Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-03-28


here, isn't it?" She flashed at him the
look he remembered so wildly, the
childish coquettish appeal. 1--WE dine
at home, till it becomes tiresome, and
then we come foraging for variety. But
you must come to US, say Thursday. Is
that right for you? We should love it."
Still those two averted faces. Rick
ard said Thursday, as he was hidden,
and got back TO his table, wondering
why in thunder he had let Marshall per-
suade him to take this job.
Hardin waited a scant minute to pro-
test: "What possessed you to ask him
to dinnerY
"Why shouldn't I? He is an old
friend" Gerty caught a glance of ap-
peal, from sister to brother. "Jealous"
she pouted charmingly at her lord.
Jealous, no !" bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
InDes had told her. The Lawrence cpl
sode held no sting to him. Once, it
! had enchanted him that he had carried
off the clearinghouse belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookmanl a superior dudeI He had
always had those grand airs. AS If it
were not more to a mans credit to
struggle for his education, even if he
were older than his class, or his teach
er, than to accept it off silver plates,
handed by lackeys? Richard had al
ways acted as if it had been something
to be ashamed of. 1t made him sick.
They've done it this time. it's a
fool choice"
Again, that look of pleading from In
mes. Gerty had a SILVER of intuition.
fool choice?" Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook off lines eyes. Better
be done with i'll Hes the new gen
eral manager"
Hes the general managerT'
'I'm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was of the stunned |
variety. The Hardins watched her |
crumbling bread on the tablecloth, |
thinking, fearfully, that she was going |
to cry.
didn't 1 tell you?" Her voice, re-
pressed, carried the threat of tears.
Didn't I tell you how it would be?
Didn't 1 say that you'd be sorry if you
called the railroad in?"
Must we go over this again?" asked
her husband.
why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make goose of myself?"
SHE was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
fon |
She shrugged. 'Pm glad, on the whole.
that you planned it as a surprise. For
carried it off as if we'd not been in
suited. disgraced."
"Gertyi" expostulated Hardin.
"Gertyl" implored lines.
"And we are in for nice friendly
"Are you quite fnished?" Hardin
got up.
AS the three passed out of the dining
Dom, Richard caught their several ex-
)ressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent;
Serty's brilliant but hard, as she .
dashed a finished, brave little smile in :.
lis direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall, Gerty's laugh rippled
tut. 1t was the laugh Richard remem-
'ered, the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the fiamboyant pattern
f the Holmes parlor carpet, the long.
rowded dining table where Gerty had :
eigned. 1t told him that she was in
ifferent to his coming, as she meant I.
should. And it turned him back to II
dark corner in the honeysuckle-
raped porch where he had spent so
lany evenings with her, where once u
e had held her hand, where he told
er that he loved her. For he had "
wed her, or at least he thought he
ad And had run away from her ex- p
ectant eyes. A cad, was he, because
e had brought that waiting look into q
er eyes, and had run from It? II
Should q man ask a woman to give n
er life into his keeping until he is u
ute sure that he wants 1t? He was III
his worn defense. Should
2 live up to minute of surrender, of OF
If the next instant brings IA
nifty, and disillusionment? He could II
Try now forever self-reproach. He 81
'uld laugh at mis- own vanity. Gerty 81
ardin, it was easy TO see, had forgot al
n what he had whispered to Gerty
dimes. They met as sober old lie
lends. That ghost was laid. 10
CHAPTER v. Ia
tn