White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-09-12

the effort of dragging the great horses
about. She had always hated snow;
it reminded her of particularly dis
agreeable period Oh her life. But this
snow was different. There was some
thing crude and pristine about 1t. II
was not theatrical snow, where one
may break ones neck on neatly
constructed slide; it was homelike.
making one think of warm fires and
pipes and fleecy blankets. Not that
Linda knew any of these things from
personal experience, but they had
their nook in her imagination with
other fancies.
AS he helped her from her seat, she
asked him why he had come, and his
answer brought swift, unexpected
color to her face.
"To look after you, of course" He
spoke so simply that she was ashamed
of her subterfuge.
The hotel was as crude as the Ne
braska snowfall.
"You have been so kind-yOu Will
dine with me?" she murmured at the
foot of the stairs.
He laughed. "rd love to, only 1t
will be supper in this place. There
will be ham and eggs and four kinds
of bread and | hope you won't be Ill
from the experience"
She felt a little shock. He was
laughing at her! In second she
realized how she must look to him
exotic. superAuous, too fine for rude
contacts. She managed to make her
mouth look tremulous and sweet as
she answered gaiIy:
"Anything-sO that 1t Is warm T.
The other women did not like Linda.
They eyed her fur coat and her ankles
with equal disapproval, AID when she
found that she was to share a room
with one of them she protested IN sucn
way that the proprietor at once gave
her another.
NATURALLY you'd want to be with
your husband" said the discarded
roommate with embittered sweetness,
and Linda, off guard, repeater blank
Only husbands"
The other simulated confusion, "Oh,
isn't he? | Thought"
AS Linda sat beside Brian at their
corner of the long table she said to
him indifferently. They're gossiping
already, so you must not be so nice
to me if gossip annoys you"
The women crowded together at the
other end of the table as if they
feared contact with other diners were
all of the kind that are to be seen In
pullman cars and nowhere else. Com
fortably dressed but you wondered
where they bought their clothes. In
every big department store in the
| country, hundreds like them milled
like cattle from nine to four every da!
the year around, yet it was only at a
| time like this that such faces stood
| out; such personalities became obvi
Gus. They were all terribly frightened
I at the publicity suddenly thrust upon
them. They objected while they Sc
cretly swelled with Importance. Bur
! they we're determined to remain com
pIetely virtuous and upright in the
face of unconventionality.
Brian Anstey glanced at them, and
then smiled at Linda.
Its their chance to air their opin-
ions and be listened to-" he said, and
| she added in drawing cold voice
| that did not suit her glowing, girlish
face. land their opportunity to make
| show of their morality"
tsD,,,,'t ho coyoro 1NhnD ora all
home women, bound to be little mar
row. In simple life this must he an
adventure-close quarters with un'
| known neighhors."
"That is why you cannot really adj
mire simplicity or naturalness; 1t is
| all so hateful just under the surface
"Do you think so?" he frowned. He
looked much older when he was seri-
Gus, she decided She did not really
care what these women thought; she
| would never see one OF them again
but she meant to tease him little
| more. you must not confuse silly
chattering women with simplicity AMI
naturalness." he said sternly. and
| glanced again at the group who be
| came conscious that they were under
|. discussion and were scandaliZed. "Yop
will find their sort everywhere"
"But much worse in simple little
towns"
II will not admit that. 1t is be
cause cities are more Indifferent"
She shook her head You art
wrong. Cities are not indIreren!
They judge with manners and mora!s
hut the city cares only for appear
ances. 1t is much easier to live up to
You can always buy appearances and
have them delivered to your door In d
box"