Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-10-06

SfIEz31GsfNxHEsE Hasa
II want you 80 understand. Steve.
she said, that in the future
IAN right, be SID. ea0slzg his eyes
Whatever you say
Don't close gugw eyes while I'm talk
ing to you. Stevel~
ne opened his eyes. raising his brows
and Asrs Porter turned away
II won't be irritable" she thought
that's the very worst way to man
she returned to the front Of the
house 70 see II james had brought any
letters. But he had not come hack; he
was out Ia the road. IN front OF the
house next door, kicking up cloud Of
dust. She was about to go into the
house when she saw an enveiops IN his
hand.
~Jamesl" she called, and he came
running, with his elbows back and his
chin up, ike a young Indian He put
the letter on the gate post and ran off
to the back garden
She took 1t up, and at the sight Of
the handwriting she paled little Then
she tore it open.
Dear Lydia: Your letter, which I
got yesterday morning was more
than welcome. appreciate your
generous and friendly attitude, and
I am certainly anxious to recipro-
cate. II It suits you, how about my
coming cut on Saturday for lunch9
II this IS not convenient, win you
telephone me at the office before
eleven? Otherwise III be along.
Give my love Co the boys
Yours sincerely,
Stephen.
With the letter in her hand she turn
ed toward the house and she was 80
happy that she sang to herself
I'm so glad, she thought. Y could
mt bear there being any bitterness. I'm
so glad Stephen sees it as I do-that
even II love has gone we can be friends.
We can behave like decent, civilized
people. There's no i'll win between us.
We found that we couldn't i've hap
PLY together, and we've agreed 10 sep
arate, that's ALL There's no blame on
either side"
Next autumn she was going to send
the boys TO board at that nice school
while she went to Reno to get the
divorce. Stephen had agreed 70 every
thing; there had been no pickering, no
recrimination. He had himself offered
q very generous allowance to be paid
her for the cnfldren's support; he con-
coded her their custody, and she had
willingly agreed that he should see
them whenever he liked. She had g1g-
gested their spending q weekend in
the city with him, but he had thought
it would be better If he came here the
first time.
wen take the whole thing as a
matter of course he had written in q
previous letter. "When they ask uues-
TONS Just explain that you like to 1--we
In the country and prefer the city
on account OF business. Wen let them
see that we meet as friends.
The queer part Of It was that neither
Steve nor James had asked any ques~
hons. Every week Mrs. Porter told
them to write their father a nice let
ter, and they did; they always showed
her the letters 10 see II the spelling was
right, and they were the same iimper-
sonal, stilted letters they had written
10 her when they were In camp.
They don't seem to have much feel
ING, she thought. Stephen was al
ways such wonderful father to them.
was afraid they'd miss him badly at
.irst. But they've never even asked II
he wasn't coming here"
She went into the kitchen where the
,olored girl WIS cleaning the silver.
Mr.. Porter viii be out for lunch, |
Annette, +" she said. Suppose YOU make
;ome Of your nice cornbread."
ttVcg fr7ofort4 - no4[
What he want for dinner7"
lie won't be staying for dinner"
aid MRS. Porter, and she was astound- |
d to see, on the girls face, a wide grin. |
# annoyed her unreasonably; she
eft the kitchen in haste, because, of /
curse, she could not ask Annette what ]
he meant by that knowing smile.
can't expect her to understand, - /
ne thought. Its a new thing ia the
Vowld for q man and woman to be
riends. She probably doesn't believe
le Is my husband at all. Wen, what
oes it matter what she thinks2''
With the letter gttu Ia her hand she
rent out into the garden again to find
ne boys. Steve was standing IN the
ath, talking to q red-haired boy Ia q
cout's uniform.
can rightl9 Steve was saying. @But
bet you holleri"
Il bet DON'T said the red-haired
oy loftily.
All raghtlr said Steve. @Herel" And
Q passed something which the red
aired boy put into his mouth.
"Stevei" said Mrs. Porter sternly.
he started. and turned with q guilty
nile.
Come here, pleased What did you
We that boy2"
ITS Just piece Of that elephants
Y, said Steve persuasively. 1T
ouldnt hurt a fly."
The red-hatred boy spat suddenly.
i'd stood Ia the center Of the path
IT'D q smile on his face, sublime and
ntemptuous smile But his eyes were
Altering.
4 asked Pete to stay to lunch,V said
eve. rs that o. K. with yo17s
I'm always glad, dear. And, Steve
your fathers coming TO lunch"
Steve had trick Of blushing for any
use, or for none; he grew scarlet nov,
d, throwing back his head, looked upl
the Rxw