The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-14

a few tlnny church steepies rose
from the mass. II was frontier
camp. II was not place to live In.
not possibly. not conceivably.
The people--thcy'd be as drab as
their houses. as flat as their fields.
She couldn't stay there She would
have to wrench loose from this man.
and flee.
She pecped AZ him. She was nj
once helpless before his mature fix.
ity. and touched by bis excitement
AZ he sent his magazine sklttering
along the aisle. stopped for their
bags. came up with flushed face. and
gloatcd. Here We arcr'
She smiled loyalty. and looked
away. The train was entering town.
The houses on tho outskirts were
dusky old red mansions with wooden
frilis, or gaunt frame shelters IKE
grocery boxes. or new bungalows
with concrete foundations initiating
stone.
Now the train was Passing tho
elevator, the grim storage tanks for
oil. a creamery, n lumber yard, a
stock yard muddy and tfumpled and
sinking. Now they were stopping
AZ a squat rcd frame station. the
platform crowded with unshaven
farmers and with ioafcrs-unadven.
turous people with dead eyes she
was here. She could not go on IL
WAS the erd-thc end OF the world.
She sat with closed eyes. longing TO
push past Kennico't. hide somewhere
IN tho train. flee on toward the Pa.
cific.
Something large arose in her soul
and commanded, stop IL Stop be.
ing n whining habyF' She stood up
quickly. she said. Isn't Il wonder
ful 20 be hercat inEtT"
lie trusted her 80. She would make
herself like the piacn. And she was
going TO do tremendous things
She followed Kcnnicott and the
bohb!nE ends OF the two bags which
he carried. They were held back by
the slow line OF disemharkinE pas.
sengers. She reminded herself that
she was actually Rt IN. dramatic
moment Of the brides homecoming
She ought TO feel exalted. She felt
nothing az all except irritation at
their slow progress toward tho door
Kennicott stopped 70 peer thru the
windows. lie slyly exultcd.
Look Look, There's a bunch
come down TO welcome US. Sam
Clark and the misaus and Dave
Dyer and Jack Elder. and. yes air.
Harry Haydock and Juanita, and n
whole crowd guess they sec US
now. Yuh, yuh sure. they see usl
See 'em waving
She obcdiently bent her head TO
look out at them. She had hold OF
But she was embarrassed BY the
hcartlness OF the cheering group
From the vestibule she waved TO
them. but she chung a second 10 the
sleeve Of the brakeman who helped
her down before she had the courage
TO dive into the cataract OF hand.
shaking people. people whom she
could not tell apart. She had the
impression that all the men had
coarse voices. large damp hands.
toothbrush mustaches, bald spots.
and Masonic watch charms.
She knew that they were welcom.
ing her. Their hands. their smiles,
their shouts, their affectionate eyes
overcame her. She stammered.
THANK you. Oh. thank youF'
One Of the men was clamorinR at
on ~
down to take you home. doc"
Fine business. SAINT cried Ken
nicott: and, 20 Carol. Let's jump
in. That big Paige over there. Some
boat. too. believe met Sam can show
speed 10 any OF these Marmons from
MinneapoIisr'
Only when she was In the motor
car did she distinguish the three peo-
pie who were to accompany them.
The owner, now at the wheel. was
the essence OF decent self.aatisfac.
ton. a baldlsh, largish. leveleyed
man. rugged OF neck. but sleek and
round OF face--facc like the back
OF a spoon bowl. He was chuckllng
at her. Have you got US all straight
YETI"
Course she hast Trust Carrie 10
get things straight and get 'em darn
quick. ! bet she could tell you every
date in history boosted her hus.
band.
But the man looked at her rcas.
suringly, and with a certainty that
he was q person whom she could
trust she confesscds "As a matter OF
fact haven't got anybody straight"
Course you haven't child.
"Wcll, I'm Sam Clark, dealer in
hardware. sporting goods. cream sep.
arators. and almost any kind of
heavy junk you can think OF. You
can call me Sam-anyway. I'm go.
ing TO call you Carrie, seems g
you've been and gone and married
this poor fish OF bum medic that
we keep round here" Carol smiled
lavishly. and wished that she called
people by their given names more
easily. THE fat cranky lady back
there beside you, who is pretending
that she can't hear me giving her