The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-22

0rSt week OF October brought .
sudden change in the weather. The
cold and rain that had swept over
the city during the last Of Septem-
Der disappeared - If by magic and
. soft, mellow warmth possessed
the days. So summer was apt to 60,
thought John Harmon, sitting on
Mrs. Foley's steps, waiting for
Stanley to Join him. First like
> petulant sweetheart, tearing
away in = sudden At Of temper.
leaving behind biting wind and
slanting rain; then creeping back,
softly. penitently, to lay . last
ardent, tremulous kiss on the face
Of the lover she was deserving.
"Day-dreaming?" Stanley came
down the steps, slim and holiday.
looking in . yellow sweater and
small beret.
"Sort Of" he admitted, jumping
to his feet. II was composing IN
ode to this particular kind Of .
Sunday morning. Isn't It swell7"
Exquisite. Did you order it spe-
cial Or anything?
"Not exactly. ] think I just hoped
awfully hardl"
Two hours later, having left the
bus and walked . couple Of miles
toward the ocean. they found that
the little tourist inn they had dis
covered early in the summer was
closed for the season. The broad
verandas were piled with boxes and
gaily striped awnings; mattresses
were loaded onto . van; flowers
stood stiff and neglected in window.
boxes. A man in blue overalls was
putting out . bed Of tulips. his
teeth clenched about . stubby pipe.
They found Mrs. Pepper busy in
the kitchen, packing canned goods
into enormous wooden boxes. She
greeted them with appraised hands.
Heaven love youl I'm shut up-the
last two weeks ! lost money every
dayl Besides, we've got to get back
to get the children into school And
you've come al this way for .
meal!"
She looked 1t them % only .
woman could to whom food Was not
only . necessity but , vocation. It
was Mrs. Peppers business 70 feed
people-in the winter she ran .
successful delicatessen shop. She
was never far away from the stove
and the smell Of cooking food.
Il tell you" suggested John Har.
mon helpfully. his eyes on IN ar
ray Of cold food. laid ont on the
kitchen table. Couldn't you az %
up . lunch some chicken and
pickles and maybe some cake-we
could picnic down on the shore"
Stanley was promptly enthusiast
tic. that's . perfectly gorgeous
idea. We don't need much, honestly
We don't. Mrs. Pepper" She added
the further entreaty Of . pleading
smile.
"Well now and I might b able
to do that for you. ] haven't Il IN
my heart to send you On hungry
It being Sunday and Ill. Thsrsis
not . thing fit to eat In the place
but II you'll take Whist there t.
She hurried Oh 70 hnd . basket and
eolored paper napkins.
They carried the basket between
them TO the shore. found their own
particular cove, and dung them
selves down on The warm sand. Il
was one Of those days when the
sky hung blue and hasy overhead
and the Dir held the touch o. gently
earsssivs fingers. Il was . day In
which smoke lifted slowly and cen
tenees were left unfinished: Il VA
. day TO cling 70 and aeespt . BIT
breathlessly.
They loitered ever their lunch,
talking lazily or not talking Of I'll
content to cit there together. e
let their fingers drift through thu
warm sand. to watch the waves nd
vance and retreat upon the white
beach.
John Harmon had brought the
6fth chapter Of his novel but It lay
forgotten in his pockst-not even
90 precious : thing - his beloved
book could tntruds upon the In.
timacy Of this hour in which they
( Q y a 4 themselves, IN intimacy
which was % Intangible and deli.
eately conceived - the very magic
Of the day itself.
John Harmon law On his aida AM