The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-25
Iardin. She's probahl
elf to death over this dil


greeting was q little distracted. Ho'
could she make Innes understand t
tell Tom to charge his coat? Th
duty of a host, she suddenly remcn
bered, was to dress down rather tha
up to the chances of his guest. Sh
regretted bitterly her insistence. Wa
ever anyone so obtuse as Innes? MI
; Richard would see that they though
it q big event. She was watching tn
curtain where Tom would emerge
And his coat was a style of severa
seasons ago and absurdly tight! Sh
made an unintellfgible excuse ant
darted behind the portiCre. -
Toms face was apoplectic. He wa
wrestling with nlussed tie; the col
lar showed a desperate struggle.
Gerty made wild signals for him t.
change his clothes. She waved /
hand indicating Richard; she pointed
to Toms sack suit lying on the foo
where he had walked out of 1t.
"What is it all about?'
"Ssh," whispered his wife. Agai,
the wild gestures.
swell, aren't you satisfied? Dom
I look like a guy?"
He could be heard distinctly in the
next room. Gerty gave it up in de
spair. She dabbed some more powder
on her nose and went out looking like
q martyr-a very pretty martyr!
Richard praised the miracles Of the
tent Gsstss saG ssss ssssas6ss K
nes Of fineiir viI reIutivn. Exit Innes,"
she was thinking. when Tom, red and
perspiring, brought another element
of discomfort into the room.
Gerty uShered them Immediately to
the table. She covered the first min
utes which might be awkward with
her small chatter. Somewhere she
had read that it was not well to make
apologies for lack of maid or fare.
Besides Mr.. Richard remembered
Lawrence! That dreadful dining
room, the ever-set table! How she
had hated it, though she had not
known how fearful it was until she
had escaped.
"We are simple folk here, Mr.. Rick
ard" she announced, as they took
their places around the pretty table.
That was her only allusion to def1cien-
cies, but it covered her noiseless move
ments around the board between
courses, filed up the gaps when she
made necessary dives into kitchen or
primitive ice chest, and set the key
for the LONELINESS of the meal itself.
The dinner was triumph Of apparent
simplicity. Only Innes could guess
the time consumed in the perfection
Of detail, details dear to the hostess
heart. The almonds she had blanched,
Of course, herself; had dipped and
salted them. The cheese straws were
her own. She did not make the mis-
take Of stringing out endless courses.
An improvised buffet near at hand
made the serving triumph. '
Rickard praised each dish; openly
he was admiring her achievement.
.Gnnes, remembering the story Gerty
had told her in dots and dasheS, the
story of the old rivalry, glanced cov-
ertly-at Tom sulking at the head of
ais own table.
"Poor sulky Achilles" she thought.
Dear, honest old bearw
n,;o1 1Sce
She turned to find that the gueA
vas staring at her. She had not heard
his effort to include her in the con-
gersation.
'N1r. Richard asked you if you like
1t here?"
"ThNnk you-why, of coursew Her
answer sounded pert to herself.
Her sister-in-law fastened to add
that Miss Hardin was very lonely, was
really all alone in the world; that they
insisted on her making her home with
them.
Innes had with difficulty restrained
denial. After all, what other home
had she? Still the truth had been de-
hccted. She recalled the sacrifice it
had been to cut her college course in
order TO make q home in the desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathcrcd her, who had helped
her invest her small capital that it
might spell small income. She re-
called his resistance when she had
called in q mortgage who could watch
that mad scapogoat of river playing
pranks with desert homes and not
yearn to help? Not a Hardin. She
still gloried in remembering that she
had at least driven one pile into that
rebellious stream, even if when she
left the valley it would be as bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
good craftsman; she would go as
an apprentice in an architects office.
She had already settled on the archi-
tect!
"Are you going to Los Angeles
soon?" She heard the new manager
address his host.
20 -; ~