The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-02-28

Nv today as II scared Yesterday Rick
ard was finding Tint Gerty's more ma
lure charms did not accelerate his
hcnrt-beats, but they were certainly
tlnttcring to his early judgment. And
hc had expected her 20 be IA shockl
Eie was staring Into his plate OF
chilled soup. Cnlf-lovel For he had
loved her or at least he had loved her
chin, her pretty childish way of lifting
II. She was prettier than he had pic.
tured her. Queer that man like Har-
din could draw such women for sister
and wife-the blood tie was the most
amazing. For when women come to
marry they make often queer choice.
II occurred to him that that might
have been Hardin--he had not wanted
10 stare at them.
That was not Hardin's face II held
strength and power. The outline was
sharp and distinct, showing the strong
lines, the determined mouth Of the pio-
neer. There was something else. some
thing which stood for dlstinctlon--no
II couldn't be Hardin.
And then. because an ontthrust lip
changed the entire look OF the man,
Richard asked his table companions.
who was the man with the two ladies',
near the door.
That subj" his neighbor from Ala
bnma became Immediately oratorical,
shat ~ a big man, sub. If the Tins
perial valley ever becomes reality, a
fixtunh, II VIII be because of that one
man, sub. Reclamation Is like seed
thrown on rock. VIII II stick2 WIN
II take rootf VIII II grow? That is
what we all want TO know"
Richard thought that he had wanted
70 know something quite different, and
reminded the gentleman from Alabama
that he had not told him the name.
THE father Of this valley, OF the
reclamation Of this desert, Thomas
Hardin, subj
Richard tried to reset. without 1T
tracing their attention, the group of
his impressions of the man whose per-
sonality had been so obnoxious to him
In the old Lawrence days. The Hardin
he had known had also large features.
but Of the Qaccid Irritating order. He
summoned ii picture of Hardin as he
had shuilled into his own classroom, or
up TO the long table whore Gerty had
always queened It among her mothers
boarders. He could see the rough UNI
polished boots that had always offend
ed him as betrayal of the mans in
ner eoarseness the badly fitting coat.
the long awkward arms, and the satis-
fled. loud-spcaSing mouth. These fea-
lures were more definite. Could time
bring these changes7 Had he changed
like thatf Had they seen him? Would
Gerty would Hardin remember hlml
Wasn't II his place to make himself
known; wave the dag OF old friendship
over an awkward sitnatIon9
He found himself standing in front
Of their table, encountering first, the
eyes of IIardln's sister. There was no
surprise. no welcome there for him. He
felt at once the hostility of the camp
His face was uncomfortably warm
Then the childish profile turned on him
A look OF bewilderment Gushing into
grecting-the years had been kind tc
Gerty Holmes!
'Do you remember me, RlckardT
I II Hardin recognized a dlfIleult sltua.
tion, he did not betray Il. II was d
man Richard did not know who SHOOK
MIN warmly by che hand, and said that
indeed he had not forgotten him.
''rve been expecting you. My wife
Mr. Richard. aud my sister"
Why. what are you thinking OF
romf To Introduce Mr.. Richard
introduced You to each other. years
sagop Gerty's cheeks were red. Hei
bright eyes were dartlng from one tc
the other. "Gou knew he was coming
and did not tell mer'
slou were at the Improvement clut
when the telegram came" put in Innes
Hardin. without looking ut Richard. Nc
trace OF the Tucson eordialIty IN that
proud little face No acknowledgement
that they had met 1t the Aiarshalrst
T'Oh, you telegraphcd 20 u.s." Tn,
blond arch smile had not aged. "rha
was friendly and nice
] Richard had not been self-consciou
for many year. He did not know
what to say. He turned from her up
! turned face to the others. Innes Har
din was staring out of the window
over the heads Of several crowded
tables; Hardin was gazing at his plate
Richard decided that he would get on
of this before Gerty discovered that /
was neither friendly nor nice"
IF had known that you were here
would have insisted on your dlninI
with us, In our tent. For it's terrible