The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-10-24
CHAPTER TX

more sensible or more adaptable than
| the others, she had disciplined herself
TO accept the new order of things.
Ellen had the advantage of some prep
aration. whereas the eTents of the
memorable Wednesday had fallen upon
the others like thunderbolt- She had
suspected, doubted, and dreaded, for
many heartsick days and weeks be-
fore the crisis came and now, while
they all suffered in their separate ways
from the shock, Ellen even experienced
a desperate satisfaction. II was over :
Gibbs loved her no longer, and he
knew that she knew II.
For a few days the repetition Of this
fact gave her an empty, vague feeling,
and a sensation of fatigue. She was
always tired. and her head felt always
confused. Gibbs loved her no longer.
Well, what next then? She had
faced terrible things before. The old
leather harness, for instance. and the
feverish days Of pain in the old dining
room, by the alright stove. And later
winter days, in Paris now, when she
had reused in the night to listen to
the baby's uneven breathing AMI had
Weakened to remember that the crib
was gone, that Rose was gone-Rose
was gone
And now she must keep sane, and
face these new, strange things. Gibbs.
her own husband. loved another wom-
an more than his wife, and Joe, the
little brother whose simple, sturdy
integrity had seemed TO shine in so
brilliant a contrast TO this life Of n.y.
pocrsies and affectatlons, Joe had
caused misery and harm, and must
take q furnished record into his new
life as a husband.
Brooding on these things day and
night, yet Ellen forced herself to a
certain desperate courage. She dressed
in her usual scrupulous, quaint way,
she made herself walk and read, and
enter into Tommy's life. She met
Gibbs stern and moody unresponsive-
ness with tranquil gravity, with his
father alone she was more like her
old sunshiny self. Lillian and Ellen
barely spoke to each other, except for
the unavoidable civilitles whose omis-
sion would have caused talk among the
servants.
Josselyn, Senior had somewhat
into himself since the trip
TO the studio, and had asked hls wife
TO cancel all engagements for week
or two. Lillian amiably obeyed and
after that the silence and chill of hid
den anger and suppressed fear fell
upon the "Villino deli Orto." Once
George Lathrop came to dinner. and
for few hours the shadow lifted. and
now and then Joe came in, perceiving
that something was wrong. but assum-
ing, as they were all assuming, that
everything was normal and pleasant
between the Josselyns. Otherwise
they were alone.
Lillian was bewildered and made
little uneasy by the suddenness with
which This change in atmosphere had
come about, because, as she told her
self dozen times day, nothing had
after all When Tom and
Ellen had so abruptly entered the
studio. on that eventful Wednesday
she had been ready with her
aughing explanation of her presence |
here. and she had seen that they ac- |
.epted ii. Lillian was not the woman |
o be caught unprepared in such
;ituation.
The smiling greeting with which she
lad risen to meet them: "Ah. now
'ou've spoiled it all - was daunting In
is bright sincerity. She had had a
,iss for her husband, she had had an
rm about Ellen as she elucidated:
Tom, darling. we've been scheming
nd scheming for a chance to get my
,icture painted for your birthday
rhat bad luck brought you in today?"
And Gibbs had promptly and con-
ernedly followed her lead.
"And how'd you get in. Dad? The
ar broke down with Lillian Yesterday !
IN the Great Neck hill-Torrens got
D as far as the service station-did
e telephone you?"
"And | had to telephone the Wal
ices" Lillian added. wide-eyed. land
ON. simply invited myself to stay
18th old Mrs. Pepper at Great Neck all
light. didn't telephone you because
had this date for an early sitting
18th Gibbs"
Take look at It'll" Gibbs said, at
ne easel. lawfully rough now. Of
purse It's. just laid in" The old
ian. studying the canvas, nodded.
still you've caught It'll" ne said.
Car broke down. eh?"
"No. II was skidding." Lillian, at
pr husbands side. also looking at the
Drtrait, explained. "The ROAD was
IMPLY lined with cars, Tom. II was
rowing hard. you know. and got
rri5ly nervous Finally Torrens gave
up, too. He's been talking about
lie brake, you know, and he was as
'rvous as l."
She was smiling, eager. garrulous
~ tlian