The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-03-14

Az y MI tA RANNAS~ - AUI1SlCS q
the butter had been shaved into for
eign-looking A pitcher Of the
valleys favorite beverage. iced tea,
stood by Hardin's plate. There was a
Of cold meats.
It came home to lnnes 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 dauntless sur
veyors, the Indians who had dug the
canals. those we're the ones who had
spread that pretty table. no the buxom
little oma darling about in pink
gingham.
us it because / don't like herr" she
unused. her eyes on the pictures in the
style book which had just come in that
morning. Certainly Gerty did have the
patience Of a saint with Toms hu-
mors. II she would only lose that set
look of martyrdom! 1t was not for an
outsider to judge between a husband
and wife. even If the Il 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 1t. Tom was rough. but she
loved him. Why was it she was sure
that Gerty did not love her husband
Yet there was the distrust, rs 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.
II think / will keep the reins for q
month this time" Her words were re
Elective. as though the thought were
new. Il get my hand in just as I stop
l will be running out for my visit IT. 9
few weeks. It will be only fair for me
to do 1t as long as / can"
Again the girl had a sense Of subtle
~. Whenever Gerty put on that air Of
childish confidential elaboration, she
hunted for the plot. This was not TAI
to seek. Her sisterin-law was passing
out the hot season to her. asst
"It's all ready" Gerty's glance wal
winging. birdlike. Eel the table. Moth
ing had been forgotten. She gave 9
little sigh Of elastic satisfaction. Har
din misinterpreted 1t.
II ought to be able to keep a serv
ant for her." It was like him to have
forgotten the Lawrence days; he was
never free OF the sense Of obligation tG
the dainty little woman who was born
he. felt, for the purple. There wa,
nothing too good for Gerty. He fell
her unspoken disappointments: hel
d~eprivations. "Of course, she can have
no respect for me. I'm a failure"
Doesn't this give you m appetizer
demanded Innes heartily. "And Tn
to be a lady for three weeks
The remark was thoughtless. A bright
flush spread over Gerty's face. Sh'
caught an allusion to her origin.
Innes saw the blush and remem
bered the boarding house. She coult
think Of nothing to say. The thret
relatives sat down to that most unc0m
Portable travesty, q social meal wher,
sociability is lacking. Innes said 1
had been a pleasant morning. Cert!
thought It had been hot. And thel
there was silence again.
Innes began to tell them of her Tue
son visit, when Gerry laid down hel