The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-05
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3, RUBY II AIRES - SSaas :rs.

it no longer seemed to matter much,
She only longcd to get it over.
"Hcaps Of women marry men they
don't love and manage to live quite
happily she thought.
And, after all, being in love
isn't all happiness. Look what !
have had to suffer.
And she hated suffering. It was
her nature TO be bright and happy.
The afternoon slipped away, but
Seton did not come.
She went down to the village. The
rain had cleared off and there was
faint tingc Of sunset in the sky.
Nan passed the road along which
one went TO Little Gadsden. She
stood for moilent looking at he
wnlte slgnboard with a half smile.
She had no business there at all
Everything seemed just the same
as il had done years ago when She
was child and living in DURANGO
vile under her stcnmother's sharp
tongue.
A woman came out Of cottage
as Nan passed and called to her.
Nan knew the shrill, rather domi.
ed; and IA little SILVER Of distastc
! cold, beady eyes Of the wears sis
ter.
II was just thinking about you.
Miss Marraby.' she declared; her
beady eyes seemed to take in every
detail Of Mans attire at a glance;
she held out to Nan her thin, cot
ton-gloved hand.
II was wondering if perhaps you
would come and help US decorate
! for Easter. l know you don't take
much interest in parish affairs,
but ~
Some people are coming over
from Gadsden to help. l don't
know if you know any of the Gads-
den people-but I always find them
so exceptionally nice.:'
II know few" Nan admitted.
"Well, this is a Mrs. Mears lam
thinking OF particularly" Miss Du-
deney said. "She is war widow,
poor thing! such very charming
person. and so rich. She attends
the Gadsden church, of course, but
she is coming over to help us, and
has promised to bring all the white
flowers for the font. She has won
derful greenhouses, I believe. ard
is very good TO charity; they say
there. are always quite Il number Of
wounded soldiers staying in her
house"
"Really?" said Nan.
"Ycs--thcrc are, of course, peo-
pie who say that it is not quite
proper seeing that Mrs. Mears is
so young-and a widow-but one
must sink conventionalities in this
war, don't you think, Miss Mar
! raby?"
II haven't thought about it,"
said Nan. But it's very kind Of
| Mrs. Mears to be good to the SOL
| diers they deserve the best any
one can offer them"
quite so-qute so. II entirely
! agree: but though | love dear Mrs.
Mears and think she is simply too
charming, really think that it is
perhaps just little-soon, don't
you think ?"
Soon" Mans steps slackcned
What do you mean?" she asked.
Miss Dudeney shrugged her Shout
dcrs.
"Please don't think am crti-
Ching her at all-she is n friend of
. mine, and ] wish her every happi-
ness. But l knew poor dear Cap
tam MearS, and, after all, it is
barely two years since he was kill
ed. one would have THOUGHT she
. might have grieved for him Just
. a little longer. don't you think ?"
81 don't understand you in the
least" Nan said buntiy. what
has Mrs. Mears done?"
- Miss Dudeney smiled, rather q
frozen smile.
"Oh, | don't say that she has done
it yet she said hastily. "But it's
only matter Of time-I refer, Of
course, to her second marriage"
"Second marriage!"
Mans voice sounded stiff.
us she going to be married
again. she asked.
She is, indeed-and quite soon,
/ | believe-to that ;good-looking
young officer who has been staying
there Mr.. Lyster, l believe his
name is"
/ To BE Continued