Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-22

din misinterpreted It.
81 ought to be able to keep a serv-
ant for her. 1t was like him to have
forgotten the Lawrence days; he was
never free of the sense Of obligation TO
the dainty little woman who was bern,
he felt. for the purple. There was
nothing too good for Gerty. He felt
her unspoken disappointments; her
/ deprivations. "0f course, she can have
no respect for me. Tn failure"
+; Doesn't this give you an appetizer
demanded Innes heartily. sand I'm
to be lady for three more weeks"
The remark was thoughtless. A bright
flush spread over Gerty's face. She
caught an allusion to her, origin.
Innes saw the blush and remem-
bered the boarding house. She could
think of nothing to say. The three
relatives sat down to that most uncom-
Portable travesty, social meal where
sociability is lacking. Innes said 1t
had been a pleasant morning. Gerty
thought it had been hot. And then
there was silence again.
Innes began to tell them of her Tue
sen visit, when Gerty laid down her
fork. "Ive meant to ask you hun
dred times. Did you attend to my
commission In Los AngelesT"
81 forgot to tell you. raked the
town, really l did, Gerty." For there
was cloud on Gsrty's pretty brow. II
could have got you the other kind. but
you said you did not want it."
Il should think not" The childish
chin was lifted. "Those complicated
things are always getting out of order.
Besides, If I had an adjustable form,
eyerybody'd be borrowing it."
"What are you talking about?" de-
manded Tom, waking up. who'd bor-
row your what, Gert?"
"Please don't call me Cert, Tom,"
( besought his wife pfaintively. "a fig
ure. wanted Innes to try to get one
for me in Los Angeles"
II did try" began Innes.
"Yours is good enough for anyone.
Why should you get another?" He
was openly admiring the ample bust
swelling under the pink gingham.
"Dou't, Tom."
Innes tried to explain the sincerity
of her search. She had visited every
store (which might be suspected of
having a figure" She could not bring
a smile to her sisters face. "There
was none your size. They offered to
order one from Chicago. They have to
be made to order, if they are special
sizes. You are not stock size, did you
know that?"
II should think not" cried Gerty,
bridllng. "My waist is absurdly small
for the size of my hips and shoulders" !"
Innes wondered if it would be safe
to agree with her.
"When will it be here?"
you'll be disappointed" Innes
found herself stammering. "But not
for six weeks. did not know whether
to order it or not"
"And in Los Angeles with my sum-
mer sewing all donel What good will
it do me them" The pretty eyes
looked ready for childish tears.
II know. That is, didn't know
what to do" apologized Innes Hardin.
II decided to order it as I'd found the
place, and was right there, but made
sure that I could countermand the or
der by telegram. SO l can this very
afternoon. knew you would be dis
appointed. was sorry"
'Ill need it next winter" admitted
Gerty, helping herself to some of the
chilled tomatoes. 'Tm sure I'm much
obliged to you. l hope it did not put
you to much trouble"
The words raised the wall Of for
mality again. Innes bent over her
plate.
"What made you change your plans p
suddenly demanded his wife of Hardin
"When Sam came in with your bag, he
surprised me So"
"lIy boss kept me-" Hardin's face
looked coarse, roughened by his ugly
passion. 'Rickard, your old friend
He served subpoena on me at the
station"
"Oh," cried Gerty. "Surely, he die
not do that. Tomw
"Sure he did," Hardln's face was
black with his evil mood. I'm only ar
underling, disgraced underling. He's
my boss. He's going to make me re-
member it."
"You mustn't say such things" pout
ed his wife. 'If it does not hurt you
if you do not care, think how / mus
feel"
"Oh, rot y exclaimed Hardin. The
veneer was rubbed down to the rougl
wood. Innes saw the coarseness hel
mother had complained of, the Gings
fiber.
81 suppose you think I like to take
orders, to jump at the snap of the
whip?" He was deliberately beating
up his anger into froth. "Oh, sure,
do. That's Hardin, through ant
through"
Again the angry blood flooded his
wifes cheeks. He, too, was throwing
the boarding house at her.
''You did it yourself" Gerty witt
difficulty was Withholding the angry
tears. Il told you how it would be
You would do it."