The Elbert County tribune., 1919-03-07

mere, isn't ftF' She flashed at him the
look he remembered so vividly, the
childish coquettish appeal. 1--WE dine
at home, till Ii becomes tiresome, and
then we come foraging for variety. But
you must come 10 us. say Thursday. Is
that right for you? We should love it.r
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-
suade him to take this job.
Hardin waited a scant minute to pro-
test: "what possessed you to ask him
to dinner?"
'Why shouldn't I? He Is an old
friend" Gerty caught glance of ap-
peal, from sister to brother. "Jealousf"
she pouted charmingly at her lord.
Jealous, no" blufred Hardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
Inpes had told her. The Lawrence cpl
sode held no sting to him. Once. 1t
had enchanted him that he had carried
of the boarding-hou belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookmani A superior dude, He had
always had those grand airs. AS If 1t
were not more to n mans credit to
struggle, for his education, even IL he
were older than his class, or his teach
er, than to accept 1t off silver plates,
handed by lackeys? Richard had al
ways acted as If 1t had been something
to be ashamed of. 1t made him sick.
"They've done It this time. It's
fool choice"
in thaf nf MI ir.r- In
mes. Gerty had shiver of intuition.
Fool choice?" Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook Off Innes' eyes. Better
be done with 1t. Hes the new gen.
eral manager"
Hes the general managerw
"Pm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbling bread on the tablecloth.
thinking, fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
Didn't tell you?" Her voice, re-
pressed, carried the threat of tears.
Didn't tell you how 1t would be?
Didn't / say that you'd be sorry If you
called the railroad in?"
"Must we go over this again?" asked
her husband.
''Why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make 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 it as surprise. For
l carried 1t Off as if we'd not been in
suited, disgraced."
"Gertyi" expostulated Hardin.
"Gertyl" implored Innes.
"And we are in for a nice friendly
dinner"
Are you quite finished?" Hardin
got up.
AS the three passed out of the dining
room. Richard caught their several ex-
pressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent;
Gerty'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 rippled
out. 1t was the laugh Rickard remem-
bered, the light frivolous cadence
which recalled the flamboyant pattern
Of the Holmes parlor carpet. the long,
crowded dining table where Gerty had
reigned. 1t told him that she was in
different to his coming, as she meant
it should. And it turned him back to
n 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 man ask a woman to give
her life into his keeping until he Is
quite sure that he wants it? He was
revamping his worn defense. Should
he live up to minute of surrender, of
tenderness, IL the next instant brings
sanity. and disillusionment? He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. 1t was easy to see, had forgot
ten what he had whispered to Gerty
Holmes. They met as sober old
friends. That ghost was laid.
CHAPTER v.