Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-09-23
By Julia Francis Wood

ster with less trepidation. It would
surely be hard for the most sinister Of
men to harbor evil intentions at such ar
hour, on such a day, in this white, snow
ciad world which was sparkling ano
glinting and winking bach at them like
q million diamonds gone mad. She ever
laughed back at it like q delighted child
as they sped through the Intoxicating
air.
ID you know" the doctor commented
nat Is the very first time / have ever
heard you laugh. You smile, but you
never laugh. Life ought to hold more
laughter for you"
e she remembered why she was
there, n the gaiety left her heart. She
tried her best to counterfeit it, at first
because 1t was necessary to her role, later
because, enemy as he was, she could not
somehow bear to dampen the boyish
lightheartedness of her companion's
mood. he had lost his caustic bitterness
OF speech and look, and with 1T a dozen
years. She had to steel herself against
the charm of his friendliness with the
remembrance that 1t was thus villains
must be Won't to mask their designs.
Towards noon the doctor turned from
the highway and they plunged into q
maze OF cross-country side roads, rolling
in at length through high gates and de-
scending from the car at the entrance OF
what looked like a frozen little wood.
It's a shooting lodge I belong to-" he
explained. Thought you'd like it better
than q roadhouse or a country club"
She followed him up a winding path
through a miniature shrouded forest OF
scrub oak and birches to a rustic looking
bungalow. Outside 1t was of pioneer Sc
verify; inside, the long, low living room
was aglow with comfort and cheer,
though 1t was prominently a mans
room. Antlers branched from above the
huge fireplace weapons and trophies
were the only bric-a-brac; the huge, COM
Portable chairs were essentially mascu-
line. Mary sank into one of them while
the doctor gave orders for luncheon to q
silent servitor who had mysteriously ap-
peared. Again h was conscious. of that
overpowering fatigue, and reused herself
CALAMITY to combat this unexpected en-
envy who was threatening to Illustrate
her plot.
They ate lunch at a small table by
great window. alone in the silent world
Outside lay a silent world. wide sheets of
snow stretching down to a baby lake
frfnged by the baby forest. Mary felt NO
fear, only an infnit sadness. She was
having a glimpse of what life might mean
II one could be entitled to golden days
Ike this, even only an occasional one,
without this never lifting burden OF
anxiety and suspense-or with some one
who might share it.
AS II in answer to her longing, the
doctor leaned across the table and put
his strong hand on hers.
Cant you hand over a few of those
worries to me?" he demanded s%tartlingly
I'D like more than anything in the
world to help carry them. And my Shout
ders are mighty broad"
She smiled at him bravely. 1t would
be disastrous to have this moment come
when Maisie could not reap the benefit
of 1T; on the other hand, she must not
ALLEVIATE his interest.
81 haven't any more" she asserted
nov that you've made Nell we'll"
II don't believe It," he told her blunt
ly. why will you persistently keep me
at arms length, Mary? look herel" He
terfully to a chair by the fireplace, seat
ed himself opposite her. you've got tc
listen to me-" he commanded. I'm 60
ing to begin at the very beginning"
Then with rough, vivid strokes he made
live before her a boy who had been neg
lected by a mother who cared only fol
pleasure; lonely days away at school
lonelier vacations. The boy became 6
man whose wife ran way with his best
1 1Ci1Ot SLG lE1L Dtillllu lltI dl lllLlt ldlIt
youngster who died with no mother al
his bedside.
You can see I haven't been trained tc
a very lively appreciation Of your sex.
was down on all Of 'em-until I met
you"
His crisp voice softened. Mary sat very
still. She had entirely forgotten Maisie
From the very first I felt you were
different. I'd seen plenty Of mothers de-
voted to sick childern-it wasn't that
But there was a kind of-nobility-about
you, something gallant and heroic anc
yet SO awfully sweet. If you hadn't beer
SO darned attractive your life wouldn't
have been SO unusual. It's easy fol
plain women to be good. I kept watch
ing and studying you and I found / was
beginning to believe In you-to admire
you. And / didn't rant to-you see, thai
would be admitting I'd been building my
life around a lie. When I i kissed you tha1
night / hoped you'd show you were JUS
the usual common clay.
I've done plenty Of things to bt
ashamed of these last ten years-no'
much In them not to be ashamed Of
but 1t Isn't a habit Of mine to go arounc
embracing females that way, really" hi
interpolated boyishly. Don't want to.
was just testing you out. And when yot
turned me down-so hardin that sweet
grave way of yours, ! got paid back fol
1t, for / fell In owe with you, head oyel
heels, like any young calf in his earl,
twenties," he described his condition
POLITICALLY. II played around with Maisi,
just to have a chance to be near you
And every day 1 loved you harder. Tha'
blessed representatives, and self-forgetful
ness OF yours In this restless, Haunting
ogltng, horrible sea of women. And tina
low, beautiful voice OF yours when yol
do speak. I don't know what miracle
made you trot out that blessed blu,
waist, but the world got all differen'
when I saw you in 1t. / didn't dare sa,
any thing last night. / was so afraid IL
scare you off again, but I've Just got t.
today. I'm really in love with you, Mary
And I trust you with all my heart-that'
more from me. Could you care the leas
bit in the world for me?"
For all his brusqueness, he knew hoy
to WOO. And this time the writing in he