Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-11

~ oOS0AAA SS
in order to marry him. His better ma
ture revolts from the situation but he
secs no alternative to carrying 1t
through.
CHAPTER m.
THE GIRL OUTSIDE.
Tony Adriance slipped into the
habit OF pausing for a few words with
the girl In black whenever circum-
stances set them opposite each other.
And that was quite often, since his
home was so ear the pavilion she
had adopted as her place Of repose.
He rather avoided his friends, during
the days following his futile rebelaon
against Lucille Masterson's will, yet
he was lonely and eager to escape
thought. He could talk to the girl, he
admitted to himself. because she did
not know him.
They met with a casual frankness.
the girl and he, like two men who
find each other congenial,y yet whose
lives lie far apart. Their brief con-
versations were intimate without be-
ing inquisitively personal. She had q
trick Of saying things that fingered In
the memory: at least in his memory.
Not that she was especially brilliant;
her charm vas her earnestness, at
once vivid and tranquil, and the odd
glamor Of enchantment she threw
over plain commonsense, making 1t
no longer plain, but alluring as folly.
But she continued to wear the
shabby. little boots. with their opti-
mistic bravery Of backing. They
really were respectable boots, aging.
not aged. The fault lay with Adri-
customed to women whose sandals
delighted his eyes," II her feet had
been less childishly small they might
have ~pre-occupied him less. >As it
was, they ~preoccupied him home and
more.
There is no accepted way Of offer
4 ing a pair Of shoes to a feminine ac-
a%uaintance. Nevertheless, in the
third week of his friendship with the
girl, Adriance bought a pair OF pumps
for her. He had e them in a glas.
to gaze, sstonished. they were so
Enthusiastically hers; the size, the
rounded lines. the very arch and tilt
were right! They were Of shining
black, with Spanish heels and glinting
! buckles.
He took them home with him. but
of purse he dared not give them to
her. He had an idea that he might
essay the venture on the last occasion
Of their meeting: ifsshe punished him
with Punishment. then, 1t would not
York when Lucille went to Florida.
He would spend the necessary inter-
val between the divorce and his mar
rage, in Canada, alone.
Meanwhile, there was the girl.
It was on the last day OF October
that he found her knitting instead Of
embroidering: 4 web of gay scarlet
across her knees.
"A new suit for Holly's big Teddy
bear" she explained. as he sat down
opposite to her. christmas is COM
ing, you know. I like to have all
ready in advance. Don't you think
the color should become = brown
plush bear?"
1T is not depressing"
1T Is the color Of holly. And de-
preston is not a sensation to cult
vate, is it." She paused to gaze across
the river, already Swallowed by ap-
ishting il OF with both hands; driv-
ing a e right through the ugly
thing and holding 1t up like Sir Sim
tram with that wriggly monster in
the old picture"
trouble with" he said abruptly.
She disentangled his meaning from
the extremely vague speech, and
nodded serious assent.
Yes, perhaps. I'm used to max
ing the most of things"
1.-THE best of them" he corrected. .
"Of course!g The most best-why
should anyone make more worst?"
They laughed together. But direct
ly the restless unhAppiness flowed
back into his eyes
"ThnV do fhnIPhio he Exclaimed.
Then they are wrong, all wrong"
she said decidedly. "They should set
themselves right the moment they,
find it OUT"
But il they can't?" he urged, with
a personal heat and protest. Things
aren't so simple AZ ali that. Suppose
they can't Set one thing straight with
You cannot go cutting and slashing
through like that"
"Oh. yes: you cam" she contra
eyes fred. you must: anyone must.
1t is cowardly to let things. crooked
things, grow and grow. And one
could not knock down anything worth
while that easily. Good things are
strong" 81
He shook his head. But she had
stirred him 10 that he sat silent for a
while, then rather suddenly rose to
take his leave.
You never told me your NAME" he
remarked, looking down at her. He
noticed again how supple and deft
her fingers were, and their capable
swiftness at the work.
"No. Why?' she replied simply.
Il don't know" he accepted the re.
huke. beg your pardon"
"Oh, certainly. Holly is trying to
shake hands before you CO."
OF course he and the baby had he
come friends. He carefully yielded
his forefngsr to the, clutching hands,
but he did not smile - usual.
Look here" he spoke out b~rusqus-
ly. 'Just q an illustration that
things IRE not ~ easily kept straight
a s your seem to think-I know Q mar
who somehow got to following one
woman around. I don't think hi
knows quite how. OF course, he ad-
mired her immensely, and liked her
Well, 1 suppose he felt thar
THAT! But he never ever imagined
making love to her, because she wal
: married. You zee, he was . fool. On.
day when he called, she told him tina
she was going forget Q divorce from
her husband. She has The right. AND
the man found she expected to MARI,
him, afterward; she thought he hal
meant that all along. What could h.
do? What can: he dol"
The baby gurgled merrtiy, dropping
! the forehnger and 5awnins. The CIR
laid down her work to tuck q cover