The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-20


the moon in the ,nountaia garden
where Ben Nfuri1lo took her the
night Of her marriage ). watchld
the moon. and felt Oh, aAppin4ss; III
youth. drilling swSy In golden
mist
She watched it now with smiling
lips and eyes filling. A saduess,
warming. pefvasive and Nauseless,
EMBODIED her like. the nebulous per-
fume. Of the garden.
March--three months simte she
and Ramon had stood here. The rain
pouring on them--his vet lips
pressed on hers. Sometimes she
awakened ct night with . vision Of
owy. confronting her from dream.
with the cooking 10 be done, dishes
to be washed, Isabel to be served,
the whole episode OF the cottage Ut
Carmel now seemed = romantic, In.
credible fantasy.
did it happen? Was it an real?"
she would sometimes whisper. Then
the mail would bring her q gift---a
brief message.
Ramon was In China. Every few
weeks he sent here some rare, heAuti-
full treasure. Alice would lean over
her shoulder. snap her tongue against
the roof Of her mouth with An in
sinuating: "1he kid in the office
again? Rich. isn't he Z"
Hes got : wonderful job there.
Things don't cost much"
Alice. raising her eyebrows and
her lips: well, far be IL from me
to discourage your little intrigue.
kid! II you ask my advice Id say
Make the most Of your oppOrtuni-
life than vacuum"
And Sandy would flippantly rejoin:
mo monopoly on regrets. Ally ole
dear. Why don't you get out and ac-
quire q few!"
At such allusiohs to her age. Alice
became morbid and shrewish:
well. il were % and knew what
l know today!" She Haunted down
the hall. that shoulder blade Of hers
sticking out pathetic and accusing.
Sandy would fold up the gift, all
her axniety. her foreboding and de-
preston returning. Like this morn
ing when there came . ~hawl from
cathay = . brilliant thing with .
background OF green embroidered
in soft. rich hues Of lavender. blue
and furnished gold. The green was
like light against her red hair
and Swallowed eyes.
Ramon's note said: Dearest. you
love these glowing things. Your old
one that you got from your nhlucky
told me of--is worn to . thread.
Besides. why should her unhappy
mantle fall on you! Wear this.
And may the moon shine sweetly
Through your grapeYines. May il
shine on US. love you more"
In flood of tenderness her
thought went out to him. She saw
him, bronxed. vita1 and laughing.
Yet always with another---not her.
self.
She remembered his gallant kind
ness. but ~ though she had read
Of it--as though he were removed
from her. And the thing was ended.
Now, standing in the garden. this
sense Of remoteness, Of HsOlati0n
from these tempestuous days, en-
c0mpasscd her. She felt quiet as
nun. 4a.s.
Often in the night. sitting alone
poetic sadness filled her. But the
next day she would be fevered and
restless. She would whisper to her
self in agitation: .his isn't going
70 last! II CAN'T last!" She meant
the dullness--the depressing empti-
ness. Then her dreams would sail
buoyantly 10 heights Of romantic nd
venturing as they had in her girl
hood.
She went in now and filled the
hot water bag. Isabel was cold.
Her hands and feet were icy. Sandy
went up the dark, creakin4 stairs,
running her hand along the old red
lincrustra. w
At the landing. she heard Isabel
gr0aning. She ran.
Her mother raised her hand aim-
lessly as though to brush the. hair
from her forehead. Her head lay
back on the pillows, the mouth open.
But she heard Sandy's step and
made faint effort to smile. All
the prettiness was gone from the
plump. soft face. The eyes had :
hageard. troubled look. But this
fattering attempt to smile sent q
rush Of tears to Sandy's eyes.
"Was | gone long, galubchik! I
had to make the fire. Are you very
cold"
She touched her mothers hands
and was terrified. The fear was
gnawing all the time like small,
live thing in Sandy's heart. When
she saw that blue line Of her moth
er's lips she told herself: "It's been
that way--it's no worse"
Then she listened to her noisy
breath. ITS no louder-it's just
But the hands and feet were
Jumps Of ice. She chafed them.
She put the bag against them, ran
down stairs and filled bottles with
hot water.
She was afraid to return. She
er's room. She dried the bottles
slowly. Then she went tearing up
the stairs. Poor Isabel--poor little
Isabel left alone there with that look
Of fright in her sweet, shallow eyes.
Sandy leaned down and whispered
in her mothers ear: Are you in
palm; darling!" ,es ,s
Isabel shook her head.
SANDY stared at her mother. She
told herself. shaking: "She's dying
Lord; she's dying. I'd better call
them!"
But she stood motionieas, her
s %9tsef f..v hand q, Clipped on hers. 4
Isabel wiahed 10 speak. She mo-
toned for Sandy to stoOp.
Sandy Kissed hsr. She touched
her mother's cheeks. EDO you want
anything 2"
@Yes--wait--don't leave me
don't 20 away again. You were
gone--iohe+7xpo loAt-"
eOA. lnother-ao-"
IAlef braced. herself, Aer hand
f!ingine wildly W 70 ksy forehead.
"SAnAy are-+you happy9''
Eea--hAppy as ca be-
Sandy -hnnlk thoSe cold haAda and
held them lxainst h6r bnoask -