The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-08
CHAPTER XxXvII1

Curtis" She couldn't keen her
voice steady, because her teeth were
chattering, chattering with fear.
She knew how his face would look
when she shade him understand at
last. Made him see her as she really
was. "How can I bear it? How can
! bear it when he knows"
His nice, tanned face, always Z
little stern in repose, . little hard
about the mouth and chin, but al
ways SO gentle for her. She
wanted to remember it that way
to see it that way just . min
ute longer. The gentleness. Before
she sent it away. Just minute un-
I'll she got courage. -.
And Curtis's voice going on, II
can't make you understand how
much love you, Johnnie. I'm sort
Of . dull fellow about those things,
haven't any words. But If I lost you
now !. if anything happened J.
l wouldn't bother to 60 on. It
wouldn't be worth living now, with
out you.
She lay on his shoulder, listening,
trembling, trembling sickly. Curtis.
Curtis's despair when he knew. She
hadn't been thinking Of that. Only
her own. She could bear it for her.
self, but for him breaking his
faith, spelling his life. -.
"Oh if I had known. il I had
known what it would be IKE to
have to 60 on living. remembering.
-. No way out now -. unless she
broke Curtis's heart. -.
"You shouldn't love me like that,
Curtis because I'm not worth
it really truly I'm not. :"
He only smiled, and kissed her
fingers gently. One by one.
"That settles it." Maisie said
when Joan pushed her oatmeal
away untouched the next morning.
you've got to give up your work
and get some rest in the mornings.
When . girl can't eat"
I'm just not hungry"
"Just not hungry! Why not? Be.
cause you're al worn out, that's
why. l said to Mis- Harvey only
yesterday I said, They like to kill
her with kindness, those Barstows.
Keepin' her up every night till
heaven knows when, and them snug
in their beds till noon the next day
an her rushin' OF to work.
"Maisie I don't svo.t 70 stay in
bed. l couldn't sleep anyway. IL
can't sleep very well any more
"Of course you cant. Come In all
full Of excitement, and know you've
got 70 geb out Of bed almost before
you rot in. never - such non.
sense. Mis- Barstow ought 70 have
moro sense. 'lf she don't consider
you pretty soon it'll b . funeral,
not : wedding"
"Maisiol"
"Well, you eat something. I'm
not going 70 have you 90 ont Of here
without anythin' IN your otumick.
You ought to look at yourself 81 the
mirror. Dark circles under your
eyes, pale - . ghost Hand shakin'
% you can't hold your coffee cup.
Now you keep on looldne that WY.
and curtis'l! b finding hinsslf n.
II wish 10 would!" the words
came out Of their own accord. e.
plosively.
Maisie's spoon clattsrsd into the
prunss, splashine tho sweet brown
juice M ovef hor etarcho6 clSan
housedress. s.Now ! lssesv you Amt
responslhls," she seolded, 1cfubbins
the prune stains with her napkin.
"Such silly talk did you ever
80 anything Ike the way that
jumped ont Of my hand9 An 40
wonder. What . remark for m en-
gaged girl with . two karat di'mond
on her finger this minute, to
make"
Joan looked down It the ring,
blasting On her finger. Symbol 81 hsr
pledge 10 Curtis. Symbol Of Cur
tis' promise 70 her. Promise 81 ease
and wsslth, AZ beauty and the soft
tAiass = LIE. slswly ~ tssk Il q,
4i y