Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-04-23

moment. He meant to take every pos
sible advantage OF this. the first sign
Of any real interest in life which Ger.
aid had shown for months.
Because she Is very finely
strung" he said. "and the situation
was becoming impossible for her She
was very much in love with you. sand
you were crazy about some one else.
l was very much Ia love with ner. as
always had been. and l was ass
enough to try and persuade her TO
marry me. OF course" be went on.
Il ought to have realized the uncon-
querable fidelity of nature like hers.
An ordinary woman" he went on.
leaning back In bis corner and dis
cussing the matter very much as he
would have done legal point pre-
scented for his opinion. might select
and prefer one man 20 all others. but
II, for some reason or other. he did not
return her affection. she would be
able, In course Of time. TO feel prac-
ticaily the same thing for another man.
MYRTLE could never do that She has
that saint-lIke fidelity which is the
Joy and the curse of the best women.
You are very dear fellow, Gerald.
and am very fond Of you. but some
times get fed up with your nerves.
your blindness. your grand duchesses
and your stark Idiocy."
Gerald sat up In his place and
stared at his friend in amazement.
How long have you been keeping
that bottled up. ChrlsT he asked.
Ever since MYRTLE turned me
down." was the prompt reply. .She
was as kind as she could be about II,
but she did her job like a surgeon.
She hurt, but ! knew II was no use
ever thinking about her again that
way. am dispassI0nate observer
now and ] can see the truth"
Il suppose have been rnther an
ass" Gerald acknowledged. but you
must remember. Chris, didn't quite !
know what | was in for when / took
on that visit to Russia. and / dJnt |
think any one could go through what
] had to go through without getting
bowled over. Fancy being taken care
of like a baby by that amazing woman.
Elsa Franeksl Having to owe ter
your life half-a-dozen times overl See
ing that great, coarse creature. with
her hank Of yellow hair. and her
breath smelling OF drink and patchoulI.
standing up enc moment and defying
death. and lying the next without
tremor TO guards who would have SET
us up against the wall and shot us
on sight'If they had known the trutk Z"
"She was an epic figure" Christie
pher declared. II wonder what has
become of her"
Heaven knowsf' Gerald answered.
I'VE may meet her queeninR 1t at
Monte Carlo. or she may have married
3 respectable German tradesman md
buried the past. She Is wealthy
enough. She got that fellow Kross-
neys' share OF the money ! took out.
as well as her own. How these pine
'fees smell, Chris And what sun
Ihinel One could sleep here"
Gerald leaned back In his place win
eyes and Christopher was
veil content TO leave him alone. This
vas the first time he had spoken pat.
Irally of his journey TO Russia and
he terrible experience through which
Ie bad passed. All through the SUM-
1er months he had lain about The
ardens at Hinterieys. accepting life
9 an inevitable burden. gaining no
trength. sleeping little. all the time
ngaged in morbid struggle with fhe
tyranny OF his nerves Nothing had
loved or interested him. These lasf
sw sentences OF his were the 5rst =
vidences Of his return TO q natF.raI !.
utlook. Physically he had shrunken =
lmosf TO shadow. There was very y
tile left Of the gay and debonair young y
ian who had passed his arm round II
yrtlle's waist and drawn her into the
n. Knocked at Christopher's remon- g
RANGES, and, with a few careless
ords. built up In Myrtile's heart the a
iryland nf the end OF the road. Yet,
J they drew near the place where 81
ey had found her. he seemed TO
AXE on some OF his tOrpOr. He sat
} and looked about him with remInIs- On
nj eyes One more bend and they
ould zee the gate
''Weaid gou IKE TO stop for g mo- II
entY Christopher asked. ''AfyrtIle 70
almost certain 20 be here
This was most assuredly a changed
raid He was almost dIfldent. IS
III you think she would ike to see ha'
= be assented. pr
He sat upright now. leaning q little 1ns
ward They were round the cor se'
:. In sight Of the little grove OF
presses. And there at the gate VI
'rtile l--Gerzid gave q little excIa- ne
fion which sounded almost like 9 De'
|. His lhcreduIous stare had sUsne.
ng In Il alike Of pain and fear
I wrote her days ago and &nid that
Should be passing christopher
'giiy explained the
,hm ssfarzsaax awe erse.n e. r.eA -. ! ltfa