Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-19
GARDEN
a NOVEL
p IA (Conhnued),
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM!

CHAPTER "a tConhnued),
"The hussy!" exclaimed Kip. "rhe
disgrace! II only her pa had beaten
her good when she wal younger! The
hussy!"
Adam paced. up ana down,sthe old
man watching him. At length he
stopped. and stood breaking a sprig
Of geranium to bits. 4
IT suppose I'm fool Of a senti-
mentalist," said he. But I must
confess this performance has been a
disappointment. Will you say some
thing to her 2"
The old man pondered the sugges-
ton a few seconds. and then shook
his head slowly.
"Nope!" said he, at length. ST don't
she won't take IL from me. She'd
bawl me out. She's known me too
long, and she's got no>respect for my
judgment. But IL you, now...." J.
"Me?" exclaimed Adam. "You
want me to speak to her. 49, Z
you r the only one erethat kin
do a thing with her" replied Kipp.
A short silence fell between them.
Adam fighting his unwillingness. But
after all, Pearl had broken her word
to him; the promise she had volun-
teered without any pressure, to give
up the old life! II anything in human
relationships was Of value, 1t was
faith; and no changing conceptions of
social values in any way alteredA that.
If he could make, her see this, 1t
would, of course, accomplish some-
thing. He turned to Kipp with the
decision made.
"Ill have a try" said he. Though,
of course, we have no real authority
over her." t{4s
1--WE have a friendly feelin' for her!"
retorted Kipp, dryly.
But after all. it was Pearl herself
who brought the matter up. and it
was to Adam that she came about it.
1t happened at the end Of a day which,
between the steadily increasing sultri-
ness Of the weather, and the tense
atmosphere of the situation in which
all had been striving to act as though
nothing unusual had occurred, and
failed miserably, had been almost un-
bearable. 1t was after the evening
meal, and old Kipp had. gone off to
visit his family Of kittens and a new
cat which had been sent m for treat
ment; all of whom the herb doctor
had established in a sort Of kennel in
the yard. Woolcraft was walking
moodiy up and down in front. He
fitful glow of his pipe, put Of sight,
in the heavy blackness of the prema-
ture night. The storm which had
been slowly gathering all day was fast
approaching, smothering the city with
its black, enormous wings. The air
scarcely moved, and the noxious odors
of the streets and tenements stole in
to mingle with the hot fragrance of
the garden. In the main room of the
shack, the lamp burned sulleniy, the
atmosphere was thick with the smell
Of food and tobacco. The two who
were left on opposite sides Of the table
long time, and,then the woman, bow
ing her head, began to weep, softly.
For a moment nothing but the almost
fnaudible sound OF her sobbing was
heard, and then Adam spoke with
gentle awkwardness.
"I-1 say, don't PEARL" His voice
was low. IT can't bear to see you SO.
No one is really down on you. Hon
estly. Only-it's the hurt Orwell, a
sort Of disappointment, don't you see?
I-weare your friends. and...."
Il wisht was deadG she choked
from the depths Of her handkerchief.
PLEASED" he begged her, leaning
across the table to touch her gently
on the shoulder. please don't talk
like that. There's no use in being too
sorry for things we've done. Being
too sorry somehow saps the strength
out Of the resolve not to do them
again; as though we felt that being
so very sorry was %suf1cient atonement.
And it isn't. Just decide not to any
more, and forget it, and live the best
you can. Don't be too sorry. And
and don't talk to me unless you want
to-Great Scott! What a I say"
She looked up at him with q re-
proachful, tear-stained face.
you got me wrong" she said
solemnly. Seems to me you're pretty
quick to believe the worst Of a person.
and that's a poor Kind Of 'friend; the
one who can't believe in you the min
ute appearances is bad. What makes
you SO sure I-Rok-a-here, I ask you
to trust me, and you say you do, and
then bang-o! First thing I do that
looks queer, you go off the handle.
Six Of one and ha~lf-a-dozen Of the
other, I call 1T" ~
That the girl was speaking from the
consciousness Of right on her side was
unQuestionable.
why didn't you say anything when
you came back % he asked.
Perhaps I had something I didn't
want to TELL" she replied. "And didn't
want to lie about It. I got a right to
do that"
"of course" he answered, and stop
ped. Somehow there seemed nothing
else to say.
But not SO Pearl. Her tears were
dry now, and she was looking at him
very earnestly. From under the
tangled mass Of her black hair her
eyes shone like stars.
"It's been hell here for the last two
days" she said. KNOWING what you
thought, I wanted you to trust ms
without me saying anything, but.I see
I must. And it atn't true what you
thought, I swear to God it ANTI"
Then I am very glad" Adam said.