The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.
SmudQe.

Smudee.
From her tent, where she was WRIT
ing a letter that Jagged somehow, In
mes Hardin had seen Richard go TO
her sisters tent. She did not need 10
analyze the sickness of sight that
watched the dancing step acknowl-
edge its intention. 1t meant wretch
edness, for Tom. At time when he
most needed gentleness and sympathy
rasped as he was by his humiliations
and experimentation could any
woman be so cruel? AS for Richard,
he was beneath contempt-if 1t were
true, Gerty's story. told in shrugs and
dashes. She had Tilted him for Tom;
and this his revenge? She had not
known that she had such feeling as
the thought reused in her. 1t proved
what the blood tie is, this tigerish
passion sweeping through her, as her
eyes watched that closed tent-it was
for love for Tom, pity for Tom. Sex
honor-why, Gerry did not know the
meaning Of the words!
How long would Ii be before Tom
would see what every one else was
seeing? What would he do when he
knew? Hating Richard already, bitter
as he was
She was not so biased as he. She
could see why Marshall had had to re-
organize. Estrada had shown her |;
and MacLean. Her sense Of justice
had done the rest. Richard had proved
his efficiency: the levee, the camp, the
military discipline all showed the gen.
eral. Whether he were anything OF
an engineer, time would tell that. 1t
was long call he was making. Sup
pose Tom were to come back? She
. must watch for him-make some ex-
cuse to pull him in If he should come
back before that other went Hate
I full, such eavesdropping A prisoner
, to that mans gallivanting!
: For an instant she did not recognize
, the figure outside Gerty's tent. Her
fears saw Tom. She reached the
screen door In time to see Richard lift
his hat to a disappearing furry of ruff
, fies. Angry eyes watched Richards
: step swing him away.
: From the levee that day, she had O
/? glimpse of the Mexican woman on hel
4 knees by the river, rubbing clothes
4 against smooth stone. A pile OF
= tight-wrung socks lay on the bank. In
q mes stood and watched her.
81 must remember TO speak Of hel
!. to Gerty," she determined. "She prob
+ ably does not know that there is {
4 washerwoman in camp"
1t was a week later before she re
y membered TO speak of the Mexican
!. woman "who could wash" The TIVE
L women were on their way to thei
a tents from the mess breakfast. Senior;
e Maldonado was leaving MacLean'
II tent with a large bundle of uset
e clothes under her arm.
"She washes for the men. I'm 60
ing to ask her to do my khakis for me
e Perhaps this woman would be willin
k to do all our laundry?"
1t Gerty had been wondering what sh
-e would say to Innes. The speech whic
needed only an introduction WA
:, stirred into the open.
ID "You must not" her voice tremble
with anger, you must not ask tina
$. woman. She is not to be spoken to-
IL The girl asked her bluntly what sh
y meant.
rs "You must not give her your wasl
nj ing-musr not speak to her. I've NJ
he mentioned it before. II hoped
lie would not be necessary. Tom told m
Or not TO speak of ii"
err tom told you not to speak of il
of Not to speak of what?'
you must have observed-Mr. Ricl
81 ard?"
of The girls ear did not catch II
IS. short pause. observed NJ. Richard
Is, 1.-The GOODNESS between lis. / scare
he ly speak TO him. don't wish to spea
to him."
:" When had all this happened. Inn'
IT. demanded of herself? Had she bee
asleep, throwing pity from Outdat'
n dreams?
m 81 won't cOuntenance a common q
ed fair like that" Her eyes, sparklir
in with anger. suggested jealous wra
i'm to Innes. who had her first hint of Il
ut story. She had learned never TO tai
II the face value of her sisters verb
Id coin; 1t was only a symbol of valu
II stood for something else.
in The yellow eyes were on the dred
m. bucket as 1t swung across the chann
Ut but they did not register. She W
an angry, outraged; she did not kno
to with whom. With Gerry for telling b