Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-04-11

had it for long time. For she had
had the material long timel II
wasn't necessary to explain to fel
husbands sister that it had been
made up that week. She hoped that
she didn't look "fussed up Would
Mr. Richard think she was attaching
any Importance to the simple little
visit? For it was nothing to him, OF
course. A man of his standing, WHOM
the great Tod Marshall ranked sc
high, probably dined out several times
each week, with uninterrupted maids
and candelabra Ii Tom had only
made the most of his opportunities
What gamble, life to a woman.
She made a trip into her bedroom
and took a reassuring survey in her
mirror. The lingerie frock would look
simple to a man who would never
| suspect it of handmade duplicity
Her glass declared the hand-whipped
| medalliOns casual and elegant And
long time ago, q lifetime ago, Rick
ard had told her that she always
| should wear blue, because Of her eyes
Innes from the next room could hear
| Gerty teasing Tom to wear his Tux
| edo.
isn't one dude enough for you?'
| growled her surly lord. Innes recog-
nized the mood and shrank from the
ordeal ahead. 1t was the mood of
the Hardin in the rough, the son of
his frontier mother, the fruit of cid
Jasper Gingg, whose snaithy had been
| the rendezvous for the widest roughs,
the fiercest cattlemen in Missouri.
"rd let him see you knew what's
what. even if we Go live like gipsies."
The answer to, that was another
growl. lines could hear him dragging
out the process, grumbling over each
detail. That confcurGed laundry had
! torn his shirt. He hadn't decent
collar to his name. Where was his
| black string tie? If Cert would keen
his things in the lowest drawer! Hang
| that button Gerty emerged frora the
encounter, her face very red Innes
could see her biting her lips to keep
the tears back as she put the last
COucneS TO the taDle.
"She's tired out" thought the sister
| of Tom Hardin. "She's probably
fused herself to death over this din
ner."
| A few minutes later Richard ar
rived in a sack suit of tweeds. Gerty's
| greeting was little distracted. How
| could she make Innes understand to
| tell Tom to change his coat? The
| duty of host, she suddenly remen-
| bered, was to dress down rather than
up to the chances of his guest. She
regretted bitterly her insistence. Was
| ever anyone so obtuse as lines? MIR.
| Richard would see that they thought
| it a big event. She was watching the
| curtain where Tom would emerge.
| And his coat was a style of several
| seasons ago and absurdly tight! She
made an unintelligible excuse and
| darted Lehind the pOrtiere.
Toms face was apoplectic. He was
wrestling with a mussed tie; the col.
| lar showed desperate struggle.
| Gerty made wild signals for him to
| change his clothes. She waved a
| hand indicating Richard; she pointed
| to Toms sack suit lying on the floor
where he had walked out of it.
"What is it all about?"
"Ssh," whispered his wife. Again
The wild gestures.
"Wcll, aren't you satisfied? Don't
| look like Il guy?"
He could be heard distinctly in the
next room. Gerty gave it up in de-
spair. She dabbed some more powder
on her nose and went out looking like
martyr-a very pretty martyr!
Richard praised the miracles Of the
tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In
nes of their old relation. exit Innes,"
she was thinking, when Tom, red and
perspiring, brought another element
IF discomfort into the room.
Gerty ushered them Immediately to
the table. She covered the first min
ties which might be awkward with
ler small chatter. Somewhere she
lad read that it was not well to make
apologies for lack of maid or fare.
Besides Mr.. Richard remembered
Lawrence! That dreadful dining
'oom. the ever-set table! How she
lad hated it, though she had not
known how fearful it was until she
lad escaped.
eve are simple folk here, Mr.. Rick
ird," she announced, as they took
heir places around the pretty table.
That was her only allusion to deficien-
les, but it covered her noiseless move
nents around the board between
courses, filled up the gaps when she
made necessary dives into kitchen or
primitive ice chest, and set the key
'Or the LONELINESS of the meal itself.
The dinner was a triumph of apparent
simplicity. Only Innes could guess
he time consumed in the perfection
IF detail, details dear to the hostess