The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-18

ard, she was the only woman there /
Because she was Toms sister, she had
a right to resent 1t, to refuse to meet
his eye. Small wonder Tom did not
come to the DeltaI
Going in with MacLean, Jr., TO the
messroom for glass of water, she met
Richard, on his way out. She man
aged to avoid shaking hands with him.
She wondered why she had consented
to give him the next waltz.
Hell not find me-" she determined.
MacLean followed her gladly to the
dark corner Of the deck where's Jose's
guitar was then syncopating an accom-
paniment to his amigos" voice.
To her surprise, Richard penetrated
her curtain of shadows.
sour dance, Miss Hardin? Give US
'Sobr' Las olas,' again, jose"
The hand that barely touched his
arm was stiff with antagonism. She
told herself that he had to dance with
her-politeness, conventionalky, de-
manded it. But, instantly, she forgot
her resentment, and forgot their awk-
ward relation. 1t was his dancing, not
Gerty's, then, that was superb" Any
body could find skill under the leader
ship of that irresistible step. And then
the motion claimed her. She thought
of nothing; they moved as one to the
liquid falling beat.
The music dropped them suddenly,
solating them at the stern of the deck.
The silence was complete. Richard
broke II to ask her what she thought of
! the camp.
| Her resentments were recalled. She
Numbered through her impression of
the ltghtness, the gayety.
"A work camp does not have to be
solemn. You'll find all the grimness
you want if you look beneath the sur
face"
The guitars were tuning up. "Shall
l take you back? / have this dance
with your sister"
She thought of Tom-on his lonely
cot outside his tent. She forgot that
she had been asked a question. He
was dancing again with Gerty! If that
A silly little woman had no scruples, nc
fine feeling, this man should at least
guard her. If he had been her lover
he should be careful he must see that
people were talking of them. She had
seen the glances that evening! The
business relation between the two mer
should suggest tact, if not decency Il
was outrageous.
Richard stood waiting to be dis
missed; puzzled. Through the uncer
tain light, her anger came to him. She
looked taller, older; there was flame
of accusing passion in her eyes.
It was his minute of revelation. 81
I that was what the camp thought! TIL,
wife of Hardin-Hardin! Why, he'C
been only polite to her-they were ole
friends. What had he said to call dowI
t this sudden scorn2 Dancing again
5 Had he been all kinds of an ass?
'My turn, Miss lines" demanded
MacLean, Jr.
"Oh, yes" she cried, relief in he
} tone.
Richard did not claim his dane
! with Mrs. Hardin. He stood wher
a the girl had left him, thinking A few
!, minutes later, Gerty swept by in tn
q arms OF Breck. Later, came lime
with Junior; the two, thinking them
:, selves unseen, romping through two
: step like two young children. He wa
I never shown that side of her. Gay a
/ young kitten, chatting merrily wit
r MaeLean! Should her eyes discoye
r him, she would be again the haught
young woman!
He'd gone out of his way to be pc
lite to the wife Of Hardin. What di
he care what they thought? He'd fiji
ish his job, and get out.
A minute later, he was being rowe
back to camp.