Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-20

Blanche's party dress by canule-hshl
as they stood before II. 1t had grown
very cold outside, and the many-paned
windows were frestIng over with dell
cate shapes The man, looking towards
them from the fire, suddenly shisered
little. They were so ley and spark
ling. rejecting the frozen moonlight
out there, that there was something
af almost unearthly loneliness about
them. something ghostly-
blanche" he said abruptly. when
you fixed up Carte Blanche, what did
you do with those old law books that
were here?'
blanche was standing before the
mirror, combing her hair, She did
not even turn.
They were so musty md shabby
and dry.looking, | burned them up.
Why. did you want them?'
NO. Did you burn them ALP
EYES,
eRead any of them tirst?"
No. | could tell by the looks that
they were dull. Not what you and |
wanted in orr lovely home
She walked across the room to him,
her golden hair falling over her Shout
ders. her soft white dressing gown
flowing from her bare neck and arms
in an unbroken line to the floor De-
liberately. she blew out the pickering
candles, one after the other. and. in
the dim freight, put her arms around
his neck.
ut is lovely, isn't it?n she Whis-
pered.
Philip bent over her. There was
something in her manner that had
never been there before. Was she,
too, feeling the mystery and power
of the night7 Had these last weeks
of separation been teaching her. too
teaching her the lessons that for a
time. 1t seemed as If he. for all his
love, had failed to make clear to herr
Was the dread which had been slowly
growing through the spring and sum-
mer that his white star was to prove
only Will-o'-the- wisp, to be taken
from him after all?
YES, sweetheart. beautiful" he an
swered. "But | want you to know a
story that was In one OF those books
you burned. just the same, II you don't
already. ought to have spoken OF
II baF
AS quietly as he could. he told her
first OF his reading Of the legend and
then of his talk with Mary about 1t
afterwards.
I can't pretend TO explain It But
1t seems to me the first Blanche
didn't want to hurt any person, espe-
cially-that 1t Isn't a curse In that
sense-but to teach her descendants,
II she could, What terrible thing II Is
| to be selfish. Most OF ALL the selfish
ness that calls itself love- Occasions
ally mothers feel that kind of love fol
their sons, or children for their par
ents. or husbands for their wives
You mean that Is the kind tina
| Colonel Moses felt for the countess.
said Blanche slowly. "and-and it's
been SO. straight through the family
That's the way mother cares for Paul
That's the Way-that's the way
cared for you-once But, oh, don'i
any more!'
THAT isn't the way I've cared FOL
you" said Philip. I'm not very strong
and I'm not very good. don't thinl
/ that for minute. But do love yot
/ with all my heart and soul. That
| that makes more difference than any
thing else, believe That curse Il
never going beyond this generation
and you must tell me tonight, tina
you're glad ought to have gone {,
war when first knew 1t was the RICH
thing for me TO do. We can't bell
that now. But you've got to So.
you're glad I'm going now"
His arms frightened around her, hi
lips, meeting hers, lay for long tim
| against them.
IF only we had son"
/ whenever think, Of Lady Blanch
farm" he went on. after long silence
Il think of you and the brook-it
freshness and fragrance and purity
It's shallow In places. 1t rnshes Int
little falls, but where | found you.
widens to deep pool. clear as crysta
a haven of refreshment and delgh
and-holiness. That's what you seer
to me tonight--do you understand
Oh my darling"