The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-08-02

steam shovel had been added; the rail-
road sent in several work trains fully
equipped for service; attracted by the |
excitement. the hoboes were cOmmenc- J
ing TO come in.
II was Il battle of big numbers. a |
duel of great force where time was
the umpire. Any minute hot weather |
might fall on those snowy peaks up
Wonder. and the released waters. rush
ing down. would tear out the defenses
as n wave breaks over a Chld'S fort
made of sand. This was a race, and
all knew il. A regular train dispatch
/ system was in force that the inrushing
cars might drop their burden of rock
and gravel and be off after more. The
| Dragon was being fed rude meals, its
appetite whetted by the glut of pour
| ing rock.
Tod Marshall came down from Tue
son in his car. The coming of the
Palmyra and Claudia rippled the So
ciaI waters at the front for days
ahead. Gerry Hardin. too proud 70
tell her astOnished family that she
wanted to desert the mess tent, shook
herself from her injury, and did up
all her lingerie gowns. Mrs. Marshall
was not going to patronize her, even
If her husband had Snubbed Tom. IL
was hot, ironing in her tent the doors
closed. Everything carried a sting
those indoor hours. She was aflame
with hot vanity. Twice, she had
openly encouraged Richard; twice, he
had flouted her. That was his kind
Men who prefer Mexicans-. she
!, would never forgive him, never
She followed devious channels to in
volve Toms responsibility. There was
cabal against the wife of Hardin
Working like q servant. she called II
necessity. Everything, every one pun
ished her for that one act of folly
Life had caught her. She saw no way
as she ironed her null ruffleS. no way
ont of her cage. Her spirit beat wild
. wings against her bars. If she coulc
: see way out! Nothing to do but tC
. stay with Tom!
;. Maddening, too. that at the mess
:, table, she caught Richards eyes turning
. toward, resting on, Innes Hardin. INT
o girl herself did not seem to notice
:. artful. subterranean, such stalking
That was why she had come running
back to the Heading! That the reason
. of her anger when she had limited o
the Maldonado. She learned to hat
- Innes. Bitterly she hated Richard.
% tom" she said one day. III
l. turned with a swift thrill of expecta
20 ton, for her voice sounded kind; Xix
!, the Gerty of old. 81 have Away
Is heard that Mr.. Marshall has terribl
" strict ideas. l think he ought to hea
" Of that Mexican woman. 1t is demol
O. alizing In camp like this"
K. 81 tell Marshall anything against hi
IN pet clerkT The Hardin lip shot ou
" He'd throw me out Of the company
Of The pretty scene was spoiled. I
his dismay, she burst into a storm
ed tears, tears Of self-pity. Her life la
he in tatters at her feet, the pretty fabr
s. rent. torn between the rude handlir
ip of those two men. She could not hay
IT. reasoned out her injury, made 1t CO
10 vincing, built out of dreams as 1t wa
Iy, heartless. scheming dreams. Becau
no she could not tell II, her sObbing WI
of the more violent, her complaints inc
herent. Tom gathered enough fra
X ments to piece the old stor
no Ashamed of him. He had dragg'
to- her down into his humiliation" Ii
he sweet moment had passed.
lat He spent few futile moments tr
tie ing to comfort her.
'or Don't come near me-" 1t bur
to from her; cry Of revulsion. 1
Ia stared at her, the woman meeting I
of eyes in flushed defiance. The hatr
al which he saw, her bitterness, corrod
lie his pride. scorched his self-love. Not
ely ing would kill his love for her;
r. knew that in that blacklist OF n
an ments. He would never forget tn
on look of dread, of hate. He left h
of tent.
Ing That night. the cot under the sta
me had no tenant. Hardin had 1t
use with himself down the levee.
his That valley might fulfill Estrada
his vision and his labor; might yield I
be harvest Of happy homes; but his W
or, not there. He had been the sacrihc