The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-04-17


| here, isn't it2" She flashed at him the
look he remembered so wildly, the
childish coquettish appeal. 1--WE dine
at home, till II becomes tiresome, and
then We coma f~oraging for variety. But
you must DIN 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-
suadc him TO take this Job.
Hardin waited a scant minute to pro-
test what possessed you to ask him
to dlnner?"
why shouldn't I? He Is an old
friend" Gerry caught a glance of ap-
peal, from sister to brother. JEALOUSY"
she pouted charmlngly at her lord.
Jealous, no I" bluffed Hardin.
He thought then hat she knew, that
Inpes had told her. The Lawrence cpl
sode held no sting to him. Once, II
had enchanted him that he had carried
of the boarding-house belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookman! A superior dudei He had
always had those grand airs. AS IL it
were not more to a mans credit to
struggle for his education, even IL he
were Older than his class, or his teach
er, than to accept II Off silver plates,
handed by lackeys2 Richard had al
ways acted as If 1t had been something
to be ashamed OF. 1t made him sick.
They've done 1t this time. It's a
fool choice"
Again, that look Of pleading from In
mes. Gerry had a shiver Of intuition.
"Fool choice?" Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook of Innes' eyes. Better
be done with It'll Hes the new gen.
eral manager"
Hes the general manager"
"Im to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbling bread on the t%ablecloth,
thinking, fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
Didn't I tell your Her voice, re-
pressed. carried the threat of tears.
Didn't l tell you how 1t would be2
Didn't l say hat you'd be sorry IL you
called the railroad INF"
"Must we go over this again?" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell mel Why did
you let me make a goose Of myself?"
She was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
mes. She knewl A family secret !
She shrugged. "Tm glad, on the whole,
that you planned 1t as a surprise. For
1 carried 1t of as II we'd not been In
suited. ~disgraced."
"Gerty !" expostulated Hardin.
"Gerty !" implored Innes.
"And we are In for a nice friendly
dinneri"
Are you quite finished" Hardin
got w.
As the three passed out Of the dining
room, Richard caught their several ex-
pressions: Hardin's stif, Indifferent ;
Gefty's brilliant but hard. as she
flashed a finished. brave little smile In
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
In the hall. Gerty's laugh rippIed
out. 1t was the laugh Richard remem-
bered, the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the flamboyant pattern
of the Holmes parlor carpet, the long,
crowded dining table where Gerty had
reigDed. 1t told him that she was in
different to his coming. as she meant
It should. And 1t turned him back to
a dark corner in the honeysuckle-
draped porch where he had spent so
many evenings with her, where once
he had held her hand. where he told
her that he loved her. For he had
loved her, or at least he thought he
had! And had run away from her ex-
pectant eyes. A cad. was he, because
he had brought that waiting look into
her eyes. and had run from it,
Should q man ask q woman to give
her life into lis keeping until he is
quite sure that he wants TT He was
revamping his worn defense. Should
he live up to a minute Of surrender. of
tenderness, II the next instant brings
sanity. and dislllusionment7 He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. ii was easy to see, had forget
ten what Ae had whispered to Gerry
Holmes. They met as sober old
friends That ghost was laid.