The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-14
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Rex Be a( i

the same disparity in years between
her add Pierce which she had recog-
niz Cd from the beginning, but, after
all. was that necessarily fatal? He
had loved her genuinely enough at
one time. Hilda recalled that windy
night On the shores of Linderman
when tho whimper of a rising storm
came out of the darkness, when the
trec-tops tossed their branches to the
sky, and when her own soul had
broken its letters and de6ed restraint.
She thrilled at memory Of those
strong young arms about her, those
hot lips pressing hers. That was a
moment to remember always. And
those dreamy, magic days that had
followed, the more delightful, the
more unreal because she had dclibcr-
ately drugged her conscience. The,,
that night at White Horse! He had
told her bitterly, broken-heartcdly
that he could never forget. Perhaps
even yet With an effort Hilda
Courteau reused herself. Never
forget: Why, he had forgotten tho
very next day, as was quite natural.
No. she was a foolish scntimentalist,
and newell. nc was just one whom
Tate had cast for lovers role, one
destined to excite affection,in women.
good aud bad. Some day he would
find his mate and--Hilda believed
he loved him we'll enough to re-
joice in his happiness when it ca,i1e.
There spoke the material instinct
which Phillips had the kilack of rous-
ing: for want Of something better,
she determined she would eherisl,
that
Meanwhile Laurie sat in her cor
ncr. her head bowed, her very soul
in revolt. She, was tasting failure,
disappointment. baked desire, and
it was hike gan in her mouth. She
could have cried out aloud in her
rage. She hated these other women
whom she blamed for her undoing /;
she hated Cavendisll, Pierce Phillips,
herself.
ut serves me right she told her
self, tur,ously. II deserve; the pink
ticket for making :, fool of myself.
Yes, a fooi' What has Pierce ever
done for ne?' Nothing. And -
Before her minds eye came 4 vision
Of the opportunities she had let slip.
The chances she had ignored. She
knew full well that she could nave
had the pick of many n,enAthc new
made rnillionaircs Of Dawson-but
instead she had chosen him. And
wiz: Merely because he had way,
a smile. a warm and pleasing per.
sonalitv--some magnetic appeal too
intangible to identify. 1t was like
her to make the wrong choicc--she
always did. She had come North
with but one desire, one determine
ton -l,amely, to make money, to
reap to the full her share Of this
free harvest. She had given up the
life she liked, the people she knew,
the comforts she craved, for that
and for nothing else, and what a
mess she had made Of the venture
Other girls not half SO smart, not
half so pretty as she, had featlered
their nests right here before her
eyes, while she was wasting her time.
They had kept their heads, and they
would go out in the spring, first
class with good clothes and a bank
roll i'll the purser's safe. Some Of
them were married and respectable.
Never again. she whispered to
herself. "The next one will pay"
Chagrin at the treatment she had
suffered filled her with poisonous
hatred of all mankind, and sound
lessly she cursed Phillips as the
cause Of her present plight.
Such thoughts as these ran tum-
bling through the girls mind; her
rage and her resentment were real
enough; nevertheless, through this
orertone there ran another note: a
small voice was speaking in the
midst of all her tumult-a small
voice which she refused to listen to.
What ] ever saw in him don't
know she snecred, goading herself
to further bitterness and stiffening
her courage. Il never really cared
for him: Pm too wise for that. l
don't care for him now. detest
the poor, supplemented fool. l.
hate him" So she fought with her
self. drowning the persistent piping
of that other voice. Then her ewes
dropped to that fatal r.,er in her, Ian
and suddenly venom fed from her.
She wondered if Cavendish would
tell Pierce that he had given her the
pink ticket. Probably not. The
Mounted Police were usually close
mouthed about sucl, things. and yet
-Laure crushed the paper into, "a
crumpied bali and furtivcly, hid it in
the pocket of her coatl:s then She
raised wild, apprcliensisc eyes to the
door. If only she dared slip out
row. before Pierce reappeared, be
fore he had a chance 10 see her. It
seemed as il she could n6t bear to
have him know. but--Cavehdislf had
ordered her to wait. my Goa!"
the girl whispered. IN die. If he
knows! III die.' She began to
trcmblc wretchedly and to wiring Her
hands,; she to,ild not remove her
gaze from the door. J g. Z
This waiting-foom at the Barracks
had Housed people of divers and
many sorts during its brief history !:
it had 1larbored Strained faces, It
had been the scene Of strong emo
tioiial conflicts, But never, perhaps,
had its narrow walls encompassed
emotions in wider Contrast than those
experienced by the four silent W6in-
Ell who waited there at this moment.
One object IF interest dominated
the thoughts Of each Of them. These
thoughts were similar in nature ind
sprang from the same starting-point
Curiously enough, however, >ttlicy
took channels as wide apart as the
poles. egst'S nj ~ 800 7. !,
Josephine .Cavendisl;. had, Heard
Just enough about the incidents iof
the previous night to awaken her
apprcl,ensions and to stir her feel
mo Of 1Oya1fv IN thu dAoAf,c FL :