The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-17

flies were beginning to come IN. She
had lowered the window-and Il
had remained lowered throughout
the entire, sitting day.
Why hadn't Mrs. Wade raised II
put in the screen? Caroline flew
downstairs for the answer. She
had seen no one when she entered
the house, but that was not unusual
Is Mrs. Wade should have been in
the kitchen, and her mother VA
very probably on the porch. .
Caroline wondered what che
feared. Was there anything, OF
was she just ). just = little OF hel
balance because Of Howard's mar
riage? Howard-married! The
words had beat . fiendish chorus IN
her brain from the moment NAL.
colin had told her-unlnowinR Of
what it would mean to her-that
this was Towards wedding day.
She threw open the hall door b
the kitchen in almost . panic Of
dread. Mrs. Wade was not there,
It was Alva who stood before the
gas range, lighting the burner I'M
der the tea kettle.
Alva turned, and Caroline cried
out: Mother, what has happened?''
for Alva's eyes were red With weep:
ing and her lips tremblsd with the
nervous effort she was making q
control her emotions SWher0 ID
Jenny?" Caroline added.
"Your father let her co."
"But why -" tho girl faltered,
did not 60 on.
"He says there's no money TO pay
her." Mrs. Rutledgs explained bit
terly.
whirling with the dire possibilities
her mothers words suggested.
81 know We can't get alone
without her, but he says we must,
Alva went on. @We're 70 have her
for the laundry, that's all"
There was . stool by the sink.
Caroline sat on it, silent.
After . moment Alva said: "Do
you mind having Just . salad and
tea for dinner?"
"No," Caroline said in . dull.
tired tone, "I1l help YOU"
She got up and put . salad bowl in
the refrigerator to chill and plates
with it. "Where is fatherl" she
asked.
II don't know, but I'm afraid he's
gone to his bootlegger. We won't
wait long for him. You look aw-
fully pale, Caroline. Go up and get
into something fresh before din
ner."
"When I've washed the lettuce, -
Caroline replied. ut isn't washed.
il it,"
.No, but I'll do it. You do look
tired. but it's too hot upstairs for
You to say in your room. Lie on the
couch on the porch for . few min
utes. I'll bring the things out.
Caroline did not seem 70 hear.
She went on working, preparing the
lettuce, putting it on the ice in . wet
cloth. to crisp. Then she went up
stairs for . shower. When she
came down, clad in cool cotton
lounging pajamas, she looked ct her
mother with . question in her eyes.
Alva was nervous. upset, but OBJ
viously struggling TO Be calm.
Why? Plainly she had given way
before Caroline came. And she
had been increasingly querulous
for weeks. It was unnatural for
her to say so little about losing Mrs.
Wade; to Be, al ct once, more con-
siderate Of others than Of herself.
Suddenly m explanation flashed
across Caroline's mind. She
turned back from the door TO the
porch. Have You heard3" she
asked quietly. shat Howard Is
married!"
Alva was slicing . lemon. The
knife slipped and she cut her finger.
Caroline took . snowy handkerchief
from . pocket in her pajamas and
tied it up.
Caroline's eyes were averted
when she said: "You couldn't keep
it from me forever, you know,
darling"
Alva was astonished that she said
it 80 quietly, not realizing for the
moment that wounds il The heart
may be hidden from the eyes. She
talked, now, more freely than she
would had she known how each
word made the wound more jareed.
the pain 50 hard e bear that Caro-
line wondered how long she could
endure It in sil1neo.