Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-02-12

ooSa - SAaiAit III q
Il didn't expect this. Glen"
He had recovered himself almost at
once-how well she remembered that
smooth facility for rising triumphant
above every situationl
"A pleasant surprise. l hope. San
dra? How are you? You're looking
we'll"
She drew her hand away as quickly
a. possible. Old Mrs. Bride, looking
from n to the other, asked:
Whats this? Have you and Mr.
Lathom met before? Eh?"
Glen smiled at Sandra across her
hand.
I'VE knew each other-slightly, years
ago."
You'll have to shout-she's very
deaf" said Sandra, almost inaudibly.
Battling with a wild desire to laugh,
she listened to him emphasizing down
Mrs. Brides ear trumpet, slightly
years ago-yes, curious coincidence,
isn't it?" The old lady beamed and
nodded.
We'll! Yes. that's very odd. She
uSCA W Sluy CkC Will liC OSe1 11Ob4lC
you know, when she was quite a little
thing-eh, Sandra? How old were you
when you paid us your last visit? Sew
enteen? Eighteen? l don't expect you
knew her then. Mr.-er-Lathom."
He parodied her tone softly and
mockingly to Sandra.
Lets see, how old we're you when
,,o,, -, ,~;oJ 400 Tpro,&xvO uN,o-<r,
one?"
Whats that? Speak up!"
Il was just asking Mrs.-Mitchell if
she remembered when we first met,
But she says that she has forgotten
long ago"
The old woman, with a satisfied
Hal" lowered her ear trumpet and
seemed to sink into a waking doze.
Sandra, her face burning, crossed the
room and was staring blindly at a row
of first edition Thackerays. Lathom
spoke laughingly at her elbow.
What a situation!"
I'm glad you realize it,"
"You sound a little terse. l hope
you don't think that l ought to do the
delicate thing and dash out of the
house straight away? Because Bridal
seems to be miles from a railway sta
ton, and it's raining like the very
devil"
She could not resist a bitter, "Oh,
don't worry! I know that you would
never dream of putting yourself out
and was Inundated to hear his gentle
cluck of appreciation.
my dear, this sounds just like old
times"
She gave him a look of helpless fury
as she turned towards the fire and
Mrs. Brides huddled figure again. He
watched her with interest and frank
admiration.
You ought to lose your temper very
often. 1t makes you look SO young,
Sandral Confess that it's a funny sit
uationi Ex-wife and ex-husband
thrown together again. miles away
from anywhere, after a lapse Of
The frowsy girl came in to announce
dinner, and the old lady hoisted her
self to her feet.
Come along, young people. I hope
you've got appetites? All, thank you,
Mr.. Lathom."
Leaning on his arm she moved slowly
to the door; with the night a kind Of
feebleness and pathos seemed to have
come over her. Sandra and the two
settlers followed. They paced solemnly
down the vast, drafty hall, into an
immense dining lit only by two
sconces Of wax candles on the table.
The air smelled a little damp, in spite
of a log fire, and Sandra guessed that
when she was alone Mrs. Bride had
her meals in the library. Now the won
derful family silver had been brought
out, the cloth was a miracle of napery,
and with almost childish glee the old
lady took her place at the head Of the
table.
To Sandra it was macabre nightmare
of a dinner. The tepid soup floated in
families vertes plates that must have
been worth thirty pounds apiece; as
they tore tough mutton chops apart
and toyed gingerly with steamed black
berry pudding they drank incredible
sherry and claret that would have
driven a connisseur mildly insane. Old
Margaret Bride, holding her glass to
the light, gloated:
II hold on to my cellar. Nathan was
proud of it. Sooner let a Gainsborough
go than my cellar. Ha? Give your
self another glass Of claret, Mr.-h'm-
that girls gone dumping off to bring
the dessert"
Apples and some detected bananas
on a service of cracked Crown erby.
Significant Inducements of talk from
Lathom to Sandra that were broken
by a genial Whats that? Speak up!"
and a sudden yawning forward of that
ear trumpet like a grotesque orchid
greedy for prey.
$50 you married again? That's what
put me off-the name Mitchell"
Eyes. I married again."
Where is he now?"
HE died."
whats that? You'll have to speak
up!" and the black orchid twisted
from side to side to catch those buzz
ing little flies of talk.