Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-04-25

forgotten your Kindness"

forgotten your Kindness
'"The nerve" growled Tom again,
his mouth full of Gerty's omelette.
ITO take YOU up on an invitation like
that. / call that pretty raw
"You must remember we are such
old friends" urged his wife. "He
knew l meant it seriously"
"Just the same, it's nerve" grum-
bled Hardin, helping himself to more
of the Omelette, now fiat ruin in the
center of the Canton platter. His re-
sentiment had taken on an edge of
hatred since the episode of the dredge
machinery. ITO write to anyone in
my house! He knows what think OF
him; an Intellectual ass, that's what he
is. laundering around with his little
levees, and his fool work on the wa
ter tower"
1.-THE water tower?" demanded his
sister "What's he doing with that?"
ooh, I don't know" rejoined Tom
largely. his lips protruding. He had
been itching to ask some one what
Richard was up to. Twice. he had
seen him go up, with MacLean and
Estrada. Once, there a large flare of
light. But he wouldn't ask Some of
his fool tinkering!
His sisters gaze rested on him with
concern. He had too little to do. She
guessed that his title consulting en-
gineer. was q hooking one, that his
chief at least, did not consult him.
Was it true, what she had heard, that
he had made fiuke about the ma
chinery? He was looking seedy. He
had been letting his clothes go. He
looked like man who has lost grip ;
who has been shelved.
She knew he was sleeping badly
Every morning now she found the
couch rumpled. Not much pretense Of
marital congeniality. Things were 60
ing badly, there
Everybody has accepted" Gerty
was saying. ''They have been waiting
for me to set the date"
I "And you cater to him. let him
dangle you all. / wonder why You do
it. unless it's to hurt me-"
"Hurt you, Tom cried his wife, her
deep blue eyes wide with dismay.
"How can you say such thing? But
if Il Is given for him, how can | do
anything else than let him arrange
the day to suit himself? 1t would be
funny for the guest of honor not to
be present, wouldn't it?'
II don't see why you want to make
hila guest of honor" he retreated,
covering his position.
Gently, Gerty expressed her belief
that she was doing the best thing for
her husband in getting up public af-
fair for his successor. She did think
that Tom would see that it showed
they had no feeling.
81 think it fine idea" agreed In
mes heartily. "I'm sure Tom will, too,
When he thinks about it, But she did
not give him any chance to express
himself. "How are you going to man
age il. Gerty? You said it was going
to be Erogressive"
eve shall draw for partners" said
Mrs. Hardin. And change every half
a nile. The first lap will be two
miles; that will give some excitement
in cutting for partners" Easy, being
the hostess, to withhold any slip she
pleased easy to make it seem acct
dental.
"When is this circus coming off?"
inquired her husband.
Mr.. Richard says he will be back
on the first; that he'll be free on the
second"
"Fnp half an hour, I'll listen to Mrs.
Youngherg tell me how hard it is to
have TO do without servants, las she's
never done it in her life before. For
another half-mile, Mrs. Hatfield will
tlirt with me, and Mrs. Middleton will
tell me all about her dear little kid
dies Sounds cheerful. Why didn't
you choose cards? No one has to
talk then"
There was an interval when his wire
appeared to be balancing his sugges-
non. NO l mink !t VIII have to be
drive; for I've tOld every one about
="
Well" remarked her husband Il
only hope something will happen to
prevent it,
TONI" exclaimed Gerty Hardin.
"What dreadful thing to say. That
sounds like a curse. You make my
blood run cold"
Shut! said Hardin, picking up his
hat "That was no curse. You
wouldn't go II 1t rained, would yOu?
"Oh. rain:' She shrugged at that
possibility.
"Well, you wouldn't go If the wind
blOws!' retOrted Hardin, leaving the
room.