The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-09
CHAPTER xXxIV.
A Desertion.

When the afternoon waned and God
frey did not call on her Gerty was
reused to un~easiness. Had she angere1
him by refusing to make the definite
promise? Could 1t be love, the sort Of
love she wanted, If he could stay away
like this when they could have the
camp to themselves. every one down at
the break, no Hardins running in every
minute? Their first chance and God
frey sighting it!
He would surely come that evening,
knowing that she would be alone The
little Watch Tom had given her for an
almost forgotten birthday set the pace
for her resentment. Nine. ten, eleven |!
How dared he treat her so! She blew
out the lamps when she found that she
was shaking with anger and undressed
in the dark. She could not see him,
if he came NOW. her self-control all
gone! But she could not 60 to bed.
She stood in her darkened tent, shaken
by her angry passions.
Suppose that he were only trifing
with her? What was that paper he had
thrust in her hand? With q candle
she found the yellow paper. 1t was
q copy of a telegram to Godfrey's law
yer. start divorce proceedings at
once Any grounds possible. Back
soon. Godfrey"
The frightened blood resumed it's
normal flow. If he had done this for
her then she had not lost him. An ap-
parent elopement, why had she EVE
thought Of that before? That would
elnen their bond. Her scruples could
grow on the road. Oh. she could man.
age Godfrey! She would 60 with him.
She remembered that she must go &c
bed if she were to have any looks in
the morning.
When Godfrey. came to her next at
ternoon, penitent, refreshed after q
long mornings sleep, he found a
charming hostess. She was shy about
his telegram. Enchantingly distant
when he tried to reach her hand!
II can't go without you" he cried.
He had discovered her Interpretation OF
his telegram and it delighted him he
1914 ~ ~ ~ Llo "
Il know. You shrink from it all. You
dread the steps that will free you. You
need me beside you to help you. Let's
cut the knot. Tonight !"
mot tonight. Maybe tomorrow"
whispered Gerry. and then she man.
aged a few tears and he was allowed
to kiss her. It was.all arranged before
he left the ramada. They were to
leave together the next day. Her OBJ
ject would be accomplished by their
leaving together. He would feel that
he owed her his name.
OF curse Gerty must do 1t in the
conventional way! She would have
used rope ladders had they been
needed. The conventional note was
pinned to her bureau scarf.
Innes was with Tom when he found
It.. They came in together from the
river. Neither had noticed the odd
looks from the men as they passed
through the encampment. A dozen
men had seen Hardin's wife leave for
the North with Godfrey.
Gerty's letter told Tom that 1t was
all over. She had tried to stand 1t, to
be true ever through his cruelty, but
a feeling stronger than she was made
her true to herself, and SO true at last
to him!
Innes' revulsion lacked speech. The
common blatter sickened her. She
could offer no comfort. His eyes told
her it was worse than death.
He struck OF her hand when 1t
touched his shoulder. Gerty's hand
had coerced him that way. He was
done with softness.
His silence oppressed her. This was
a man she did not know ina~rticulate.
smitten. She told herself that even q
sister was an intruder-but she was
afraid to leave him alone. She took
q station by her W tent door,. She
would not 60 down to dinner. For hours
she watched his tent. When It grew
dark she could no longer endure It.
She found him where she had left him.
She forcod hereelf toward thu vol.