Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-21

They would like her to be a nun. a
cloistered nun!
At the opening of the door, the
wind tore the pictures from the piano.
Gerty ran into her room, shutting
herself in against further argument.
She came back into the room, pow
dered and heavily yelled against the
wind. A heavy winter ulster covered
the new null gown which she had not
worn at supper, though Innes could
have helped her with the hooksl But
there was always so much talk about
everything!
They had to face the gale as the
machine swept down the wind-crazed
street.
1t was too bad to have a night like
this! And all her Work-Tom and
his sister would have it go for moth
ingi She was made of stubborner
stuff than that. Life had been deal
ing out mean hands to her, but she
would not drop out of the game, ac
knowledge herself beaten-luck would
turn, she would get better cards.
In the hall of the Desert hotel, the
party was assembling. Mrs. Hardin's
rowing eye secured the hall. Rickard
was not there. Patton called her from
the desk. Some one wanted her at
the telephone. 1t was Rickard, of
course, at the Office; to say he had
been detained. The fear which had
been chilling her passed by.
1t was not Rickard on the wire, but
Mrs. Hatfield, loquacious and coquet-
tish. She urged a frightful neuralgia,
and hoped that she was not putting
her hostess to any inconvenience at
this last moment. She wanted to
prolong the conversation-had the
guests all come? Were they really
going? Then she must be getting old,
for night like this dismayed her
Gerty felt her goodnight was rudely
abrupt. But was she to stand there
gabbling all night, her guests wait
ing?
She prayed that Richard would be
there when she returned. What a
travesty if the guest of honor should
disappoint her! Though he was not
among the different groups, her con-
f1dence in his punctiliousness reas-
sured her. She must hold them a lit
tie longer. She fitted gaiTy from one
standing group to another. Her eyes
constantly questioned the clock.
"How long are you going to wait
for Mrs. Hatfeld?" Her husband
came up, protesting.
'tMrs. Hatfield" she explained dis
tantly, sis not coming We are wait.
ing for Mr.. Richard"
"He didn't come in on that train
he's at the Heading" Hardin added
something about trouble at the intake
but Gerty did not heed. Tom ha6
known and had not told her wher
there was yet time to call it off!
"a pretty time to tell meP' Ha6
he been looking at her, he would have
been left no illusions. Her blue eyes
flashed hate.
II did not know it until we got
here. There was message from Mac
Lean at the desk, waiting"
MacLean was not there, either!
1--WE are all ready" she cried
Mrs Hatfield and Mr.. Rickard cannot
come" Not for worlds would she give
in to her desire to call the whole
grim affair off; let them think sht
was disappointed, not she. Thougl
the world blew away, she would go
She found herself distributing Slip
of mangled quotations. The Whit
slips went to the women; the greer
bits of pasteboard to the men. Sh'
held a certain green card in he
glove: Leads on to fortune" Rick
ard might come dashing in at the las
moment, the ideal mans way; spe
cial, perhaps; it did not seem credibl,
that he would deliberately stay ava!
without sending her word.
In burst of laughter, the com
pany discovered then that the CUES
of honor was also absent. Mrs
Hardin hurried them out to the wait
ing buggies.
Drearily, they drove down the fly
ing street. The wind was at thei
backs, but it tore at their hats, pulle
at their tempers. Their eyes, wer
full of street dust
A flash of light as they were leay
ing town frightened the thick dus
clouds. what was that?" cried Gerty
! She was ready for any calamity now
"Not lightning?" Again, the quee
light flashed across the obscured SIX!
Tom reused himself to growl that b
hadn't seen anything. And the drear
farce went on.
Innes' partner was young Sutcliff
the English zanjero. He was in th
= quicksand of comparison betwee