Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-03-26

Poor sulky Achilles" she thought.
Dear. honest old bearl''
"Innes!" cried Mrs. Hardin.
She turned TO find that the guest
was staring at her. She had not heard
his effort to include her in the con-
versation.
Mr.. Richard asked you if you like
it here?"
Thank you-why, of courseT Her
answer sounded pert TO herself.
Her sister-in-law FASTENED 70 add
that Miss Hardin was very lonely, las
really all alone in the world; that they
insisted on her making her home with
them.
Innes had with difficulty restrained
a denial. After all. what other home
had She? Still the truth had been de-
Elected. She recalled the sacrifice it
had been to cut her college course in
order to make home In the desert
for the brother who had always so
gently fathered her, who had helped
her invest her small capital that 1t
might spell a small income. She re-
called in mortgage; who could watch
that mad scapegoat of a river playing
FRANKS with desert homes and not
yearn to help? Not a Hardin. She
still gloried in remembering that size
had at least driven one pile into that
rebelliOus stream, even If when she
left the valley it would be as a bread
winner. She was prepared. She was
a good craftsman; she would go as
an apprentice in an architects office.
She had already settled on the archi-
tect!
"Are you going to Los Angeles
soon" She heard the new manager
address his host.
I'm taking orders."
There was another awkward mo-
ment when Hardin pushed back his
plate declaring he, had reached MS
limit; it was too big spread for him
1t was the stupid rudeness of the
small bad boy; even Innes flushed for
her sister-in-law.
With resolution Gerty assumed con-
troll of the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; no one could have
suspected it of frequent rehearsal.
They must not talk of the river; that
was taboo. Railroad matters were
also excluded. Equally difficult
would be "reminiscences of Lawrence
days. So she began brightly with a
current book. The theater proved a
safe topic, and by that natural route
they reached New York. Innes, who
had never been farther east than Chi
cago, was grateful TO play audience.
Hardin, vino knew his New York per-
haps better than either, refused to be
drawn into the gentle stream.
Things must be kept sprightly. Had
Mr.. Richard met many of the valley
people? And it was then that she
threw her bomb toward the listening,
silent Hardins. She would like Mr..
Richard to meet some of their friends.
He said that he would be delighted,
but that he was planning to leave
shortly for the Heading.
"Of course" She did not give her
husband time to speak. She meant
afterwardi She was planning to give
something a bit novel in his honor
She refused to see the glare from the
angry man in his outgrown dinner
coat. She did not glance toward the
sister. What did Mr.. Richard think
about a progressive ride?
st sounds very entertaining, but
what do you dof"
There was loud guffaw from Tom.
With deepened color Gerry told her
idea. A drive, changing partners, so
he could meet all the guests.
II think it will surprise you to find
so many nice people in here; it GER
tainly did me. One doesn't expect to
find congenial people in a new country
like this"
Richard remembered that he had
to get back to his hotel. He had let
tiers to write. 1t had been a splendid
dinner! And what a wonderful home
she had made out of Standardized lot,
out of tentl He spoke of the roses
and the morning glories. His eyes
fell on the open piano, the reading
table with the current magazines.
Now he couldn't understand why they
ever went to that hotel
Gerty's eyes were shining as deep
pools of water on which the sun plays.
She looked almost infantile as she
stood by the two tall men, her head
perched birdlike. "Good-byi and /
hope you'll come again ~
OF course he'd come againl
"And you will let me know when
you return, so that l may set the date
for my party7"
Innes did not get his answer. She
had been observing that he was not
taller than her brother He looked
taller. He was lean, and Tom was
growing stOcky. She wished he would
not SLOUGH so. his hands In his peck
etsi In Tucson, before she knew that
she must dislike Richard, she had had
an impression of yirile distinction. of
grace. a suggestion of mastered mus
cles. He had known that 1t was her
brother he was suppIanting-did he
get any satisfaction from the fact that
it was the husband of the woman who
had Tilted him? Anyway. she did not
like him. She could never forgive a
hurt that was done to her own. She
was a Hardin.
'Innes! Mr.. Richard said good
night"
She gave him the tips of her cool,
Drowned fingers. Her eyes did not
meet his; she would not meet that
laughing scrutiny.
"Good night. Mr.. Richard"