The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-09
CHAPTER xxxIv.
A pesertlon.

A Desertion.
When the afternoon waned and God.
frey did not call on her Gerty was
reused to uneasiness. Had she angere1
him by refusing to make the definite
promise2 Could 1t be love, the sort of
love she wanted, If he could stay away
like this when they could have the
camp to themselves, every one down at
the break, no Hardins running in every
minute? Their first chance and God
frey sighting It'll
He would surely come that evening,
knowing that she would be alone The
little watch Tom had given her for an
almost forgotten birthday set the pace
for her resentment. Nine, ten, eleven
How dared he treat her so? She blew
out the lamps when she found that she
was shaking with anger and undressed
In the dark. She could not see him.
II he came now, her self-control all
gonel But she could not go to bed.
She stood in her darkened tent, shaken
by her angry passions.
Suppose. that he were only trifiing
with herr What was that paper he had
thrust in her hand2 With a candle
she found the yellow paper. 1t was
copy Of a telegram to Godfrey's law
yer. "Start divorce proceedings at
once. Any grounds possible. Back
soon. Godfrey"
The frightened blood resumed its
normal flow. If he had done this for
her then she had not lost him. An APP
parent elopement, why had she never
thought of that before? That would
cement their bond. Her scruples could
grow on the road. Oh, she could man
age Godfrey She would go with him.
She remembered that she must go tc
bed If she were to have any looks in
the morning.
When Godfrey came to her next af-
ternoon. penitent refreshed after a
long mornings sleep, he found a
charming hostess. She was shy about
his telegram. Enchantingly distant
when he tried to reach her handl
II can't go without you" he cried.
He had discovered her Interpretation of
his telegram and it delighted him; he
began to believe in his own intention.
81 know. You shrink from it all. You
dread the steps that will free you. You
need me beside you to help you. Let's
cut the knot. Tonighti"
mot tonight. Maybe tomorrow
whispered Gerty. and then she man
aged a few tears and he was allowed
to kiss her. 1t was all arranged before
he left the ramada. They were 10
leave together the next day. Her OBJ
ject would be accomplished by their
leaving together. He would feel that
he owed her his name.
or course Gerty must do 1t IN the
conventional wayi She would have
used rope ladders had they been
needed. The conventional note was
pinned to her bureau scarf.
Innes was with Tom when he found
t.. They came In together from the
river. Neither had noticed the odd
looks from the men as they passed
through the encampment. A dozen
men had seen Hardin's wife leave for
the North with Godfrey.
Gerty's letter told Tom that it was
all over. She had tried to stand 1t, to
be true even through his cruelty. but
feeling stronger than she was made
her true to herself. and so true at last
TO hint
Innes' revulsion lacked speech. The
common blatter sickened her. She
could offer no comfort. His eyes told
her 1t was worse than death.
He struck or her hand when 1t
touched his shoulder. Gerty's hand
had coerced him that way. He was
done with softness.
His silence oppressed her. This was
man she did not know inarticulate,
smitten. She told herself that even a
sister was an intruder-but she was
afraid to leave him alone. She took
station by her own tent door. She
would not go down to dinner. For hours
she watched his tent. When 1t grew
dark she could no longer endure 1t.
She found him where she had left him.
She forced herself toward the vol