Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-21
MANS HEARTH
By ELEANOR M. INGRAM, Author Of "The Twice American" Etc.
His eyes blaxed, then chilled. Her
lack Of fnesse had led her to q Anal

His eyes blazed, then chilled. Her
lack Of h1esse had led her to q final
mistake. ~
fashionable woman. / am still hap
PLY married." he retorted.
"How-romantic!"
very"
still. two months. or is it three?
You will not mind my saying that you
are a bit tickle, Tony. What will you
do when you grow bored? Or do you
believe that you never will? Elsie
must have that I never sus-
pected. Does she tell you the story
of-Monsieur Raoul, was it,"
She has others more pleasant.
With Mrs. Adriance boredom is not
possible" he controlled his anger to
state. But he felt himself clumsy and
inadequate. h
The quaint little waitress was beside
him, and proceeded to her duty of
and precision. She was a pretty girl,
In a butter-cup-yellow frock and
ruf1led white cap and apron. Adri-
ance became conscious Of his work
darkened hands. Of a collar that
showed a days accumulated dust, and
other signs that differentiated him
from the usual idle and dainty
patrons Of this place.
You are a BIT seedy," corroborated
Mrs; Masterson. watching him with
furttve acutenees. She permitted her
self an irohic smile. "Do you not
think it time you went home, and
changed?"
He OWNED an inuendo, a double
entendre In the speech that he did not
comprehend, yet which enraged him.
He wondered IL she had brought him
here for the purpose Of forcing this
contrast between his present life and
his past. and so tainting him with dis
content or even regret of his mar
merely visited his humiliation on her.
and found her beauty spoiled by her
s~pitefulness. -.
Il shall be home in an hour" he
said. And Of course 1 am anxious
to be there, so you will forgive my
to discuss" ~ - :
ooh, Of course" She paused until
their attendant f1uttered away
through a swinging door. You are
quite cured Of me, aren't you. Tony ?
Don't trouble about denying politely,
please. But it is lucky no one really
knew about us-I suppose you have
not told?"
MRS. Masterson!"
She hushed the protest, laughing
across the spray of sweet-peas she
had lifted against her smooth red lips.
Very well. very well! But promise
you v will. Promise. Tony"
1T is nj necessary" he replied
stlf1ly: But II o think it so, I give
Never to tell that 1 thought of
marrying you, whatever may hap
penn" 7
Yes"
She dropped the sweet-peas and sat
in silence for a space, her. gaze dwell
ing on him. Neither of the two made
any p%retense of pouring the tea cool
ing In the diminutive pots between
them, or Of tasting the miniature
sandwiches and cakes. Months later,
Adriance was to learn something Of
Lucille Masterson's thoughts during
that interval. FIe himself thought
of Russian Mike waiting in the motor
truck, and that he would be so late
home that Elsie might be worried. He
had wanted to stop at a shop to buy
a toy bulldog collar for his Christ
mas puppy. but NOW that must be
postponed. He was amazed and in
finitely angry at himself for yielding
So easily 10 Lucille Wnlm to bring
him, here.
Unconsciously he looked toward her
with open Impotence in his glance.
She responded at once, with a shrug.
Go. by all means Pray go, Tony
Am I keeping you? 1 am not the kind
of woman who mourns, you know
Just remember that our episode is not
only closed. but locked, when We meet
again. Goodbye"
And the important communication
that I was to hear?"
Il have forgotten what I wanted to
say. Goodbye, Tony"
Puzzled and angry. he rose. lAav.
ing on the table twice the amount OF
the check, at which he had mo- look.
ed. Mrs. Masterson nodded an ac.
acknowledgement of his grim salute. He,
eyes had a look of triumph, and as the
girl in yellow ushered him out, Adri-