The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-05-03


,f course. herself; had dipped and
salted them. The cheese strnws were
her own. She did not make the mis-
take OF strlnging out endless courses.
An improviscd buffet near at hand
made the serving triumph.
Richard praised ench dish; openly
10 was admlring her achievement.
Innes. remembering the story Gerty
1ud told her in dots and dnshcs, the
story OF the old rivalry, Rlnnced COW
ertly nt Tom sulking ut The head OF
ais own table.
"poor sulsy Achilles" she thought.
Dear, honest old bear"
"Innes I" cried Mrs. Hardin.
She turned TO flnd that the guest
was staring ut her. She had not heard
This effort to include her In the CON
versatlOn.
"Mr. Rlckard asked you II you like
Il here?"
"Thank you-why, OF courscp Her
answer sounded pert Ia herself.
Her slstcr-in-luw haslened TO ndd
that Miss Hardin wns very lonely, was
really nll alone IN the world that they
Insisted on her making her home with
them.
Innes had with difficulty restrained
n denial Aftcr all, whnt other home
had she? Still the truth hnd hcen de-
f1ected. She recalled the sacrifice Il
had been TO cut her college curse In
order to make, nome In Ale desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathercd her. who had helped
her invest her small capllnl that 1t
might spell u small income. She re-
called his resistance when she hnd
called In a mortgage; whO, could watch
that mad scnpegoat of u river playing
pranks with desert homes and not
ycnrn 10 help? Not Hardin. She
still gloried In remembering that she
had at least driven one pile into that
rebellious stream. even II when she
left the valley II would be as n bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
good craftsman; she would &c as
an apprentice In an architects Office.
She hnd already settled on the archl-
tect
"Are you going TO Los Angeles
soonf' She heard the new manager
address his host.
I'm taking orders"
There was another awkward mo-
ment when Hardin pushed back his
plate declaring lie had reached his
limit; II was too big q spread for him
II was the stupid rudencss of the
small bad boy; even Innes flushed for
her slster.ln-law.
| With resolution Gerty assumed con-
troll of the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; no one could have
suspected It OF frequent rehearsal.
They must not talk OF the river; that
was taboo. Railroad matters we're
also excluded. Equally difficult
would be "reminiscences of Lawrence
days. So she began brightly with a
current book. The theater proved
safe topic. and by that natural route
they reached New York. Innes. whn
had never been farther east than Chi
cago, was grateful to play audience.
Hardin, who knew his New York per-
haps better than either, refused TO be
drawn into the gentle stream.
Things must be kept sprIghtly. Had
Mr.. Richard met many OF the valley
people? And Il was then that she
threw her bomb toward the listening,
. silent Hardins. She would like Mr..
Rickard to meet some Of their friends
He said that he would be delighted.
but that he was planning to leave
shortly for the Heading.
"Of course" She did not give her
husband time to speak. She meant
afterward She was planning to give
something bit novel In his honor.
She refused to see the glare from the
angry man In his Outgrown dinner
coat. She did not glance toward the
sister. What did Mr. Rickard think
about progressive ride?
ut sounds very entertaining. but
what do you do?"
There was loud guffnw from Tom
With deepened color Gerty told her
Idea. drive, changing partners, so
he could meet all the guests.
} Il think II will surprise you to find
y" "'"y h'Nc p'pDic W HtTe' u GER
tainly did me. One doesn't expect to
find congenlnl people In new country
like this"
Richard remembered that he had
to get back to his hotel. He had let
ters to write. II had been splendid
dinner! And what wonderful home
she had made out OF n sand-bnked lot,
out OF tentl lie spoke OF the roses
and the morning glories. Ills eyes
feii on the open piano, the reading
table with the current magazines.
Now he couldn't understand why they
over went to that hoteli
Gerty's eyes were shining as deep
pools OF water on which the sun plays.
She looked almost infantile as she
stood by the two tail men, her head
perched blrdlike. "Good-byl and
hope you'll come agalnW
or course he'd come again
"And you will let me know when
Vnu ratIirp IN That Il ..,... - A.