The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-22
CHAPTER L

In the car again, scrubbing 1t
her sticky hands with IN Intellectual
handkerchief she said, II am sorry
Curtis-I shouldn't have taken 20
long"
''It's all right" he said, and in.
creased the speed, over . level
stretch between two, hills.
He was lost in his thoughts again,
his secret, troubled thoughts. "She
smiled at that old man who sold
hot dogs, Just the way she does 1T
me-" he thought bitterly. "A dirty
old man with gray whiskers. And
used to think it was just for me
that light in her eyes and the fash.
ing smile like sunshine the fool
was +. She has it for everybody
even q hot dog vender and = man
gy dog.
"She looked at him when he gave
her the extra pickle, the way she
looked at me when I put my ring
on her hand the love that l
thought would be mine, already
squandered on someone else, some
boy, some worthless loafer stand
ing out in front Of a poolroom now
:. Oh, what q fool I've been, what
4 blind, trusting fool -"
Her hand closed over his arm
again. "Curtis, you look so stern.
lit frightens me"
He came back with = start, tried
to answer naturally. "l'm not stern
just thinking that's all"
about WHAT"
"Oh-business."
"Dont, Curtis. Please don't.
This is our first day together for 80
long. We're always rushing, a.
ways letting people and business
come between us. Can't we 60
slower, while we're in the lovely
country, with the sunshine and the
hills to see? It doesn't matter il
they have to wait for US, does it,"
"Not so far rs I'm concerned"
"Then let's forget them, and just
10 - slowly Is we want to, shall
WEI" She laughed, and drew . lit
tie nearer. I'm so sick Of people
even nice people like the Lairds, and
your mother Let's be terribly sell
fish, and poke along and Oh Cur
tis-look - peoples millions OF
them, under the fence could we
-. would it be perfectly contempti-
BILE Of US to stop, and get some
please"
He looked at the orange field Of
peoples, and the laughing girl be-
side him, her dawless skin tinged
with o01d in the sun.
Perfectly contemptibie Of u.s."
he said, and his heart skipped .
beat. She was 50 lovely 50
lovely -:
She rolled under the barbed wire
Of the fence. and raced ahead into
The peoples. aren't they beauties
did you ever see such kssge o,ses?'
mo-" he said. smilingN family. q
never did"
"Neither did l." she started t.
say, and stopped. The little patch
of them she and Bill had found or
the hiRh road last summer Bill
:. must everything remind her Of
Bill?. Must he Be always in hel
thoughts, always coming between
her and Curtis whom she wanted *
With Z little half straneled sol
she flung herself into his arms
crushing the blossoms against hi,
cost ooh Curtis-love mellow
His arms closed about her, almos
automatically. "Love Ill poppie'
and doss-it's al one to her," b
thought 1.-THE same degree q y
tensity-just . passing mood. Well
I know now know how mucl
these sudden bursts Of affection ar
worth -. nothing % III 80. moth
"Come," he said ct last I'VE mus
b going on 70 the cabin. The road
are dangerous up there arts
ooh yea" she cried, conscience
!, stricken. And your mother mn
b worried. What time did Oh
leave, Curtis? Awfully early!
"Oh. some time before Ne did
come ont"
sNow you sit right there, an
DON'T move until lunch II ready!
Ruth pushed Bill into the ono CON
Portable chair, and kissed the top Q
his head.
"Sss, we're going 70 have : crs
Newburgv and you don't eve1 my
to crack the crab for me! That
the kind Of . hostess 4 am-a
kinds Of service. Will'unn, deari'
IN the top drawer Of my chihonie