Evening star., 1928-11-04
FLESH-POTS

times. Always it has come to pre-
cisely nothing. We can look the truth
in the face tonight; we can under
stand each other tonight, but tomorrow
we'll go right back. We always have.
Tomorrow Wen both feel quite COM
Portable and languorous again, quite
content with the flesh-FJJs, thank you!
Oh, OIL"
She stopped for breath, her lower lip
caught by her teeth, her eyes feverish.
I've spent today hating you. I'm
starving for what money can't buy. I'm
nearly mad from living million miles
Even these people are endurable by con-
traSt with that. Even the husks are
better than starvation"
LIE paced the floor restively. He
4 seized a chair and with one hand
he sat down Eleanor, let's go away!
I've bought that tract out in British
Columbia that 1 told you about last
Winter Remember?-for a hunting
preserve. It's up in the mountains.
Last month l wrote the agent to send
supplies out there and put things in
the hands of reliable man, so work.
men can go out and build cottage
want to go out there and pick a site
for the building"
What is it for?" she asked scorn-
fully. Wont frontiering be new role
for you? What will you do with it?"
she went on relentlessly. How big a
cottage? Fifteen rooms, suppose, with
hardwood floors in the wilderness. and
radio outfits, hot water heat and all
F1rsfr nf =
of course, house parties for our friends,
who will invite themselves If we neg
lected to do it first. Let's try the viii
derness and its hardshipS, by all means" I"
He was silent. His hands hung slack
at his sides. Il guess thatll be about
all then" he muttered, finding his feet
Good night"
Fred! Did you want me to go out
there with you?"
"Yes."
Her eyes travelled about the comfort
able room. And leave all this?"
That's what / said! Take it or
leave it! suppose it's a crazy
notion; but all this is crazier. just
Il know what you thought" she in
terrupted. Its good-enough idea.
That isn't why hesitate. I may as
"
rather have waited till we were less
on edge. The reason is-Fred-that
we're going to have baby"
"A baby!" he repeated vaguely.
For heavens sake" she cried, don't
think I'm expecting you to register joy,
or play the hypocrite, or pretend you're
glad, or-kiSS me, or-anything! Don't
you dare! II couldn't bear It'll"
hot rush of tenderness jumped sud-
denly to life within him. She had read
his mind with uncanny insight; he
would have kissed her. But he was
wonderingly conscious that the impulse
was genuine, not forced; that there
was breathing through him something
that was part OF him, yet greater than
ne. 1t was real. There she had mis-
read him. But he stifled the impulse
and did not move.
His hand shot over the top Of chair
till the knuckles showed white. He
drew two long breaths, then he said:
It's good way ahead, isn't it? If
so, we could make this trip, go there
and get back-in time"
But why?" she cried fretfully. "Why
do you wish it?"
1T would mean a trip through the
mountains, horseback camping, climate.
open air-all that. Good for us. We'd
pc alone, except Tor guide. And" he
finished dryly, 'if we could quarrel un-
mterruptedly for month we might
get some things of our chests-without
outside interference. That was my first
thought"
Her eyes Sparkled. "I've longed for
such chance" she said, shaking her
little fist vindictively; and his mouth
relaxed as he noted the way she closed
1t, with the thuroh oiIt Ctroiol+
Really" she added, there are times
when you're almost tolerable. I'll 60
If you'll do your share of the fighting
and not leave it all to me-"
You may bet on that" he coun-
tered. you're worth fighting-for.
And I'll really have to show you how to
close your fist. Anything else?"
She looked up, her head to one side
and the corners of her mouth lifting
into tremulous smile. "Yes-you
might-kiss me, Fred"
Sweet Briar is a mountain town
situated IN particularly perpen-