The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-04

here, isn't it?" She flashed at him the
look he remembered so vividly, the
childish coquettish appeal. 'We dine
at home, till 1t becomes tiresome, and
then we come foraging for variety. But
you must come to us, say Thursday. Is
that right'for you? We should love it."
Still those two averted faces. Rick
ard said Thursday, as he was bidden,
and got back to his table. wondering
why in thunder he had let Marshall per-
suade him to take this job.
Hardin waited scant minute to pro-
test: "What possessed you to ask him
to dinnerT"
"Why shouldn't I? He is an old
friend" Gerty caught glance Of ap-
peal, from sister to brother. "Jealousw
she pouted charmingly at her lord.
Jealous, mol" bluffed Hardin.
He thought then that she knew, that
Inpes had told her. The Lawrence cpl
sode held no sting 10 him. Once, it
had enchanted him that he had carried
off the boarding-house belle, whom even
that bookman had found desirable
bookman! A superior dudei He had
always had those grand airs. AS IL it
were not more, to q mans credit to
struggle for his education, even If he
were older than his class, or his teach
or, than to accept it off silver plates,
handed by lnckeys? Rickard had al
ways acted as If it had been something
to be ashamed of. 1t made him sick.
They've done it this time. It's a
fool choice"
Again, that look of pleading from In
mes. Gerty had shiver Of intuition.
"Fool choice?" Her voice was omi-
nously calm.
Hardin shook off Innes' eyes. Better
be done with it'll "He's the new gen
eral manager"
Hes the general managerl"
"Pm to take orders from him."
Gerty's silence was Of the stunned
variety. The Hardins watched her
crumbllng bread on the tablecloth,
thinking, fearfully, that she was going
to cry.
"Didn't I tell you?" Her voice. re-
pressed, carried the threat of tears.
Didn't l tell you how it would be?
Didn't say that you'd be sorry IL you
called the railroad in"
"Must we go over this again?" asked
her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did
you let me make q goose Of myselfT"
She was remembering that there had
been no protest, no surprise from In
nes. She knew! A family secret
She shrugged. 'I'm glad, on the whole,
that you planned 1t as a surprise. For
I carried 1t of as II we'd not been in
suited, disgraced." !.
"Gertyw expostulated Hardin.
| "Gerty !" implored Innes.
"And we are in for q nice friendly
dinnerl"
"Are you quite finished9 Hardin
got up.
AS the three passed out Of the dining
room, Rickard caught their several ex
pressions: Hardin's stiff, Indifferent
Gerty's brilliant but hard, rs She
flashed finished, brave little smile ir
his direction. The sisters bow was
distinctly naughty.
| In the hall, Gerty's laugh rippleG
out. 1t was the laugh Richard remem
bered, the light frivolous cadenct
which recalled the fiamboyant pattern
Of the Holmes parlor carpet, the long
crowded dining table where Gerty had
reigned. 1t told him that she was In
different to his coming, as she meant
It should. And 1t turned him back tc
dark corner In the honeysuckle
draped porch where he had spent sc
many evenings with her, where once
he had held her hand, where he tolt
her that ne loved her. For he haG
loved her, or ut least he thought he
had! And had run away from her ex
pectant eyes. A cad, was he, because
he had brought that waiting look into
her eyes, and had run from It?
Should man ask woman to give
her life into his keeping until he Is
quite sure that he wants Il? He was
revamping his worn defense. Should
he live up to a minute Of surrender, OF
tenderness, IL the next instant brings
sanity, and dlsillusionment? He could
bury now forever self-reproach. He
could laugh at his own vanity. Gerty
Hardin. it was easy to see, had forgot
ten what he had whispered to Gerty
Holmes. They met as sober OLE
friends. That ghost was laid.