Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-23


leave VIII when 1hey rubbed each
other SO rawl
II was not like 1t had been, that
other hard time, when they were close
heart against heart, sharing every
thought and feeling. For now. she
was poor. but he was not She was
looking upon the face OF poverty that
John Poole had depicted for her years
AGO when she was careless bride.
But VIII, either because Of longer and
closer acquaintance with Lack. or,
more probably. because of his own
secret happiness, was not dismayed-
was, In fact. nnfeeling.
All day long. with the front bed
room door shut, he worked In there on
drawings which he would not let her
see. but which he could not seem to
sell. Their difficulties, her fears for
the future. did not pierce him. He
was intolerably good-natured and
happy. Ernestine was filled with
deep despair and vexatlon With him
that he could be so casual.
AS she sat, trying to swallow
little OF the food she had prepared so
carefully, Ernestine saw ahead OF her
a long vista OF the years in which she
washed and Ironed Wits clothes,
tended to his bodily needs, for food,
for comfort, for sex, and was for ever
outside the circle OF his reality, per-
son whom he saw only to forget When
his glance left her. She could bear
any hardship, and pain. But 10 40
without love-this she could. not bear.
Il really don't see why | shouldn't
20 to mammals" she said. All those
silly old quarres with Lorlng-What
do they amount to? But mamma IS
going to have guests all summer-and
you don't want me to 30 there"
Il don't care what you do he SAID
stifiiy. sOnly I'll never go to Lake
Haven again.
I'll go to Pastano's." she said list
lessly. .Ili write tomorrow
The day came when Pastanos DIE
limousine with the swarthy chauffeur
stood at the door for them. to take
them to the train. Ernestine was adj
monishing the children about keeping
clean, and Will put his arms about
her. so practical and stern In her
motherhood.
"Why are you always SO sore at
meT" he asked, and kissed her ayerted
cheek. You're so strange, and 80 diff
fcult. know it's hard for you, but
I'm doing all cam
Are you?" she asked, and smiled
In a secret annoying way.
Wits temper rose within him.
"You think I'm noti'
did | say that?'
"Yes practically - yes, you did.
Your tone"
..Oh, then must be careful even Of
my tones?"
He flung his hands up In gesture
Of despair, and made no further effort
to WOO her. After a moment she
turned to him with her great tragic
eyes.
"You know that | don't care how
poor we are. can do without every
thing-you know 1t isn't material
things
But WIN had withdrawn his effort
at Cancellation. He knew that she was
| talking about his secrecy over his
drawings. Well, he could not share
with her what was so ephemeral that
a stray thought In his own head de-
stroyed 1t. He couldn't talk about It.
All the strong instinct OF self-preserya.
| ton for the gift that was developing
within him forbade 1t utterly. The
processes he was trying to put upon
| paper were nebulous. He was acutely
| fearful for them. X Ernestine did
not like them, they would be destroyed.
Don't open that suitcase, Peter, y
said Ernestine, and they went out and
got into the car, bags and ALL
| They met Madame Pastano and her
TALL silent, handsome husband, whose
expressive eyes glanced at once Into
Ernestine's with penetrating look.
VIII went into the coach with them,
kissed them oil goodby, and went away.
The children waved to him from the
windows, but he did not look back,
Fastening off through the gate, his
very back eager and relieved.
Ernestine leaned back against the
cushion and closed her eyes against
Madame Pastano's friendly curiosity,
Through everything that had happened
to them they had been In love, until
these last few months. Would she
ever have VIII again as she had had
him once-his tender love, his gentle
passion, his strength Not II she kept
on striking and wounding him, com
mon sense told her. But she sighed
with helplessness. In the face OF her
knowledge the starvation at her heart
for the old love, the old Confidence and
affection between herself and VIII
she could not control her pride, hei
| - nri hvx. .f,bi