Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-12-11


hidden so, while she went on swiftly !:
XVIII, knew you were tired OF the
cats. VIII, spent only about third
Of what you earned, last year. But
you wouldn't tell me, yon didn't want
to talk to me, so ! just went ahead,
planning for the time when you would
l knew that you wouldn't want, prob
ably wouldn't take, the money I'll have
from grandmother and from papa,
some day. But this is yours-it's saw
ings from your earnings, VIII. It's
for your stake"
"You understood" he said hoarsely.
"Will," she said again, and now her
arm was around his body. the picture
up between bis shoulders, "I'll tell you
aeain-I-"
mo, no, Ernestlne," he said with
quick passion, "you can't let me; we
can't go back. Do you know what II
means? A living-I think could make
that-but 1t will be precarious-Tve
been into 1t all with some thought. 1t
will be years before / can make even
half what the cartoons bring me. Even
II / get darned good-there's not the
money to be found I've thought
1t all out. I've been Up and down and
around this problem. I've tried to
save some, too. But 1t won't work
It's precarious--it's too soanty. I've
been through 1t all, and made up my
mind. Don't tempt me with your saw
ings-they wouldn't last us year
III we went back to the West side,
back to the old house, could do my
own work, and the children and !
could live on the trust fund, until you
got started. You could keep this
studio, and you could 90 to Philadel
phia and to Paris and study"
Would you-would you do that
for me? Ernestine, my wife" He
kissed her, and she shook the tears
from her own lashes and drew him
down and pressed her lips against his
eyes.
1T wouldn't be necessary for you to
do that, darling" he said to her, and
he laughed a little. III wouldn't be
that bad. | could make a-lying-and
you've your trust fund and your grand
mother has promised you the house at
Langley lake. No, you won't have to
70 back to the West side-you can
keep Molly, believe. We can manage
that much, Ernestine, with good luck
and good management
"Oh, WILL" she said to him. Il al
most wish ii would be hard like that
again. I've been so lonely-longing to
help you. feeling outside. What does
the car and the house and the things
mean If I'm cut off from you? | know
/ can't help you with your painting.
/ know that travail is yours-that's
your work-your life. II must be first
with you, Will And that's right.
Gifted people can't choose. But II
your work must be first, to you, you
can understand what love and mar
riage mean to me. That's my life.
And II can feel that you can 80 on
because I understand"
They were both crying. his arms
we're around her-tight-tight. As
their tears mingled and they stood
together In the long embrace. the kiss
that was free from passion but frought
with tenderness. the purest and hoiest
feeling, true married love. welled over
them. 1t seemed to Ernestine. strain
ing 80 In his arms, that for the first
time she was truly wife to VIII. Not
only bride, bride of his body, star OF
his Imagination, object of romantic
alteration, not only the mother Of his
children and the keeper Of his house,
but wife-wife-in the deep places,
the secret places Of love.
''Ernestine," he whispered, after a
little, and she wept afresh to hear her
name SO on his lips as he had whis-
pered 1t when first they loved, for
give me-that / didn't understand,
that didn't confde In you. You
seemed always to have child in
your arms, thousand needs. felt
that this other was foe to you.
was stupid, blind. thought you
wanted the money-needed 1t. You
were hard with me that summer be-
fore made the cats. didn't want to
go back to that bad time again.
didn't know how wonderful you are.
You're my good luck-you always
were. I'll never forget 1t again. Oh,
Ernestine. I'll do big things for you
/ will"
A clock somewhere doomed two, and
Ernestine started in his arms. She
had remembered Loring-at last She
withdrew herself from her husbands
arms and made gesture Of helpless.
ness.
But here's this business OF Loring,"
she said.
what Is 1t about Loring?" he asked,
watching her.
So with the enchantment, the throb,
of love still on her, she told him about
Loring-about all that Pastano had
said to her that morning.
But Of course" he said at once.
you must let me take the money for
you~-at once Give me the slip Of
paper
She gave IL to him with reluctant