White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-13

"well. aren't You satisfied9 pon
/ look like a suy?'
lie could be heard distinctly III the
next room. Gerry gave 1t up IN ue-
spair. She dabbed some more powder
on her nose and went out looking Ike
a martyr-a very pretty martyr!
| Richard praised the miracles OIL the
tent. Gerty's soft flush reminded In.
nes of their old relation. Exit innes'
| she n thinking. when Tom, red u
| perspiring. brought another eieineh'
| If discomfort into the room.
certy ushered them Immediately 10
the table. She covered the first MIN
utes which might be awkward WIN
her small chatter. somewhere SUE
had read that it was not we'll to make
.nologies for lack of maid or rare.
Besides Mr.. Richard
Lawrence. That dreadful dlnihg
room. the eyer-set table, How she
had hated IL, though she had not
knopn how fearful it WAS until she
had escaped.
"We are simple folk here, Mr.. RICK
ard" she announced, as they TOOK
heir places around the pretty table.
Tint was her only allusion to defieien-
lies. but it covered her noiseless move
nents around the board between
courses. filled up the gaps when she
made necessary dives into kitchen or
primitive ice chest, and set the Key
for the LONELINESS of the meal itself.
rhe dinner was n triumph of apparent
simplicity. Only Innes could guess
he time consumed in tile perfection
If detail. details dear 10 the hostess
leart. The almonds she had b~lanched,
IF course, herself had dipped and
salted them. The cheese straws were
her own. She did not make the mis-
AXE of stringlng out endless courses.
An improvised buffet near ut hand
made the serving a triumph.
Richard praised each dish; openly
he was admiring her achievement.
Times, remembering the story Gerty
lad told her in dots and dashes, the
story of the old rivalry, glanced COW
ertly AT Tom sulking at the head of
ais own table.
poor sulky Achilles" she thought.
Dear. honest old bear
"Innes, - cried Mrs. Hardin.
She terned To find that the guest
vas staring 1T her. She had not heard
MS effort to include her in the con
iersation.
"Mr. Richard asked you if you like
I here?"
Thank you-why, Of coursel' Her
lnswer sounded pert to herself.
Her slster-in-law fastened to add
hat Miss Hardin was very lonely. was
eally all alone in the world hat they
on her making her home with
hem.
Innes had with difficulty restrained
denial. After all. what other home
lad she? Still the truth had been de-
She recalled the sacrifice 1t
lad been To cut her college curse In
order to make a 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 n small income. She re-
called his resistance when she had
called in n mortgage; who could watch
that mad scapegoat of n river playing
FRANKS with desert homes and not
yearn to help? Not a Hardin. She
stiIl gloried in remembering that She
had at least driven one pile into that
rebellious stream. even if when she
left the valley 1t 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 his
limit 1t was too big a spread for him .
1t was the stupid rudeness of the
small bad boy even limos flushed for
her sister-in-law.
With resolution Gerry assumed con.
trol Of the conversation. Her role
sounded casual; no one could have
suspected Ii 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
lays. SO she began brightly with a
current book. The theater proved n
afe topic. and by that natural route
hey reached New York. Innes. who
,ad never been farther east than Chi.
ago, was grateful to play audience.
iardin, who knew his New York DER.
APPS better than either, refused to be
rawn into the gentle stream.
Things must be kept sprightly. Had
1r. Richard met many of the VALLEY
people? And 1t was then that she
threw her bomb toward the listening,
Mlent Hardins. She would like Mr..
l'iekard to meet some of their friends.
lie said that he would be delighted.
but that he was planning to leave