Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-03-16
Lady Blanche Farm

to snake up," she felt she could af-
ford to laugh at him Well, he wasn't
to be trifled with like thatl He'd
show her. Angrily he brushed away
two big tears. of resentment and hurt
pride that were trlckling down his
flushed cheeks.
In the seclusion of his bedroom he
brushed his rumpled hair and changed
his collar, then sat down to cool off
and think things over. He'd show
Mary He dwelt for few min
utes on this agreeable thought. But
show her what? What was there to
show herr And supposlng he. could
think up something. would she consent
| TO be shown? His recent interview
with her. the mere thought of which
caused him to grow hot again, did
not furnish material for much hope of
exhibition. Mary. after all, held all
| the high cards. His only chance, so
| to speak, was to lend through weak
ness un. to strength. His pride, II
nothing else, told him that 1t would be
better than leaving the game unfin-
ished, even II he lost. His common
sense told him that If he did not
finish 1t, he would have smaller hope
than ever of another game with Mary.
| And he wanted to play with her. !.
Having reached this conclusion, of
(Which there was no possible doubt,
neither comfortably nor rapidly. he
decided to act upon 1t at once. He
fairly rushed to the orchard. Mary
was still reading.
Look here, Mary he burst out,
@Fm-I'm-sorry IL acted as | did
the night of Branches wedding. In
fact. I'm--Tm just as ashamed of 1t
as can be. I'd give anything II you'd
overlook It,"
| "0verlook itlp famed Mary.
"That was the wrong word" fioun-
dered Paul. Il meant. of course.
want TO ask you to-forgfve me. To
to be friends with me, IL you won't be
anything else"
Anything else!'
"Oh. of course. | knew you wouldn't
be anything again after-after that
But | can't seem to say what I'm try.
/ ing to. You know what | mean,
/ though Please, Mary" and he held
out his hand.
The girl closed her book, rose, and
came toward him, looking at him with
that clear and direct gaze that was
so hard to meet. But, though he
finehed, he looked at her squarely.
Up iease,1' he said =again..I never
would have done 1t IL | hadn't been
drunk"
She drew back little. you speak
as Ii that were an excuse" she said
evenly.
i tWhy of course it's ah excuse! t.
"0f course 1t isn't. 1t Was-dis
graceful, to do what you did, but Il
was even more disgracefui to get Int
condition that would allow you tt
do It."
Paul had honestly not considered
i the matter In this light before.
SWELL, | guess 1t was" he said
flushing. I'LL try not to get--inte
such condition again. am sorry
Honestly, | am. Won't You shake
hands with me and forgive me?'
Il wouldn't touch you with ten
foot pole. | certainly won't forgive
you. | believe you're sorry now, be
cause you're having horrld time
But If forgaye you and you began t
have a good time again, you woule
forget all Sabout being sorry and Dc
the same thing right over again.
Il wouldn't swear | wouldn't"
| you're not going to have the chance
| must 90 In now and get supper
"Well-won't you at least speak t
me when you see me and-and so on
as long as | do behaveY
"Yes," said Mary over her shoulder
"Ill do that, If you just happen to Sc,
me. | won't Ii you try to like this
again"
And with this small concession
Paul was obliged to be satisfied. o.
rather, he strove to be satisfied ant
was not. Mary was amazingly pretty
prettier than Blanche, far and ava,
prettier than Resale King or any o
the girls who worked in the mill a
White Water. Why hadn't he noticed
that before? And she had pep
oceans of 1t! How could he possibl,
have thought that she was tame? I'll
had not only acted like fool but lik'
BLACKBOARD. He deserved his fate
That was the last conclusion tina
Paul reached and the effect tina
it had upon him was NOR
SOLDERING than anything that has
happened to him In all his life
He bowed under 1t, hurt and cove,
and little frightened. Then he. pulle,
himself together, still wincing, an,
began to try to build together again
a stone at time, the foundation 70
that happiness which he had de
stroyed.