The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-25
"SANDY'' s s.: !:

fidgcty-you need the rest" He ex-
pectcd her to acquiesce gaily.
Now she hummed . little, ran q
comb through her hair. In the
mirror she could sec has long. sallow
face. The habit he had Of keeping
his lips parted and those black,
archcd brows gave him . look Of
perpetual, lazy .disdain. His silky
hair fell Imply half over his fore
head.
"Come over here. Sandy darling.
Come and sit here" He motioncd
sieepily, made q place for her at his
side.
She watched intent-breathless
Then his hand slipped incrtly over
the mattress. He snored.
She felt suddenly like .obbing. She
stared and stared. She could feel
his hands on her arm-his lips on
! her throat. She made little, steal
| thy dash to the hall.
She took long, rushing brcaths.
Lord!"
She almost ran across the grass
went walking along the waters edge.
She told herself hotly: IL can't
stand it'd rathcr be dead!" She
thought suddenly Of her mother and
her sisters-thc way they had kept
at her night and day-thc way they
had made her feel q criminal be-
cause Of that little trffling episode.
They had pushed her into this-they
knew what they were doing. Oh,
they said it was all the same
whether you loved q man or not
all the same!
She began to laugh. Then she sat
down. half shffocatcd, telling her.
self family: "This is crazy =.
nothing against him--hc's GOOD"
She answered the voice wildly: II
don't care; don't want him-lVl
go mad if nc touches me again
mad"
"Oh. no; you won't! You'll 20 back
there and smile and keep on pretend
ing"
She buried her face in her hands.
fighting against the terrible longing
to cry. She had an incessant wish
to give way to these tears. But she
had q peculiar childish kind Of game
ness that made her pretend nothing
could hurt-like Q fighting young
stcr when stone hits full in the
mouth calling out to his enemy,
"YOu never fetched mel"
She got up presently. powdered
her nose, pulled the hat rakishly over
her face. She looked across to the
towering mountains, stcadfastly. No.
she wouldn't be a gutter now--she'd
do her share. He was her husband
he meant we'll. 1t wasn't his fault
that she'd been SO blind. 1t was hard
to tell herself 4this-hard to be fair.
| She walked back slowly. After a
while everything would be easier.
o. You get used to anything!
As she came into the lobby three
young fellows were standing together
laughing. One of them reached out
and gripped 'Sandy's hand. ''Gce, didn't
expect to see you! Have you run all
lover the state?"
It was Heinic Rivers and two other
boys from Santa Barbara. She was
SO glad to see them-so glad for the
frcndliness. They began talking all
at once. Sandy laughed aloud. 1t
Thrilled through the room.
Just then Murillo, in spotlcss white
flannels. came up. Heinic Was say
ing: "Wc're all meeting for dinner,
then we're going to the dance after.
ward: Come along. Sandy, won't
you?"
| She accepted: "Of course! Indeed.
YES!"
i Her husband took her arm. He
glanced at her narrowly. But she
didn't see this. She said gaily: isn't
it great meeting them? Well have
a great time"
He answered: "Will We
She began dressing eagerly. She
put on an evening gown of pansy
color. It. enhanced the bright hair
and dark, wistful eyes. She W0s
paler and more poignant with those
troubled shadows under her eyes.
Murillo sat in the wicker easy
chair. one long, thin leg crossed over
the other. He was languidly smok-
ing, surveying her through hot, half
closed eyes.
| "Why. don't you get dressed y she
said uneasily.
i He glanced down at the luxurious
crimson Longing robe. 1t was Of
the heaviest silk and exquisitely
"YOu can't wear that to dinner"
"Can't I?'
She waited ten minutes. "Please.
Ben-get . move on. They'll all be
waiting"
"Who?"
Il "You heard Heinc inviting US to
dinner, didn't you :"
He came up and stood behind her,
clasping her elbows softly: ibid you
hear me accept, Sandyv
She looked her establishment.
There came knock at the door.
Muriilo said: 1--WE dine here to-
night"
i A .maid entered, bearing tray.
i She held herself rigid, afraid of
the fury that rose-that went like
the flash Of steel through her brain
Continued
i AN ASS, MAYBE