The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-06-15

would want them, Of course And he
mad a right to demand for them and
for himself-Invalidism! Bad enough
IN a woman of sixty or so. At her age,
Inc unforgivable sin, in their crowd .
Or wasn't this all tosh? Wasn't it
simply that he had found some
else, though he denied it? Well, at any
rate, there was an end to it!
Leaving word that she would return
shortly after luncheon, Valerie went out
and sought such air as might be had.
Park avenue-Madison-Fifth. How I'M
healthy many of the passersby looked!
central park. Brown and leafless. But
the late November sun was warm
enough That shapeless lump of
building? Casino! How u~nattractive at
this time Of day. More than one gay
party there! The reckless expenditure
OF energy! No more of that, or else!
Irmic! She, clinging to life; her faith
er no longer wanting his. A wave of
self-pity swept over her. She felt cut
adrltt from all that had mattered. The
future? She dared not let herself dwell
on that!
retraced her steps toward Madison I'VE
oS' "A A4CG1C WCd 4OFOl1 W1lcTS G14c
chances of meeting any one she knew
were slight. When she had forced her
sell to eat something and smoked a
brief cigaret, she felt better. She paid
her check; went out into the thin sun
light again; and thus home.
And in the hall a maid was saying
IN flat meaningless tones:
"a Dr.. Hanlon waiting to see you,
Miss Valerie. In the library"
Mark! Here. Since that-that night
there had been nc word from him.
Those flowers, yes, bearing his name;
telegraphed, she supposed, when he
had heard. Nothing more. She sought
a fleeing glimpse of herself in a mir
ror. There! That would have to do. So
few things mattered any more. Swiftly
she crossed the hall to the library.
wall"
How tall he was, and brown; and the
hair that refused to stay put!
How stupid of me to be out!" she
heard herself saying. Have you lunch
ed? Poor chap you look starved! Let
me tell them"
But he still had hold of her hand.
Concern was written large across his
fine, sensitive face.
You're thin again, VAL" he said,
Not so good"
But, I'm splendid, thanks" Valerie
assured him. How long since any one
had seemed genuinely concerned fol-
her!
II had supposed you were in-Bos-
ton?"
Mark shook his head slowly. He was
quite close to her,
That's why I came here" he said at
length. I'm not sure that I'm going
to Boston,"
mot sure-?"
They've offered m e a permanent job
at Baldwin. I can live outside the
grounds of course. Klein thinks he can
make a fairly decent bacteriologist OF
me. Says I'd never be more than a
second rater in big city practice. No
bedside manner worth mentioning!"
He laughed quietly. "And I guess the
old mans right as usual" he added.
What he did not say was: "I've been
something of a fool as you can see.
But I've discovered that the n thing
that matters with me is-you! And I'm
afraid you mightn't stay well in Bos-
ton-or New York either!"
nc OuO 1NOI Say IL, BECAUSE CQere was
no need. Valerie, searching his eyes,
s q close to her own, read all that and
more! And her own answer came to
her swiftly, Enthusiastically. She trembl-
ed slightly.
II think" she said family, you had
best prescribe something for the pa
tient, at once!"
And when he had not only prescrib-
ed, but administered, as well, some
thing like a sigh escaped Valerie's lips
But who shall say-did that small
amount signalize for both of them q
farewell to glamor well lost, to ex.
elements surrendered and ambitions
not to be realized-or was it only 8
welcome to the deep, compensatine
reality that would be filling their days.
Both, perhaps!