Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-04-25

GCily . FISlky lips T1dIuCHCUs
the girl left the tent. These Hardins
always loved to spoil her enjoyment.
They would like her to be nun. Il
clustered 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 hooks! 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 night like
this. And all her work-Tom and
his sister would have it go for moth
ing! 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. Richard
was not there. Patton called her from
the desk. Some one wanted her at
the telephone. 1t was Richard, Of
course, at the office; to say he had
been detained. The fear which had
been chilling her passed by.
1t was not Richard on the wire, but
Mrs. Hatfield, loQuacious and coquet-
fish. 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 a night like this dismayed her!
Gerty felt her goodnight was rudely
a5rllpt. But was she to stand there
Cabling all night, her guests wait.
ing?
She prayed that Richard would be
there when she returned. What
travesty if the guest of honor should
d;sanpoint her! Though he was not
among the different groups, her con-
fidence in his punctiliousness reas-
sured her. She must hold them q lit
tie longer. She fitted gaily from one
standing group to another. Her eyes
constantly questioned the clock.
GLOW loag are you going to wait
for Mrs. Hatfield?' Her husband
came UP, protesting.
"NIrs. Hatfield" she explained dis
family, sis not coming. We are wait
ing for NJ Richard"
"He didn't come in on that train;
he's at the Heading" Hardin added
something about trouble at the intake.
but Gerry did not heed. Tom had
known and had not tolG her when
shere was yet time TO call it OFF,
"a pretty time to tell me!'' Had
he been looking at her, he would have
been left no illusions. Her blue eyes
flashed hate.
II did not know it until we goi
here, There was a message from Mac.
Lean at the desk, waiting"
MacLean was not there, either!
"We are all ready" she cried
"Mrs. Hatfield and Mr.. Richard cannot
come" Not for worlds would she give
in to her desire to call the whole
grim affair off; let them think she
was disappointed, not she. Though
the world blew away, she would GO
She found herself distributing slips
Of mangled quotations. The white
slips went to the women; the green
bits of pasteboard to the men, She
glove: "Leads on to fortune" Rick
ard might come dashing in at the last
moment, the ideal mans way; q spe-
cial, perhaps; it. did not seem credible
that he would deliberately stay away
without sending her word.
In a burst of laughter, the com
pany discovered then that the guest
of honor was also absent. Mrs.
Hardin hurried them out to the wait
ing buggies.
Drearly, they drove down the fly
ing street. The wind was at their
backs, but it tore at their hats, pulled
at their tempers. Their eyes were
full of street dust.
A flash Of light as they were leav-
ing town frightened the thick dust
clouds. "What was that?" cried Gerty.
She was ready for any calamity now.
mot lightning?" Again, the queer
light flashed across the obscured sky, |
Tom reused himself to growl that he
hadn't seen anything. And the dreary
farce went on.
lines partner was young Sutcliffe.
the English zanjero. He was in the
quicksand Of a comparison between !