The Bismarck tribune., 1933-02-01
Ardeth Made Happy By
Kens Am0rous Attention
CHAPTER VIII.


XHYHEN Ken had told Of Jean
" cites absence, desolation
unbearable had swept
Ardeth. She was like q disap-
pointed child. Her lovely day
her beautiful day-snatched away
at the last minute!
Then came angry rebellion.
Shed 60 with Ken anyway! Sup
pose there were but the two Of
them? People weren't prudish
about such things any more! She
would go-she would!
They were defiantly gay COM
ing over on the ferryboat, thrilling
to a daring sense Of romance.
Blue bay-blue sky-and the
sun cleaning on the mans un-
covered head. There was lit
tie crease in his thick hair
where the hat brim had pressed,
a crease which would just hold
her finger, thought the girl dream
lily. Then she had given a little
startled laugh at the thought and
would not tell him why she
laughed.
This golden day dropped into
her lap, far removed from the
other gray days Of the week.
Nothing mattered-Aunt Stel's
nagging Neil's jealousy ~ Cecile
Parker-not even tomorrow, which
would put the worldly gulf between
them again. Nothing mattered
while she was here with Ken on
this golden day!
The thrilling sense Of intimacy
deepened when they left the boat
and turned from the city. The
country road they followed gave
way to q salt-caked track winding
through the salt marsh. Wide sky
wide hat-the blue car creeping
along with Ken and herself.
When they reached the ark
they were filled with the wild
spirits Of children. Ardeth ex-
claimed over it all-the shabby
cabin with its cushioned seat
rambling around the room. The
tiny kitchen, its one window
looking over miles Of marsh. The
warped floor boards Of the sun
flooded deck and the soft Tipping
Of water as the tide seeped up the
She tied a huge flour sack dish
towel under her armpits and
helped Ken prepare lunch on the
rusty wood stove. From the back
Of the car Ken produced q thick
heefsteak. A jar Of potato salad.
French bread-butter-cheese. A
box Of French pastry had been
badly jammed in the trip over and
cent them into gales Of laughter.
It was easy to laugh today.
Just the sight Of Ken with . dish
towel tied about his neck, solemnly
licking whipped cream from his
f;nrertips. was sufficient to move
the Riri to tender ridicule.
Just tho sight Of Q sooty
xmudre streaking Ardeth's nose
was enough 70 start Ken's shout
ringing over the marshes.
They were throbbingly awars
Of each others presence. Aware
Of the empty miles which cloSec
them here together. They com
batted their secret excitement
with an almost hectic gayety.
They burned their fingers ant
broke plates. They dropped fork
and dived for them at tho sam,
moment 90 their heads cam.
smartly together. They selted th'
salad too much and entirely 9orgo
to season the steak.
Ardeth cut her finger and Kel
bound Il with . strip Of clean dish
towel. That moment Of close con
tact, when he held her hand in hi
own. silenced the mans high spirit
and cent the blood surging through
his body.
They ate lunch on the shad!
aide Of the deck overlooking th'
blue boy. Ken was in hilarious
spirits again. He played waiter
hanging . napkin over his arm ans
waving Araeth to her seat with .,
elaborate flourish.
Ham, lamb. ram, sheep or NUT
toni Name yer animal, Teddy