Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-04-29

page that carried one or his poems lacked
to the end OF the event as a filler.
Several years passed. His work began
to take. The sincere music Of his verse
sang itself into the hearts Of the masses.
He branched out into prose. His first
book went over big. Critics hailed him
as a two-isted giant. His local fame
grew to national proportions overnight.
Then one day he found in his morning
mail a letter in a familiar hand, chidlng
him for not looking up his old friends.
He sucked at his dead pipe t~houghtfully
for a moment, then sat down and accept
ed an invitation to a small dinner OF a
few select" friends at the house OF Mr..
and Mrs. Edward Corrison.
There followed a period Of two years
during which Wilkie was q constant guest
OF the -Corrisons-not merely at their ex-
cellent monthly dinners but at little BIZ
weekly teas-informa1 affairs with q Few
Of Inez's closest friends, at first, but
later with no one but Inez herself smil-
ing rogu!shly at him across the tea table
and reminding him tactfully and with
just the right shade OF sentimental con-
triteness Of their school days. And Bar
rett. considering the past closed, could
afford to smile back at her in his grave
manner; not without. however, feeling
now and then a wave OF establishment
sweep over him.
Barrett's emotions at the time had been
'>Hy tAAb WA IN ION >AAS@
ished the memory Of his first love, youth
ful though 1t had been, as the one beau
tfful thing OF his rather monotonous and
systematic life. He could not help vino
ing when Inez made light of 1t. It had
been a very serious affair with him. In
deed. his whole life had been influenced
by it. The requiem Of that broken, shat
tered dream still sang its sonorous notes
into his work. But, being q perfect prod
uct OF @ highly civilized race, he smiled
gravely back at Inez n covered up the
stabs with mildly cynical repartee.
Inez knew by these signs that she still
had q power over him. What First Love
Woman hasn't over the ManP She played
her hand accordingly. She wa wise
enough to know that Wilkie Barrett
could not be appealed to through sex.
He had progressed far beyond the place
where sex Without love holds any attrac-
ton, and she IN turn reminded herself
somewhat resentfully hat she was still
the wife OF Edward Corrison.
In Tue time she conlded to Wilkie
Barrett her matrimonial fiasco. It was
on one OF those rainy spring days when
the streets OF New York are turned into
rivers every thirty minutes by a fresh
downpour. They were sitting before q
cozy fire in the living room when she
spoke OF it. Having formed a great at
tachment for the silent, moody bank
cashier, Wilkie felt a wave Of resentment
sweep over him at her disloyalty.
Then why On earth did you marry
him?" he asked.
You n why, Wilkie," she retorted
softly. If you had only been more in
sistent-more-oh, we'll, what's the use
OF talking about 1t now?" And she lapsed
into a silence during which she watched
his face breathlessly to see II she were
getting away with a somewhat bold at
tempt at shifting the blame upon him.
Barrett did not answer at once. When
he finally did he had risen to his feet.
For the moment he was deceived by her
tone. He shook himself like a dog COM
ing out OF a cold bath.
II don't think it wise for lis to see so
much Of each other, Inez," he said grave
ly. ED is my friend, you know. I can
not permit myself to forget that"
Inez nodded duly.
Yes" she whispered again and turned
away and went to the window, where she
stood looking out in an attitude Of de-
lection.
Barrett drew a deep breath. Then he.
too, crossed to the window. They stood
beside each other, looking down at the
wet, glistening pavement. When he spoke
again there was not even a tremor in his
voice. Inez noted this. and hot resent
ment surged through her.
why did you treat me as you did
when you returned from college?" he
demanded.
ut was my father-and the family"
she hesitated, and laid her hand upon
the lapel Of his coat. "Oh, Wilkie, don't
you understand"
eyes, 1 understand" he answered Bit
terly, but he made no movement to re-
move her hand.
ST was so yonng," she went on.
Eyes. So was I. Still, nothing could
have kept me from you If you had really
cared"
But I did, Wilkie-I did carel"
He almost believed her then. Because
of the past he would have liked to be-
lieve her. But the utter commonplace
dreariness Of the situation made him
SILVER. Still, he wondered If he had mis-
judged her.
Guilefully, persuasively, she edged
nearer to him, but he drew away. He
glanced at his watch.
II must be going" he said resolutely.
you will come to see me again?" she
asked with simple f%riendliness.
why not?" he asked as II nothing had
happened-and nothing had. II should
be under suspicion with Ed II / didn't"
She bit her lip at this, but controlled
herself.
you'll be over for tea next Tuesday,
she asked.
He shook his head.
I'm going up to Gloucester in the
sloop for two weeks. I'm leaving in the
morning. I've an order from Blackwells
magazine for a series OF articles on the
life Of the fishermen of the Atlantic"
Are you afraid of me, Wilkie2" she
asked with o provoking smile.
81 am not aware of being afraid of any
one" he retorted.
She walked up to him and shook her
finger in his face. 'Boohi" she said tan
t%alizingly.
In spite Of himself Barrett smiled
flushing a little.
She b~urlesqued q mournful pose.
Are you going to put me out Of your
life forever" Then changing her mood
she put both arms about his neck
"Wilkiel" she whispered.
The things in her that had appealed to
him 80 powerfully in the past became In
tensihed for one brief moment, almost
engul1ng him. His love for her had been
very genuine. And being a poet, he wa
very much OF a man. also. There was o
! time lei he would have given every
thing he had ever hoped to possess for
Just such a moment.
He did not I'M 1t necessary to tear
himself loose. Inez suddenly stepped
back a pace or two with a suppressed ex-
clamation. He glanced at her sharply
Then. turning about. he beheld Corrisor
standing in the open door.
The eyes OF the two men met. Neither
spoke a word, nor moved. The expression
on Corrison's face was one of WEAKNESS
not anger. Certainly not the expression
OF the face OF an outraged husband. He
was looking at Barrett with a puzzled
frown which changed to absolute blank