The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-05-01

The bread was cut In precise triangies ;
the butter had been shaved into for
eign-looking roses. A pitcher of the
valleys fayorite beverage. iced tea,
stood by Hardln's plate. There was q
platter of cold meats.
1t came home TO lines for the hun
dredth time, the surprise of such a
meal In that desert. A few years ago,
and what had a meal been? She threw
the credit of the little lunch to sulky
Tom Hardin lying on the portiere-cov-
cred couch. his ugly lower lip out
thrust against an unsmiling vision. 1t
was Tom. Tom and his brave men, the
sturdy engineers, the d~auntless sur
veyors, the Indians who had dug the
canals, those were the ones who had
spread that pretty table. not the buxom
little woman darting about In pink
Bingham.
rs 1t because I don't like herr" she
unused, her eyes on the pictures In the
style book which had just come In that
morning. Certainly Gerry did have the
patience of a saint with Toms hui
mors. II she would only lose that set
look of martyrdoml 1t was not for an
outsider to Judge between a husband
and wife, even IL the man were her
own brother. She could not put her
finger on the germ OF their painful
scenes; she shrank from the recollec-
ton Of Toms temper; his coarse
streak, the Gingg fiber, her own mother
called II. Tom was rough, but she
loved him Why was 1t she was sure
that Gerry did not love her husband7
Yet there was the distrust, as fixed
and as unjust perhaps as the suspicion
Of Gerty's little mysteries.
She said aloud: This Is your last
day. My week begins tomorrow"
Mrs. Hardin adjusted a precise nap
kin before she spoke.
az think l will keep the reins for a
month this time" Her words we're re-
Elective, as though the thought were
new. Il get my hand in Just as / stop.
/ will be running out for my visit IT, a
few weeks. 1t will be only fair for me
" w II as iDuS bS Il Nuu.
Again the girl had a sense OF subtle
ty. Whenever Gerty put on that air OF
childish confidential elaboration. she
hunted for the plot. This was not far
TO seek. Her sister-in-law was passing
out h hot season to her.
IT'S all ready" Gerty's glance vas
winging. birdlike. over the table. Moth
ing had been forgotten. She gave a
little sigh OF elastic satisfaction. Har-
din misinterpreted II.
II ought to be able 20 keep a serv-
ant for her" IL was like him to have
forgotten the Lawrence days; he was
never free OF the sense Of obligation to
the dainty little woman who was born,
he. felt, for the purple. There was
nothing too good for Gerty. He felt
her unspOken disappointments; her
d~eprivations. "Of course. she can have
no respect for me. I'm a failure"
Doesn't this give you an appetizer
demanded Innes heartily. Sand I'm
to be a lady for three more weeks"
The remark was thoughtless. A bright
flush spread owe Gerty's face. She
caught an allusion to her origin.
lnnes saw the blush and remem-
bered the boarding house. She could
think of nothing to say. The three
relatives sat down to that most moor
Portable travesty, a social meal where
sociability Is lacking. Innes said It
had been a pleasant morning. Gerty
thought II had been hot. And then
there was silence again.
Innes began to tell them Of her Tue
10 visit when Gerty laid down her