The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-12-14

Led the Way.
to pull off these shoes; they're killing
my left foot. Then Well 20 to the
kitchen. I was just fxin' to roll out
the pie crust"
Mrs. Allen tried to hide her excite
ment by talking rapidly.
Bob was over this morning." she
went on. "Got back Wednesday.
Reckon you know more about him
than I do, though, bein' he's probably
been writin' to you most, every day.
He graduated with nonors, the paper
said. I told him you was coming home
today, and he said he'd be over after
supper. Reckon you two youngsters'1l
be glad to e each other again. He
seemed kinder glum; didn't say much
Of nothing, and Bob generally carries
on so much foolishness. Don't know
what's the matter"
Mrs. Allen sat on a hassock In front
Of the upholstered couch and drew
two eminently comfortable, f~iat-foot-
ed old shoes from beneath it. With
q sigh she carefully removed the
others, and pulling her stockings out
at the toes, slipped on her shabby old
friends.
THAT'S better" she said, rising.
snow I'll be able to get around. It's
most supper. time. Wen have 30
hurry. Land, Mary, what makes you
10 pale? Nothin' I said frightened
you, did itf
The girl tried to conceal her emotion
with q laugh.
"No. not frightened, mother. Just
dreading something, somehow"
"Pshaw! You're not botherin' about
what I said about Bob, are you? He's
all right: lookin' fine and q heap
stouter than he was when he left last
fall"
The supper somehow fell dat. No
body had much to say; Mary was not
In her usual spirits and Mrs. Allen felt
disappointed. For a week she had
planned that n meal, and the menu
included Mary's favorite dishes, yet
there had been NO enthusiasm. Tired
and sort Of let down from the gradua-
ton and the trip and ALL" Mrs. Allen
concluded. AS they were clearing the
dishes away together Q knock sounded
9n the front door. ~
'"Ihere he is Mary. You run on; I
can finish this"
Mary, now quite pale again, stood
beside the table and fumbled with the
knives and forks In her hands.
Hes knocking again. Hurry up and
take off your Apron"
Mrs. Allen deftly Jerked the strings
behind her daughters back and
pushed her toward the door. Me-
chemically Mary went down the hall
and met Bob Hansard coming In.
"Oh don't, Bob |" she said, backing
away from his open arms. Il, can't
we mustn't. Oh, it's terrible. Come
into the parIor and let me get over
with it. %s@@
Hastily she led the way into the
stiff little roo to the right Of the
front door. talking all the time.
IL don't know how to tell you;
] can't. I hate myself, and 1 know
you'u hate me. too. but it's the old, old
story. When we became engaged /
was In love with you. Is I thought, but
merely in love with love. l see now
that / would probably have loved any
other man that had brought me flowers
and said nice things to me at that
time. / wanted to write to you about
Il, but ] simply couldn't. It seemed
70 impossible that l could be tickle
and get interested In some ono else
when | was engaged 10 you. 1 know
I'm not worth killing. and II you hate
oil the women on earth It's all my
fault. l never despised amy one %
much In my life 40 I do myself today,
but what can I dot It's III over. that's
all..
with q convulsive little jerk shs
doubled up In q heap on the sofa and
shook with sobs.
Listen, Mary. Bob almost RELIED,
hls hand on the s1rI's shaking shout
derRL Eve been 10 stunned b what
you've told ma I couldn't speak. Don't
uy, don't cry. Don't ron hear. I'm
happy-too happy 70 talk even. I'm
u the same Or and have been nearly
craxy thu last six mouths wonder1ng
what to do shout iE \ fellows r. D
Uorse me than i ntrI when - nnds
cut No. mAdo 3 mistako.
58 A-lM#l.l1.A N64--9 N-a.aA --.AA--la5