Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-02-02

Sin and how had she ever failed him
--or anyone else In thought or word
or deed?
Mary could not help knowing that
there were other men In the village
who had been attracted to her, who
would have been glad to make 1t plain
that they4were more than attracted, II
she hadn't made Il plain that no one
In the world mattered to her except
Paul. There was Thomas Gray. for
instance. slow and ploddfng. but hard.
working. kind and wholesome. And
then--then there had been Gale Ham
lin, the great architect. whose name
Philip pronounced with an awe amount
Ing almost to veneration. She had
never told her family much about
Hannah Adams uncle. Her casual
remarks about him had included little
mention of his frequent calls AT the
Adams house when she visited there,
none at all of that last call, paid at
the school when the news of her
mothers death had come.
The sharp note of phoebe bird,
singing beside her. brought Mary TO
the consciousness that she must have
been dreaming long time. and sent
her hurryIng down the hill. still unde
eided what she ought to do, but I'M
measurably. II vaguely. comforted and
refreshed. Reaching the house. she
slipped out Of her wet garments. took
a hot bath, dressed again In crisp,
clean clothes, and began, little
breafhlessly. to get dinner.
She need not have hurried, for
everyone else was late, but as she had
40 means OF knowing that they would
be, she was both tired and ruffled
when, at half-past one, she had a
meal ready to serve which would have
done credit to an older and more ex-
perienced cook. Violet was the first to
appear. and Violet was nervous"
Mary knew 1t the instant she looked
at her.
.panl isn't coming to dinner" she
said tartly. "You hurt his feelings
very much this morning. can't think
how you can act SO, especially when
the poor boy lis Ill. | should have
asked nothing better than to sit be-
side him the whole morning, bathing
his poor aching head. II I'd only been
equal to 1t. But then. OF course,
there's no love as devoted and self
sacrificing as mothers Though |
felt the same way towards Martin. |
didn't feel towards him at all the way
you do to Paul. | couldn't have"
: "No, don't believe you could" said
Mary, trying to control the grief and
anger that seemed to be struggling for
mastery In her voice. I'm sorry he
won't come-Tll take Off his plate.
Won't you come into the parlor now
and meet Mr.. Starr?"
While this meeting was taking place,
very satisfactorily to both persons
concerned In 1t, Seth Manning was sit.
ing patiently In the family carryall
outside the village church. waiting for
his cousin, Jane. and his small son,
Moses, to come out of Sunday school
Miss Manning, In common with her
neighbors, saw nothing irreverent In
using aisles and porch for little in.
formal visiting after the services were
over. And as just at this time Chill
dren's Sunday was looming large
ahead OF them, there was q good deal
to consider.
I'm just as nervous as | kin be
about them new-fangled exercises Mis-
Weston has chosen" Mrs. Elliott was
confldng to Miss Manning. "Of course
seem she's chairman of the COMMITTEES
on entertainment. none OF the rest OF
US could say a word. but II looks to
me as Ii she'd bit of more'n she car
chew. II Sylvia Gray was SOS she
could be around, I shouldn't worry
none, but Land have you heard
Hyivia's expectin' again. and she's rea
poorly. She aIn't strong enough t.
nave children so fast. went and told
her 80 the other day and what do yor
think she said7 That she was rea
rtsssed. that she only hoped II woult