Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-20
Ix-Continued.

! CnAT xtIk6 OutI
They had been married two months.
Elsie Adriance slowly closed the door
and turned to the uncleared breakfast
table. But presently she left the
dishes she had begun to assemble, and
walked to one of the rear windows.
There she leaned, gazing where An
thony never gazed: toward h gray
and-white stateliness of New York,
across the ice-dotted river. She con-
templated the city,,>n with defiance
or challenge, but with the steady-eyed
gravity Of one measuring an enemy
Two months, and the victory was
still with her! Yet. she warned her
self, surely some day New York would
call. She eve quite could forget
that. She herself was not unlike a
city preparing for defence, feverishly
grasping at every stone to build her
ramparts. How she envied Lucille
Masterson her beauty. the elder Adri-
ance his wealth, since those posses
sions might have bound Anthony
closer to her! She recalled Mrs. Mas
like flowers and as delightful to the
touch; the costly perfumes that made
all her belongings fragrant; the
studied coquetry that kept her like
Cleopatra, never customary or stale.
To oppose all this, Anthony's wife had
only-her hearth. For she never
would keep her husband against his
will; Elsie Adriance never would
claim as a right what she had held as
a gift.
The Kittens black -and-white mid
drawing, rubbed insistently against
the girls foot. She picked up the liv-
ing toy and nestled its furry warmth
beneath her chin, as she turned In
quest Of milk. She thrust forebodings
from her mind with resolute will. 1t
a too soon to think of these things;
Anthony loved her, Anthony was con-
tent.
She had no conception of how fer
vently glad Anthony WAC to be rid Of
harassing thoughts and complications,
or how gratefully the luxury of. peace
EMBODIED him and dwarfed the mere
physical luxuries or idleness and
lavish expenditure. Nor, being a
woman, did she sufficiently value his
pride in the possessions he had bought
with his own labor. Tony Adriance
his fathers house; he had been
known to overturn a whole tray Of
translucent co~ffee-cups set in %lace-fine
silver work, without a second glance
at the destruction. But he knew
every n Of the cheap, heavy dishes
he and Elsie had added to their equip
ment on Saturday evening shopping
orgies at a Acknowledgement store.
Knew, and admired them! When Ell
sic would call from her Kitchen cor
ner;" Bring me the Niagara platter,
honey" he could locate that ceramic
atrocity at a glance. And when he
let fall the Whistler bread-plate-it
had a nocturnal, black-lined land
scape effect in its centre-he was
truly grieved. Indeed, it was he who
selected their china, Elsie's taste be-
ing inclined toward a simplicity he re-
fused as monotonous. He neve had
realized the pleasure of purchasing
until he went shopping with his wife,
chose with her, overruled her or in
dulged her in some fancy, then drew
out his newly-recefved wage and paid,
magnificent.
He could not have explained his
emotions to Elsie. But his candid de-
light in those expeditions came to her
memory. as she poured the kittens
f,milk into a u enamelled with
blue forget-me-nots. She lifted her
head and again glanced toward the
distant city; but this time she smiled
with certain triumph. He was her
husband: better still, he was as eager
1ly her playmate as any lonely boy who
ssst finds a chum. She knew Lucille
~ NAN NV Ro90S0 SAO - VI
con :adeship among her talents; it
was an art toe unselfish.
when he begins to tire Of just
pl:ying this way" she half-uncon-
sciouslya addressed the kitten, I'VE will
find something else. There will al
ways be something for us to think of,
together. 1t will come when 1t is
needed. Perhaps"
Arrested. her breath failed speech.
It was as II her own words had
thrown open a door before which she
faltered, her eyes sun-dazzled, yet
glimpsing a wide horizon.
Soothed by her silent neighbor-
hood. the kitten finished tapping its
milk and went to sleep against her
skirt. But the girl, stood still for a
long time, steadying her heart, which
seemed to hex tp be filling like a cup
held under a clear fountain.
Later in the day . boy brought
wreaths and spray of holly to the
door. Elsie bought recklessly, 30
Adriance came home that night to q
house Yule-gay with scarlet and
green, spicy with the cinnamon frag-
rance Of the apple-fritters, and hold
ing a mistress who showed him q
Christmas face Of merry content.
II could not wait two days" she
explained to him. Well begin now
and work up to 1t gradually"
But after all. Christmas morning
came e 9 surprise, and achieved q
final defeat Of doubts and forebodings
q day. For, kissing his wife awake
forestalling hers.
Hvou never haA an an-~a-nn<