Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-05-23


anxiously measured. increased. A thir,
steam shovel had been added; the rail
road sent In several work trains full,
equipped for service: attracted by tn,
excitement. the hoboes were commenc
ing to come In.
1t was a battle Of big numbers.
duel OF great force where time wa.
the umpire. ANY minute hot weather
might fall on those snowy peaks vi
yonder. and the released waters, rush
Ing down, would tear out the defense.
as a wave breaks over a child's for
made OF sand. This was a race. ant
all knew 1t. A regular train dispatch
system was in force that the inrushins
cars might drop their burden Of rocl
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.
cial waters at the front for days
ahead. Gerty Hardin, too proud to
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
II her husband had snubbed Tom. II
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 fouted 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 1t
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
out Of her cage. Her spirit beat wild
wings against her bars. II she could
see a way out! Nothing to do but to
stay with Tom!
Maddening. too. that at the mess
table. she caught Richards eyes turning
toward. resting on, Innes Hardin. The
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 of
the Maldonad0. She learned to hate
Innes. Bitterly she hated Richard.
"Tom." she said one day. He
turned with a swift thrill Of expecta-
ton. for her voice sounded kind like
the Gerry of old. II have always
heard that Mr.. Marshall has terribly
strict ideas. think he ought to hear
Of that Mexican woman. It Is demon
alizing In camp like this"
II tell Marshall anything against his
pet clerk?" The Hardin lip shot out.
He'd throw me out Of the company"
The pretty scene was spoiled. To
his dismay, she burst into storm of
tears. tears Of self-pity. Her life lay
In tatters at her feet. the pretty fabric
rent, torn between the rude handling
IF those two men. She could not have
out her injury, made 1t con-
built out of dreams as 1t was.
scheming dreams. Because
The could not tell It. her sobbing was
he more violent, her complaints inco-
aerent. Tom gathered enough frag-
nents to piece the old story.
Ashamed of him. He had dragged
her down into his humiliation" His
Iweet moment had passed.
He spent few futile moments try
ng to comfort her. Il
Don't come near me-" It burst
rom her: a cry Of revulsion. He
'tared at her, the woman meeting his
yes in flushed defiance. The hatred
which he saw, her bitterness. corroded
lis pride. scorched his self-love. Moth
ng would kill his love for her; he
new that In that blaokest Of mo-
nents. He would never forget that |
Ook Of dread. Of hate. He left her
ent. 'f
That night. the cot under the stars
lad no tenant. Hardin had 1t out |
With himself down the levee.
That valley might fulfill Estrada's |
ision and his labor; might yield the |
arvest of happy homes; but his was |
ot there. He had been the sacrifice.