The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-02-28

work. II
ty today as 1t sonred yesterday? Rick
ard was finding that Gerty's more ma
ture charms did not accelerate his
heart-beats, but they were certainly
fiattering to his early judgment. And
he had expected her to be q shock!
He was staring into his plate OF
chilled soup. Calf-love! For he had
loved her. OF at least he had loved her
chin. her pretty childish way Of lifting
1t. She was prettier than he had pic.
turcd her. Queer that q 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.
Il occurred to him that that might
have been Hardin-he had not wanted
to stare at them.
That was mo- Hardin's face. It held
strength and power. The outline was
sharp and distinct showing the strong
lines. the determined mouth Of the piO-
neer. There WINS something else, some
thing which stood for distinction-no,
L couldn't be Hardin.
And then. because an outthrust lp
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 ncighbor from Ala
hama became Immediately oratorical.
THAT ID q big man, sub. II the I'm
perial valley eve becomes q reality. q
dxtuah. It will be because OF that one
man, sub. Reclamation Is like u seed
thrown on q rock. Will it stick? viii
It take root? VIII it grow? That is
what we all want to know"
Richard thought that he had wanted
to 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, suh."
Richard tried to reset, without at
tracing their attention, the group Of
his impressions OF the man whose per-
s0nality had been % obnoxious to him
In the old Lawrence days. The Hardin
he had known had also large features,
but OF the aaccid irritating order. He
summoned . picture Of Hardin as he
had shuiIled into his own classroom. or
up to the long table where Gerry had
always Queened It among her mothers
bOarders. He could see the rough I'M
polished boots that had always offend
ed him as q betrayal OF the mans in
ner e~oarseness; the badly fitting coat,
the long awkward arms. and the salts
fed, loud-speaking mouth. These fea-
lures were more definite. Could time
bring these changes? Had he changed.
like thatf Had they e himf Would
Gerty. would Hardin remember him.
Wasn't It his place to make himself
known: wavet the nag Of old friendship
over an awkward situation1
He found himself standing In front
Of their table. encountering nrst, the
eyes Of Hardin,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.
u look or b~ewildeFment, flushing into
greetlpg-the years Ind been kind to
0erfy Holmes!
DO you remember me. Rickardy'
Il Hardin recognized . dificult situa-
Hon, he did not betray It. It was .
man Richard did not know who shook
nlm warmly by the hand, ana said that
indeed hs had not forgotten him.
srvo been expecting you, Ny wife.
Nj. Richard. and my sister"
"Why. what are you thinking Of.
Tomf TO introduce MI. Richard! 1
introduced you to each other, years
ago. 0erty's cheeks were red. Her
bright eyer were dartihg from one to
the other. sxou knew he was coming.
and did not tell mer'
sYou were at the Improvement club
when the telegram came" put In Innes
Hardin. without looking ut Richard. No
trace of the Tucson cordially In that
proud llttlo facet No acknowledgment
that they had met at the Marshal's!
-Oh, you telegraphed to usf" The
blond arch smile had not aged. THAT
WINS friendly and NICE"
Richard had not been self-conscious
for mary : year. He did NOT know
what to ray. He turned from her up
tufned face 70 the others. Innes Har.
din wa staring ovt of the window.
over the heads Of several crowded
ktables; Hardin vas gazing at his plate.
Blizzard decided that AZ would ret ont
w this before 0erty discovered that It
49, nelther s.fr1endly nor nice"
N1f 4 ka1 kn0svn that 'yon wefe heres
haNe - 10nr dining