The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-07-13
Inc cruel red flooded her face. Thank
God he wasn't there.

- SAoSA leu AIOOOeQ ueE LACE. AI1Auk
6oo ne wasn't there.
Blu when you phoned me about the
orchids" he went on teasingly, you
sounoed-O, as Peggy Joyce might have
AZ ner first wedding. Young, excited,
VlIal-and sweet. I began to think I
Do II"
You should" she responded, briefly.
Twelve years."
Inn. Twelve! I wonder. Well, good
night. But I'm a curious man. I'll
Ellen"
Hot, cold. Hot, cold! With an arm
flung high above her head, Ellen Burke
lay In bed and did not sleep.
What did he mean? What didn't he
mean? o, ecstasy!
ECSTASY Is for the young. Not for
middle aged Stockholders. Without
ecstacy, but with an emotion almost as
desirable, Albin Dodder got aboard the
midnight special for southern Virginia.
She had wistfully asked him to &C
company her. He had smiled family.
She had seen the smile and looked hurt
Inc had said nothing more as she pack
ed.
Well, he didn't like to hurt Sara.
NOW, If that ass Wellison should spread
a story that in Sara's absence he was
buying orchids for some Broadway doll,
Sara might hear. Best be the first to
tell Sara that he'd found the box.
And in the smoker a gentle comfort
came into his heart. Sara would be-
lieve him.
And if n ray of trust is in this
messy old universe who can declare
that the darkness is absolute?
Yet that darkness is absolute was at
that moment the fixed and wretched
conviction of Barbara Corris.
For -four hours she had sat alone at a
table Whereon a small leg of roasted
lamb had CONCEALED in its own gravy
n cold peas. She was conscious only
of dull misery.
Men are blunderers. She should have
remembered that biological fact. Why
had she not taken his silly, wasteful,
votive flowers and pretended she was
pleased? necessarily they had quar-
relied lately.
Now Barbara shivered. Divorce? O,
she couldn't endure living without Fred,
Dear Fred whose kisses had once in
famed her days and nights!
She laid her brown head down on a
space of tablecloth between the platter
miserably.
A latchkey turned. Up came he1
head. Fred came sheepishly from the
hall. Apprehensively he looked at her.
Was she still angry?
Fred! Have you had any dinner?"
Sandwich in a drugstore" he NUT
tered. 1t was the beaten tone of a hus-
band who comes home because he
knows not where else to go.
20, you poor boy! Fred, it was sweet
OF you to buy them-and I was awful
to carry on as I did. Forgive met
was just"
1T was just that I was a FOOL" he
said, and the faint beginnings of cheer
fulness appeared on his face. "All the
time I was aware it was a dumb stunt"
1T was a gorgeous STUNT" she aver
red. And I'll never forget that. Dear,
We'll start afresh-we won't quarrel
we'll o, Fred, not that cold lamb! Wait
then-till I get q glass of jelly-and
some hot coffee"
The janitress of a studio apartment
building found the box, rather limp
and chilled by exposure.
Mrs. Maloney was likewise rather
limp and chilled by exposure to life
With the unsuspicious wonder Of the
poor and weary she accepted largess
from heaven. II guess Mamie won't be
married tomorrow without a bouquet
after ALL" she exulted. Even the Mrs
Maloneys dislike a flowerless wedding
for an eldest daughter.
THE END