The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-09
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THE STORY

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same, save that she spent more
time in bed reading feverishly and
without discrimination They talked
in the usual jolly, casual way at
night. But certain subjects were
avoided-Clover Hollow, Claude
Dabbs. Ned Carter and Loren
Rangeley.
Just three days behind them,
on the same course. Claude Dabbs
and Ned Carter followed. Ned
was finding Claude a delightful
travelling companion. utterly free
from the shame of ignorance. and
willing to acquire knowledge Of all
sorts. Ned also discovered that
Others found Claude attractive, and
Ned even accused Claude Of being
too popular.
Polishing up for Mary" was
his explanation and excuse.
A curiousl! congenial pair they
were, finding an infinite variety Of
things to talk about. They sell
dom mentioned Mary. and Ned
wanted to talk about Mary. He
had reached the stage when II the
beloved name Is not mentioned by
some one, there Is no convcrsa-
ton. Some one, any one, every
one must speak Of her to him.
Claude, a charming companion
In every other respect, was. on the
one vital subject. dumb.
Ned fumed in secret. knowing
that with Claude Dabbs all half
measures were useless; he would
either have to declare his whole
purpose, or keep silent. Since he
knew nothing yet Of Mary's feel.
ings, he kept silent.
He wished heartily that Claude
and his Polly would play out their
comedy by themselves and leave
him a clear field with Mary. Mary
in Venice! The combination would
he heavenly. but not II everywhere
that Mary went a mother and IA
ther. utterly estranged. followed.
As their journey brought them
closer to Mary, the two men COM
muned in their hearts with the to-
tally different images they had set
up Of the same girl.
The real and very different Mary
In that instead Of only being
what they thought. was all that
and more-slept as TRANQUILITY us
an Italian railway carriage would
permit. 7.sz,
As the time drew near when she
might reasonably expect her father
to appear. Mary thought Of nothing
else. and grew nervous lest she
should betray In some unguarded
speech. the thoughts that were up
permost in her mind.
Polly Johnston steadily refused
to disclose her plans to Mary.
Polly's nights were sleepless. her
days restless. 1t was as though
she felt some approaching change
and strove to evade It.
Several wakeful nights followed
their arrival In Venice. and one
morning Polly awoke with a head
ache. Though she kept up val
liantly until after luncheon. she
was compelled finally to seek her
,darkened bedroom. Mary knew
that Polly would not endure being
read to when her head was like
that. So. when Mary proposed
that she should spend the after
noon in st. Marks. just around
the corner, there was no excuse
Polly could Justly offer to oppose
the plan. though she did not like
1t.
Mary laughed down all sugges.
tons that she was quite too attrac.
tive to wander about alone. Mary
was an American. though she had
had foreign bringing-up. and she
reminded her mother of this. and
that she knew how to take care
Of herself.
Polly, who had wandered about
as she chose when Mary's age. real.
ICED that she was being absurd.
She told Mary to 90. hut not
to stay late. and n she. Polly. did
not feel better she would have her
dinner in bed. In that case Mary
might dine with the Farleys, whom
they had met on the train. Mary
acQuiesced. somewhat absent-mind
eddy. Having made her mother com,
Portable. or at least ~ comfortable
as headache would allow. Mary
set forth.
Venice, that lovely city Of the
sea, seemed to Mary to be looking
her best that afternoon. The sun
shone warm on the piazza. The
shops had a sleepy look. their avn.
ings like dropping eyelids, and the
patches Of shade were grateful ia
the eye. Mary thought Venice was
like a lovely, seductive woman
who. past her frst youth. stirred
mems hearts to pity for all she
had lost, and then to passion for
the ageless beauty which she still
retained.
Mary had made brief visits to
St.. Marks with her mother. hut
now she hurried up the stone steps
toward the galleries and the
capello di oro.t A service. was in
progress before one Of the affairs
Mary paused a moment to fee the
genial old custodian, whose greet.
Ing was an toothless as II was
friendly. As she stood peering
down into the dim church. she was
conscious Of some one near her,
watching her. She looked up-into
Ned Carriers eyes.
She could scarcely believe Il,
and yet something she read in his
eyes made her stretch out her
hand. Ned grasped It. and that
steadied her. She thought she
heard him murmur Mary" She
was not sure. She turned, con.
fusedly. her hand still unaccount.
ably in his. and they went through
the doorway that led to the golden
horses. 1t was 30 narrow here
that quite naturally she recovered
her hand. As they stepped out intn
t~y -