she said. And as his arm
did ache. he let her have her way,
watching her face sorrowfully as she
fastened the sling.
A~great change had come upon
Pearl overnight. Her manner was
curiously subdued,@ and there was a
look in her eyes, which. touched Adam
pain, as a hurt dog looks at the loved
master that has beaten him. She
seemed broken, allgthe careless love of
life which had so fired her, despite
her illness and misfortune, had disap-
peared, wiped out at a stroke. Even
her movements az she went about her
tasks were lifeless, and the color was
gone from her cheeks. And Adam,
suffering dumbly at sight Of the trans
could have met the difficult, situation
in which she had placed him, SO Is to
have spared her more. But the ques-
ton was too big for a light or hasty
answer. In 1t lay the whole prob
lem of love u~nrequited; the strange
universal force which drives men to
love women who will not have them,
and women to loye men who feel no
response. 1t seemed such an unrea-
sonable thing, that such a force
should come into existence unless it
came reciprocalfy to both! The great
est force in Nature. working thus at
odds with itself, filled him with inn
potent distress, and the mad desire,
which comes toseVeryone at times, to
reconstruct the universe on a sounder
basis. He flung his tiny contempt
agaiRstNthe~whole 9bungled~ a of.
creation, seeing his own gradually
equilibrium as an improvement on the
great scheme Of things. He did not
know what to do about it, but he per-
ceived that life was difficult, and felt
that 7he would have made it easier II
he had a a say at the Big Begin
ming. Following this line Of thought.
he asked a question Of the girl who
was lending him suGcor.
PEARL" he said,' did you ever
have a feeling that you'd like to make
the world over?" y
She lookedla at him in. surprise. and
considered for a moment while she
completed the sling. for his arm.
Yes, 1~have," she said, quietly.
"Often. When I was a. kid I had a
kitten that got hurt by a heap of
junk settling by itself and falling over,
on it. The poor kitty was just about
smashed. And I ran around the yard
yelling up at the sky ht God. and tell,
ing him He had done a wicked thing
to let that junk pile shift"
And since you grew up?"
1--WE often felt that way. AS II I'd
have made a clearer. better plan for
the world than He. seems to have. But
that's only my f~oolishness, because, Of
course, everything that happens, hap
pens because theNpeople in the world
amt had sense enough to use the
world right. We're suffering from
one another's mistakes.-And that idea
of finding fault and feeling you could
have planned it better seems to me to
prove we C make it better. I be-
lieve, somehow, 1t isn't too late to.
make a new world If we only knew
how to begin. Though God knows, it
won't be done in time to help me
any"
Don't say that" Adam replied.
Anyone who is philosopher enough
to say what you have just said, will
have strength to work out their own
problem, I'm sure"
II never put 1t in words before"
said Pearl. But I'm glad you got me
to say it. 1 believe It more for hay
All the morning she kept close to
him. making to run to where
he was at work. Always her manner
was subdued and slightly a%pologetic.
Nevertheless. she seemed 70 fear that
her knowing it, and there was some
thing stealthy in the watch she kept
upon him. The climax came when. in
the afternoon. he set Out without CIV
ing notice. Through her bedroom
window she saw him leaving. and
hastily d~iscardinE her apron. and
selling her hat, she overlook him
just as he was turning westward to
the park. She was breataless and
coughing as she reached his side, and
smiled up into his face.
"Hello!" exclaimed Adam. startled.
Where are you bound for?"
1T you're going to the park. I'd
like to come along" she said. do
you object to my company" "
He flushed and looked at her In, be-
wilderment. Here was q complication
for one!
object to your company. certain