The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-12

smiled family ut any remark ant
stared untiinchingly into the fierce
italian sunlight. was woman fight
ing desperately against n terrified
realization OF what loneliness
might mean to u midddle-aged
woman who had not looked ahead
or contemplated 1t. 4 hundred
times that morning Polly was ready
10 cry quarter: ready for any com.
promise that would leave her her
Mary.
Claude nabbs might have
guessed something OF Polly's plight
and been sorry. He had fought
his own fight and come through II
whole. like the sturdy soul he was.
Had Polly but known 1t. here. In
Venice. was Claude who was
acluated by no small. revengeful
feelings. but moved only by a real
and very friendly desire to help,
and also to share Mary. But Polly,
shuddering at the thought of lonely
years without Mary's companion
ship. turned away with equal dis
taste from the thought Of sharing
Mary. aud the grocery shop. with
Claude.
How could Mary conceive that
her mother. SO long dlstrustful and
scornful Of any emotion save the
maternal. could turn with relief to
the thought Of cold. circumspect
Loren Rangeley, as cOntrasted with
the Claude she remembered. Claude
represented to Polly all the print
tive emotions. with the disagree
able background Of a shop. Not
having seen Claude for twpnty-o,ld
years. she created an image of a
fat, midle-aged grocer with the I'M
controlled emotions OF Il young
man. Always there was that shop
in the background. and the image
caused her tn shudder.
III you wish to dine with your
father tonight. l shall not mind"
she said to Mary AS they turned
toward the hotel and luncheon.
BE reasonable. Mother" Mary
pleaded. Don't make me feel I've
lost my mother. because I've found
my father"
Having made up her mind. Polly
was one to carry things through
gayly. I'm afraid II will work
out that way. but. "f course. I've
nothing To do with IT,"
"lou have everything" protest
ed Mary vehemently. Its all in
your hands. Don't you see that
Father-well. he just unless
YOU give some sign"
Polly's laugh did not ring pleas
antly in her daughters ears.
Claude Dabbs has been stating
his case rather cIeverly, see"
Mary stood still on the bridge
leading to their hotel. regardless
of the crowd of chatterlng. staring
Italians who were passing by. "Oh,
Mother. you don't get Father ut
all. He doesn't think he has any
case. He thinks he must leave Ii
10 you. He feels he cant bring
to your attention. Mother,
It's awfully-d delicate Of him. You
must see that"
Il only see that he Is taking
you from me, and can see neither
delicacy, nor any other evidence
Of good feeling in the process.
Since ii has to be endured. I'll ell
dure. but I'm not kissing the hand
that deals the blow. You will please
discontinue the discussion, as long
rs you are In public, unless you can
control yourself.
or the hundredth time that day
poor Mary wondered why 1t was
that those who loved one most,
could, and did so surely wound
one. Il wasn't really going to cry.
but II you will pretend to look ut
the boats for moment Ill pull my
SELF together"
With the pulling together proc
ess. Mary hardened her heart. IL
Mother was going to shut her out
she could not. OF
course. confide in Mother. Ordi.
narily she might have told her
mother Il little. II not quite all.
about Ned Carter. especially as she
thus late in the day
Dorothy Selden's warning. Mary
would like TO know now just what
It was Dorothy had limited. But
Polly Johnston barred every avenue
Of approach, and continued to keep
The bars up during luncheon. So
Mary went to the Academia twenty
minutes early, with mutiny In her
heart.
Ned stood waiting In the door
way. His face was turned from
her as she alighted from her gon-
dOla, and Mary had time to study
IL.
1t was extraordinary. the effect
this man had upon her. She did
not like 1t. She was used to men,
and TO their attentions. Why
should this good-looking grocer's
assistant stir her in this manner?
For one moment she contemplated
Hight. The next moment slr re-
jected the thought as cowardly.
Ned caught sight of her. and the
look on his face revealed to Mary
the extent to which this young man
was enamOred. Along with all the
other emotions, she felt Il sudden
sense Of power.
tIU BE CONTINUED.)