Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-09-25
Published by special Advancement With The
Chicago Tribune Syndicste1
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO

7 OUISE walked in a dream. There
was something so sweet and warm
~ about Barbara's arm, in her sweater
sleeve-something that drew Louise.
and melted her. She looked worship
fully into Barbara's clear, fair face.
with its lovely blue eyes, and the yellow
curls all about it. Barbara was the
prettiest girl in No. 3.
III tell you all my secrets, if you'll
tell me yours" she whispered.
II haven't any" said Louise. And
Barbara exclaimed Gee, can't you
make one UP? just to tell me? Mary's
mad at me now She's jealous over
YOU. So Wen be chums. you and me.
"All right" said Louise, trembling.
III tell you my first secret" said
Barbara. 1--WE got a note from Roy,
and he saws I'm his girl
"Honest?"
III show it to you. It's in our hol-
low tree. And I'm going 10 have a
circus when school is out. I've taught
my dog three tricks. Roy is going TO
have his pony in it. Listen, Louise;
look in all the magazines, and II you
see any coupons, send them IN. wen
get a lot of tooth paste, and samples
of powder, and little recipe books. ana
things. and we'll sell them in u cir
Gus, see? 1t will be u secret
They came to Louise's gate.
I'll go get my skates, and come call
for you" said Barbara.
Louise sighed. Il al never go out,
she said, meekly, and Barbara, a
sophisticated citizen of the world, re-
piled with spirit, Gee. maybe your
mothers sick they won't notice you
Grandmother will notice
ASK your father" said Barbara,
shrewdly. Hes your boss now. Ask
him. He'll let you. Say, III bet he'd
get YOU skates if you asked him"
Louise felt that there was something
underhanded about this, but 1t SO hap
pened that her father was just COM
ing out of the house as she went IN.
He stopped and kissed her. She was
always shy with him. He was a very
handsome man.
safe home again?' he leased her.
I'm lust going to the hospital to see
mother for a few minutes. Snail l
take your love to her, Louise?"
Cant l see her, father?'
In a day or two. I'll take you Sat
urday or Sunday. What are you gong
to do now?'
Barbara Peters wants me to play on
the walk with her"
why not?" !.
We'll, grandmother mightn't let me-
This was treachery.
You go ahead. I'll let you"
So Louise, trembling a little, said,
Father said l might play on the walk
with Barbara until he gets back
Grandmother folded her lips tightly
and made no answer. !,
Barbara had her skates and she mad
their baby. They played a game. Louise
held the baby's hand about ten feet
from the top of the hill. 1t was comlcal
the way he bumped his little back
and braced himself. Barbara got a
good start and picked him up. Her
roller skates spread far apart, she
caught him under the arms and around
his little middle and lifted him and
let him fly back between her knees,
Then she drew her feet together Skill
fully and he put one eighteen months
old foot down on each Of hers and
away hey went clear to the bottom
of the hill with Louise running after
them in fear and trembling. !.
What if the baby fell? What II
Barbara lost one Of her ball beari-
ans and came down on top of him?
But nothing happened. The baby was
not frightened. He was wild about the
game. Barbara couldn't go fast enough
to suit him. They were still out there
in the early dusk when father came
home. The two Marthas and Katie
and Mimi had joined them and the
six little girls and Barbara's baby were
making a good deal OF noise in the
quiet street.
Father got out of his a and
watched them playing and then ne
said: why aren't you skating, Loulse?'
IT haven't any skates"
Don't you want any?"
"Oh, yes!"
Run in and tell grandmother Tn
taking you dow town. wen se'
you some"
Louise stood very still. The other
little girls looked at her. Barbara
made encouraging signs. But Louise
looked at her father fairly.
Not unless mother says l can. Sht
doesn't want me to skate"
Father looked at his little girl anG
looked away and smiled.
III ask her" he said. I'll ask hel
tomorrow"
Louise went to sleep that night a!
soon as her head touched the pillow
She Weakened early and felt extraor'
dinarily light and happy. Then sh'
remembered about her prayers and salt
them with tardy guilt. She prayed
especially for her mother and thel
she dressed and went down to break
fast. Father wasn't down yet. Grand
mother and Aunt Agnes were at TIT
table alone. They looked at her sor
rowfully.
There was a good deal of low voicet
talk about Louise taking advantage
while her mother was i'll. 1t hur1
grandmother terribly. She though
her little girl was different. But Lou
Use hardened her heart. There was
new and powerful RIGHTEOUSNESS in her
Only her mother might have stemmeC
it. When father came in, freshl.
shaved and pink of cheek, grandmothel
fell into uneasy silence and Louise wen
off to school alone again.
That evening father was waiting anc
he had the roller skates. Louise hac
not expected them at all! Father pu'
them on for her and then got into hi.
car and drove resolutely away.
Barbara and Mary and Rosalie an6
Kathie and Mimi came to skate on TIT