The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-10

then, dav or night. when I wouldn't
have crawled back on my hands and
rnees If I could But couldn't. He
wouldn't have me now. How could he,
How do I know you've quarrelled7 I Q
can see It in your eyes. Thev look Just
the way mine have felt for four years,
that's how. I met up with this boy.
and there wasn't anybody to do the
turn for me that I'm trying to do for
you. Now get this. I LEFT Jim because
when he ate corn on the cob he always
closed his eyes and 1t drove me wild.
Don't laugh
I'm not laughing" said Terry.
Women are Ike that One might
we was playing Fond du Lac; re-
member just as plain-we was eating
supper. and Jim reached for one OF
those big yellow ears, and buttered and
salted it, and me kind of hanging on
to the edge of the table with my nails.
Seemed to me if he shut his eyes when
he put his teeth into that ear OF corn
I'd scream. And he did. And I scream
ed. And that's all"
Terry sat staring at her with a wide
eyed stare. like a sleep walker Then
she wet her lips, slowly. But that's
almost the very"
kid, go on back home. I don't
know whether it's too late or not. but
20 anyway. If you've lost him I sup
pose It amt any more than you de-
serve but 1 hope to God . "a don't get
your desserts this time. He's almost
through. Z he sees you going he can't
quit in the middle OF his song to stop
YOU. He'll know I put you wise. and
he'll prob'ly half kill me for it. But
it's worth 1t. You get"
-t,,1y l,,,A
grateful-fed Down the noisy aisle.
up the stairs, to the street. Back to
her rooming house. Out again. with
her suit case, and into the right rail-
road station somehow. at last. Not
another for Wetona train until mid
night.
The hands of the station clock SEEM
ed fixed and immovable. The hour be-
tween eleven and twelve was endless.
She was on the train. 1t was almost
morning. 1t was morning. Dawn was
breaking. She was home, She had
the house key clutched tightly in her
hand long before she turned Schroe-
der's corner. Suppose he had come
home! Suppos2 he had jumped town
and come home ahead of his schedule.
They had quarrelled once before. and
he had done that.
Up the front steps. Into the house
Not a sound. She stood there a mo-
ment in the early morning half light.
She peered into the dining room. The
table,. with its breakfast debris, was
as she hadIeft it. She was home. She
was safe. She ran up the stairs. got
out of her clothes and into crisp ging-
ham morning things. She flung open
windows everywhere. Down stairs
once more she plunged into an orgy
of cleaning. BY eight o'clock she had
done the work that. would ordinarily
! have taken until noon. The house was
shining. orderly, and redolent of soap
| ,uds.
; During all this time she had been
| listening, listening. with her sub-con-
i scious ear. And then, at eight o'clock
i it came. The rattle Of q key in the
lock. The boom of the front door.
| Firm footsteps.
! He did not go to meet her. and she
! did not go to meet him. They came
| together and were in each others
| arms. She was weeping.
| Now, now. old girl. What's there to
cry about? Don't. honey; don't. It's
| all right
| She raised her head then. to look at
| him. How fresh. and rosy and big he
! seemed, after that little sallow. yellow
restaurant rat.
How did you get here? How did
you happcn-%
| Jumped all the way from Ashland.
Couldn't get a sleeper, so sat up all
night. I aad to come back and square
! things with you. Terry. My mind just
wasn't on my work. I kept thinking
how I'd ;alke how I'd talked"
"Oh. Orville. don't! I can't bear
| Have you had your bres. fast?"
why. no. The train was an hour
late. YoU know that Ashland train"
But she wa- out of his arms and
making for the kitchen. You go and
clean up I'll have hot biscuits and
everything in fifteen minutes. You
poor boy. No breakfast"
S,e made good her promise. 1t could
no. have been more than twenty min
utes later when he was buttering his
third feathery. golden brown biscuit
But she had eaten nothing. She watch-
ed him. and listened. and again her
eyes were sombre. but for a different
reason. He broke open lis egg. His
elbow came up just a fraction of an
inch. Then he remembered. and flush
ed like a schoolboy. and brought IL
down again. carefully. And at that She
/ gave little tremulous cry. and rushed
around the table to him.
"Oh, Orvillei" She took the offend.
ing elbow in her two arms. and rt
and kissed the rough coat sleeve.
why. Terry! Don't honey. Don'tl"
I've got :omething to tell you.
There's something you've got to know"
Yes. 1 know it. Terry. I knew you'd
out with/it. pretty soon. IL jEst
waited
She lifted an amazed face from his
shoulder then, au1 stared at him Put
hoy could you know? You coulda't
How could yoe?'
He patted her shoulder then. gently.
I can always tell. When you ha 70
something on your mind you alwa@s
take I'D q sDoon of coffee and lnhIr