The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-01-01

he only looked and did not touch her. Her
hands were ice cold.
This, although the February evening
stood at fifty-six outside, and the big
theater-it was the AuditOrium-was
heated to that exact, comfortable degree
that theatrical managers know to be pre-
ferred by chiffOn-scarfed shoulders.
Getting in and out of the taxi she had
been most careful not to let her fingers
touch his. And now she kept on her gloves,
although she disliked gloves, even for
formal occasions, and although she became
increasingly aware that from her appar-
emily cold palms the perspiratiOn was OOz-,
ing through the white kid.
Not that she greatly cared what might
be his thoughts if accidently he discovered
the betraying state of her hands. o, he
must have heard some Of the story. I'm
dOubtedly gossip still curled like old slow
sm0ke through the office, along all La
Sale street. Phils jilting of her! How one
noon he walked out from his desk, which
nearly touched hers, and married a little
caracul-cOated black-eyed show girl who
was in town for a month.
Almost so Offhand had it happened.
They-Alice and Phil-had been engaged
over a year. Alice had half framed her
letter Of resignation to stout old George
BarrOws Jr. Phil was keeping an eye open
for a bargain building lot or bungalow
out on the north shore, near a golf course
and her peoples old Evanston home. Shop
ping noon hours, she had begun to pick
up linens; gray and white remnants, rose
and delft lettered guest towels. Phil had
r written his folks In Minneapolis.
Old Mrs. Corning, whose bond holdings
were a large item in the BarrOws BOND
brokerage books, came upon them one late
= afternoon in a side corridor. Pills arm
/ was around her shoulders and, extended,
he held sets Of bungalow plans. He mad
spOnged them from a friend.
d, Old Mrs. Corning flung out yellOwed
T fleshy, bediamOnded, hands, sentimental
/. hands. Don't blush! l simply adore 8
o young couple starting out in life!' Alice
: had done some legal tipping for her thai
Z week. The previous month Phil had at
tended to a small pond transaction fol
. her She sailed for the orient and theI
y Europe the next month. And the month
\ that followed
That Wednesday nOOn-wOuld she eve
fOrget2 Even now her eyes burned, hating
the memory. State street and the hard
bright winter sun. Mary Hubby hurrytni
at her side, saying, Lets snatch a piec
of pie and run over to that lace sale a
Crerie's.' The sea food piled on ch1ppe'
ice in the window Of the st. GOlny grOunI
floor grill. The cool black eyes, mascar
lined, OF the girl entering the swinging
door, with PhiIs tight, eager hand o
ID her beige fur sleeve. Phil laughing, saying
re Nearly late, wasn't /? But"
Phil, who twenty minutes before ha
ID leaned over Alice's desk to explain regret
Is fully that he'd had to skip lunch, exceI
a sandwich, because be had to go to
lt bank for Mr.. BarrOws.
ne Alice had stopped, incredulOus Of he
lg The confusion on Pills face-red, sulk.
pc Mary's malicious understanding. The harI
&c bright winter sun. Even now 1t all burne
q; at eyes, blistered sight.
VI Phil ended an uncomfortable week b
resigning, married Barbara, and leavin
or town. He was red faced, sheepish, and II
sentful during the week. The undersale
Sc. men eyed Alice surreptitiOusly. The typis
yn whispered; sometimes when she was ]
10 the same room. Mary Hubby was a talke
rs Alice, being proud, chose not to reSig
but to stay on cOmposedly. After a
La Sale street was hardly large enOug
to hide in; to make a change Of des
.se worth while as far as pride would ]
served.
ay up. MurgtywoOd leaned so that his shout
er touched hers.
ed She did not move away. The heavy, CO
lie. sciOus touch did not disturb her. 1t le
her Indifferent.
We A caliph, large girthed, in gold al
cd. ~tunics, swept on the stage MurgtywO.
tie, fastened smiling, expectant gaze on t
ito sight.
ws Alice leaned forward a little in her Sci
for tensely. The temple maidens were sWayt
act on from the wings; white TUNES ana 10
of ing dark hair. Barbara Earl was {
to twelfth. Those unforgettable vanity ridd
Ter black eyes! That pert, playground chez
Sc. The single time that Alice had seen the
md put their distinct imprint on memor
the From all Impressions OF other WomeI
We. features they stood ont cruelty. as amO
the a dozen or more clean-shaven, brow
haired statesmen Of the B0rrOWB changi
)Od personnel Phillip Ickes' form had $40
lar out
Of Barbara looked ridiculously Young. A
lily graceful. Her w~hite-garbed body sway
De Xix a reed in q slow stream. Alice clos
q her eyes es 81 a hard winter sun b
an touched the balls toe brightly.