Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-21

: Copyright. 1918. BY Little. Brown Col
Amy shook her head, then she
corrected herself,
THAT is, am restless"
AT this moment, across the fields
came the galloping thud of horses
hoofs. Monte Bracken and Fiji
Nordstrum came racing up TO the
paddock with the result that Mas
ter Bob, in the excitement, went
SPRAYING onto the sod.
He's fallenl" exclaimed Amy,
jumping to her feet.
Mrs. Bracken glanced up without
agitation.
"Bob's a good soldier" she said
simply. "The sod's soft. ..f.-
The next moment Monte Bracken
had swung the youngster up into the
saddle in front of him and came
cantering along the fence.
"All right; no bones broken. A
chip Of the old block" he said, wav-
ing his hat in delight at the laugh
ing youngster. Then, wheeling, he
rode back to where Fiji, who had
rounded up the fat pony, was wait
ing:
II wish Monte would marry your
cousin" said Mrs. Bracken sud
denly.
Amy opened the parasol and
closed it again, her eyes on the pad
dock. Just why this should throw
her into confusion surprised her,
Since the ball she had carefully
avoided Monte Bracken. and, despite
the intimacy of the house party, she
had maneged never to be left in
tete-a-tete. Yet she found herself
resenting Mrs. Bracken's sugges-
ton.
"They will never fall in love with
each other, I'm afraid"
why not?"
"They are too much alike-and
too good friends" she explained.
"But you do surprise me. l thought
Fiji would be the last person you
would pick out--with your ideas. /
thought you would look on her as a
wild, harum-scarum tomboy, who
would never settle down." She felt
that she was putting too much emo
ton into her objection, so she add
ed, That's not my belief"
"She has two qualities that will
make her marriage happy one,
said Claire, without looking at her
companion. "She is loyal, and she
has pride. Whatever belongs to her,
she will make success. / like Fiji
very much"
is this aimed at mel" thought
Amy. She hazarded a glance. Mrs.
Bracken was bending over her flow
ers,
Perhaps you are right about Fiji.
The trouble is l don't think she
would ever think of marriage unless
she were head over heels in love
or your brother-in-law either"
THAT is the trouble. It's pity.
They are so suited to each other.
She would be real force behind
him, Afterward they would grow
together.
That's rather the continental
point Of view than ours, isn't it,"
said Amy, smiling. ...-s..
There is a middle ground be-
tween the two. Do you wish me to
speak frankly?"
Amy hesitated, and again the
point of her dainty parasol traced
arabesques in the gravel.
Il am a little afraid of you," she
said, raising her glance. "You are
too happy"
"You need never be afraid of me,
whatever happens said Mrs.
Bracken She leaned over and laid
her hand on Amy's with gentleness
in her eyes, such as only those who
have borne secret cross can
know. 1--WE have wanted to talk to
each other from the first, haven't
we? Why not now?"
1T is very hard-iust now" said
Amy. Her eyes filled with tears.
She rose, took few steps, and came
back. Il am very foolish. Don't
mind me" She sat down, stared
ahead a long moment, and then said
slowly: "Mrs. Bracken, what is a
girl to do who has married b1indly
and then suddenly wakes UP to the
fact that there is no longer any
thing in common with her husband
neither love nor sympathy nor un-
Outstanding of any sort? What is
she to do with her life-and par
ticularly if the moment comes when
she meets some one else who she
knows would mean happiness in
every way-if she had only known
how to choosef What is she to
dor"
"You are not there yet"
mo, no-but it will come; Of
course it will come. A woman
really must love sometimel" She
turned, terrified at what she had
said. do you know it's horrible
what I've told your I've never even
thought it myself"
Il don't admit that things are SO
bad" said Mrs. Bracken shaking
her head. And / don't think you
are right in your estimation of your
feelings toward your husband"
Il AMI am" she said OBJ
stinately, her eyes obscured.
"You reel too much what you say
not to care" said Mrs. Bracken
quietly; and as for him, know he
loves you" She came near adding
"By the look of pain I've seen in
his face" but unwisely she refrained
Good heavensI We are 1000
miles apartl Amy sprang up again
and stood against the arbor, tearing
off the young buds and twisting
them in her fingers. Il can't talk
about it just now. / can't go into
details as / would have to-" she said
hurriedly.