Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-11-13
CHAPTER XIII
Hankerings

prosperity was GOOD Tor VIII. He
worked regular hours. He looked
fresh and we'll He adored the chill
dren and enjoyed them more than he
ever had. and no woman ever had q
more loverlike husband than Ernes-
tine. Two or three times week they
went to the theater, or to concerts
satisfying longstaryed hunger for
beauty of sight and sound, for move
ment and color Ernestine had picked
up easily the old threads of social con-
tact, as though she had been living in
another city all this while. The old
friends closed around her as naturally
as though she had never been far from
them and In little while the jargon.
the familiar jokes, the odd intimaeies
were hack with her again.
The money flowed in uncontrolably.
They bought q second car, and there
were beautiful clothes, new jewels and
furs for Ernestine, charge accounts, a
pony stabbed at an expensive riding
academy for the children. They talked
of buying the house they were In, but
already it seemed small. Will thought
he would like to be nearer the lake.
and farther north. He felt that they
needed more room.
One day in the fall when BILLY the
Baby WAS two years old, Ernestine
entertained her bridge club and that
afternoon seemed to her a perfect ex-
ample Of what life might be for a
woman She WIS proud of her home
proud of her thin china. her beautiful
silver, her gracious friends. The new
maid was we'll trained. The cook.
stimulated by tiattery, had outdone
herself. The children came in and
spoke TO the guests who all exclaimed
over them They went out with their
nurse to walk to the lake Even LII
liam, who had become silent and re-
mote since her last trip to New York,
displayed some OF her old gay spirits.
The talk fell into happy "Reminiscences
OF their childhood and airlhood
After the guests were gone and
Ernestine was helping the maid to
tidy the living room, putting cushions
In place folding the card table covers
as the girl set the furniture back. Lii
liam stayed on. lying back In n chair
of red velvet. her fair head pressed
against the fabric. her arm hanging
Iaxly over the side OF the chair. smok-
ing a cigarette, watching Ernestine.
As the maid went out with the tables
and covers and tray Of ash boxes.
Ernestine flung herself down with an
exclamation of WEAKNESS. Lillian as
tonished her.
whats the matter with Will, kit
temp
"Why-hes all right. He's little
thin, but he'll pick un. He always |
loses weight in hot weather.
but it's October now. 1t hasn't
been really hot for weeks. saw him
on North Clark street today While
was waiting In the car for Loring,
who was visiting one Of his Greeks.
He came and talked to me. He looked
very white and thin, thought-and !
his eyes were too bright-feverish.
You must give him milk and eggs
Will is the type, linear think you
call it, that runs easily into t. b. He's
indoors too much
Ernestine was silent, thinking swift
ly. wills all right, ! Think she said
a little shortly, but she looked grave.
Lillian arched her brows in dsbe-
lief, but said no more. Afte~ while
she left in her own car, while Ernes-
tine sat on the big couch, the silk and
satin pillows, the wide low room with
it's charming furniture and carved
fireplace forgotten in an instant.
What was Will doing on North Clark
street? He, and Mr.. Poole had had
an Office there long ago. VIII had
been strange Of late.
Ernestine rose abruptly and went to
her room to change her dress before
the children returned to climb upon
her Her mind went reluctantly to
viii, as though forced against itself
o consider dangers Perhaps he
needed mothering. lie was subject to
periods of nervous and mental depres.
sion because he could not remember
hat he had a body long enough to
axe care Of it. She wondered IL he
we're worried about money. They were
spending ii like water, but there
seemed so much Of it.
The children came in, rosy and
aughing from their walk, and crowded
Upon her. She loved TO have them
lose. They chartered eagerly as she
at down with them to their simple,
supper, the nursemaid smil
ne and talking to her with pretty
reference. She and VIII had dinner
ogether, later, after the children had
lad half an hour with their father,
nd gone up to bed. But Will did not
ONE in at their bedtime as he usually
id. Disappointed, they finally traled
# up the stairs, and Ernestine won
cred IL she had missed VIII.
Has Mr. Todd been In. Molly"
Hes In the garden, ma'am,n the
1aid replied.
Ernestlne went out through the din