The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-09-14

trimmed domestic" nightgown, and
her fathers nightshirN and hung
them in the closet. Then she yamked
sheets and pillows from the bed, and
with mighty heave> of her strong
young arms, turned the mattress.
Faith spread the rumpled sheets
smooth. then from the top shelf of
the closet took fresh, starched bed.
spread. gay with appliqucd morning
glories - Faiths own handwork ~
and made the bed look dainty and in
viting. Dad would be sure to bring
young Hathaway in here to show
him the picture of himself in the
Elks convention at st. Louis. Cherry
wouldn't let it hang in the living
room. With vigorous strokes Of her
broom, Faith swept the faded Japan
csc mating, then welded her dust
cloth over the bed. dresser, chairs
and pictures.
Then. with a feeling OF resentment
rising holly in her throat, she went
into Cherry's room. 1t was always
in a state Of widest disorder after
Cherry had dressed--twO or three
pairs Of slippers kicking about the
brown-painted floor; the three small
rugs of rose-pink chenille awry.
doubled back on themselves, specified
with powder; silk stockings flung
over chair-back and footboard of the
bed: curling hairs from Cherry's
bright head thick on the powder
crusted, rouge stained dresser scarf;
dresser drawers hanging far out,
d,aped with silk underwear and un-
mated stockings; slightly soiied
peach silk kimono, half on the low
chair. half on the floor; the pink
georgettc for Faith to clean and
nress hanging Imply over chair
back. 1a
Why wouldn't Cherry ut least
make her own bed? As Faith seized
the rumpled pillow, letter fell to
the floor. She picked it up, looked
at the dashing handwriting below
the picture Of a Chicago hotel on the
face Of the envelope. On the back,
in the space for return address,
was a name Faith had never heard
Cherry mention---Albert Ettleson.
Care Of The Tip-Top Gas Range
Company, Indianapolis. Indiana
So Cherry had been picking up
a travelling man! As if she didn't
have enough hometown boys hang
ing around the house, keeping her
out SO late every night that she
couldn't hold a job to save her life!
But there was envy in Faiths
heart as she dropped the letter into
Chcrry's Uttered top dresser-drawer.
How did she do it? Boys had buxzed
around her like bees around honey
pot since her. grammar school days.
And Faith had had only two or
three swetehearts in the five years
she had been allowed to "go with the
boyS'--Bcnny GorWan, whom the
other girls wouldn't have anything
to do with; Arthur Higgins. who
was working his way through col
legc, but whom Cherry made fun Of
because he was the SON of butcher;
vamped Chester away from her.
Faiths footsteps dragged as she
went into the room she shared with
Joy. Without intending to do SO,
not despising herself for her weak
ness. she took small package Of
letters from her own bureau drawer
and sat down on her unmade bed to
read them. Not many Of them
Chester had been out of town very
seldom in the year that he and Faith
had gone together" Stiff, unin-
teresting letters, little more than
notes, chronicling the weather, his
health. his humdrum activities.
"Saw great show last night
RAIN Gee, it was great! Wish
you had been there with me. It's
hot as blaxes today"
OF course she hadn't been in love
with Chester Hart! Stupid, heavy
thing! But as she tore the letters
and postcards to bits, she dropped
angry, hurt tears upon them. After
all. he had been someone to 90 about
with; someone to take her to the
movies, to the country on Sundays
in his flivyer. And Cherry hadn't
needed him. Now there was no one
But there was too much to be
done for Faith to spend many min
utes in grieving for q man she had
never loved anyway.
Seven hours later Faith heard her
father calling her, in his jovial
c0mpany.manners voice, to come to
the living room to meet Bob Hatha-
way. She tucked in q strand of
straying brown hair-she had never
bobbed it--dabbed at her flushed face
with the powder puff she had con-
cealed in, the pocket of her one-piece,
much-washed pongee dress, gave q
last quick glance at the dinner table,
and walking slowly and with the
dignity which was her heritage, went
to meet the man on whom her father
was counting SO heavily. She must
try--oh, she must try hard. she told
herself-tO make good impression.
"Mr. Hathaway, like you to meet
my daughter, Faith, the pick O. the
lot. She's been adding another cup
o. water to the soup fof YOU"
Faiths heart leaped in her breast
as her hand went into the warm
clasp Of Bob Hathaway. How could
she ever have wept, even in anger,
for Chester Hart!