Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-04-30

anxiOusly measured. increased. A third
steam shovel had been added; the rail-
road sent in several work trains fully
equipped for service; attracted by the
excitement, the hoboes were commenc-
ing to come in.
1t was a battle of big numbers. a
duel of great force where time was
the umpire. Any minute hot weather
might fall on those snowy peaks up
yonder, and the released waters. rush
ing down, would tear out the defenses
as a wave breaks over a child's fort
made of sand. This was race, and
all knew it. A regular train dispatch
system was in force that the inrushing
cars might drop their burden of rock
and gravel and be or 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
cal waters at the front for days
ahead. Gerty Hardin, too proud TO
tell her astonished family that she
waited 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
If her husband had snubbed Tom. 1t
was hot. ironing In her tent. the doors
closed. Everything carried a sting
I'M h. fNaN ma
with hot vanity. Twice. she had
openly encouraged Richard; twice, he
had flouted her That was his kind
Men who prefer Mexicans-! She
would never forgive him, neverl
She followed devious channels to in
volve Toms responsibility. There was
a cabal against the wife of Hardin.
Working like a 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 lroned her null ruffles, no way
out of her cage. Her spirit beat wild
wings against her bars. If she could
see a way out Nothing to do but to
stay with Toni
Maddening. too. that at the mess
table, she caught Richards eyes turning
/ toward, resting on. lines Hardin. The
! girl herself did not seem to notice
artful. subterranean. such stalking
That was why she had come running
back 10 the Headingl That the reason
/ of her anger when she had limited of
I IN a
lines. 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 Gerty of old. II have always
heard that Mr.. Marshall has terribly
! strict ideas. think he ought TO hear
of that Mexican woman. 1t Is demon
alizing in a camp like this"
Il 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 dlsmay, she burst into storm of
tears tears of self-pity. Her life lay
In tatters at her feet, the pretty fabric
! ltuts lbIu btlWttil tnt Iuut huuuiluE
of those two men. She could not have
reasoned out her injury, made II con
vincing. built out of dreams as II was,
heartless, scheming dreams. Because
she could not tell It, her sobbing was
the more violent, her complaints lnco,
herent Tom gathered enough frag.
ments TO piece the old story
ASHAMED of him. He had dragged
her down into his humiliation" His
sweet moment had passed.
He spent n few futile moments try
ing to comfort her.
Don't come near me-" 1t burst
from her; cry of revulslon. He
stared at her, the woman meeting his
eyes in flushed defiance. The hatred
which he saw, her bitterness. corroded
his pride, scorched his self-love. Moth
ing wou.G kill his love for her; he
knew that in that blacklist of mo
ments. He would never forget thai
look of dread, of hate. lie left hel
tent.
That night, the cot under the stars
had no tenant. Hardin had 1t out
with himself down the levee.
That valley might fulfill Estrada's
vision and his labor; might yield the
harvest of happy homes; but his was
not there. He had been the sacrifice.