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

for Willie about his work and told
him how Will had received his train
Ing doing Just such chores for John
Poole. Poole was little more than q
legend TO this yonngster. she saw. bni
he was interested and nattered by her
condolences.
/ \ Ernestine went away. filled with con.
vNtion. without more logical reason
than the instruction OF instinct. Lii
Liam had seen Will on North Clark
street. He was not spending his time
ut the outside studio. He WAS prob
ably not playing cards as much ms
she thought.
He had opened the old studio where
he and John Poole had worked for
! over two years and lie WIS working
! there now. nearly every afternoon and
sometimes probably al night. What
was he doing?
She thought she would ask him. hut
that evening when he came in she WIS
Just coming down The stairs with
Elaine. naked, on her arm. She was
going to The kitchen 10 get some olive
oil TO warm, for she had found the
skin dry on the child's arms.
VIII had come IN the front door and
stood, drawing lliS scarf from Within
Tie collar of his great coat. staring up
ut her His face flashed al her and he
said imperiouSly.:
Stand SILL" \
She stopped, In amazement, and
stood poised on the stairs, the child
on her arm, her simple house dress
falling against her long limbs. and
VIII looked UP al them with concen-
tration. power in his eyes After n
strange interval he began to fold the
silk scarf about his throat. to button
his coat, TO draw his gloves over his
9 fingers. still staring at them, and then
without a word. but with smile of
excitement, he turned and left the
house.
II was very late when he returned,
but Ernestine WIS awake, waiting for
him. lie eame directly TO her In her
room, and his face was like Il drunk
ards, flushed and relaxed and happv
lie caught her in his arms and kissed
her passonately.
"Wlfl-where have you been? Why
are YOU so stranger she asked him.
For answer he pressed his lips
against her throat, he put her short
dark hair hack from her brow and
stared ut her, entranred with what he
saw
You're so lovely he said, so
beautiful Ernestine. Not even the old
masters have face rs lovely us yours
Your eNes-yonr eyes are sid, my
sweet. Why are vou sadt" lie ran
his fingers over her face. his strong
fingers that could touch lightly, won.
derfully.
Ernestine felt us If Rer heart would
break
"Will-tell me. What ails your she
implored him. You haven't noticed
me for weeks and weeks-all winter
YOU haven't even seen me, and now
son come IN like this"
He moved away from her. He was
erect. triumphant. under the impulse
of strong excitement.
I've done 1t. Ernestine'
What have you done?"
lie made Il gesture with his fingers
IA stroke in their air. either with
brush or pencil.
i've made something new and dif. |
ferent. Something I've wanted long
time I'll tell you about it some day,
when I'm ready. But now. don't qnes
lion me. Just love me. AS you used |
10, Ernestine Can't you come to me |
rs YOU used to come? My love, and /
mine aloney
lie wooed her, and she yielded To |
him, finding an instants hurting 10Y |
in his old eagerness-his old lIaring /
enthusiasm. This tide of human love |
was not new to her Its sameness was
like an enchantment. But after he
was sleeping by her side, she went
secretly. He was so strange Even
in his ardor, deep honesty warned her
that not her beauty, not her love, not
her DEAFNESS had allured him-he had
peen mpelled toward her by something
within himself. His deep and scorer
springs OF artistry were awakening.
stirring. Solitary even In bis pas
sion and his love.
e The next morning she rose with her
heart hardened with determination,
and after he had gone downtown, she
hunted out among her possessions the
DID office key he had given her. so long
aSo. She took the bus and went back
o Erie street, walked the old familiar
way again and came to the old Office, |.
ltted her key In the lock and opened
he door. The office was empty. and
The entered and shut the door behind
Ter.
The light In the place was fine. A
onT window crossed the back Of the
Dom, and here was santed table
nd Stool. Ernestine moved 10 this
nd calmly, deliberately, SHE began TO
nnt for Wits secret. She had no
more scrupe about II than she would