The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-12-14

Of his companion in extemporized YER
sion Of "Auld Lang Syne" and "Stil!e
Nacht, Heilege Nacht," and blew on ms
horn with the loudest. It was peyono
question Christmas morning. NO guest
at B~ennington's could deny or 1ofget
that, and the rollicking was so Whole-
hearted that even a blase New YORK
girl should have smiled upon it. Every
one was happy but Miss Bryant.
After breakfast David interviewed
Bennington in the latter's office. Could
he get some extra skates-a pair Tor a
lady and a pair for himself? He could.
He could get anything. The hotel ana
its contents, Bennington assured aim
were his. Bennington had been rav1si1ed
by the joyous Christmas outbreak o!
all his guests. Nothing Of the sort a
ever occurred at Bennington's before.
The proprietor dreamed dreams OF nav
ing young Worse as his guest over every
yuletide.
| The storm had almost cleared by
breakfast time. At. 10 o'clock there were
only a few flakes drifting languidly IN
the still air. The wind had gone down,
too, and the sun was making an ef-
fort to break through thinning, gray
clouds.
David approached Miss Bryant with
outer alacrity and deep inner unwilling
ness. He was furious with her. BY ner
aloof and critical attitude she had
done her best to spoil his breakfast
celebration. She would have spoiled 1t
if anyone had paid any attention to
her. He decided to give her a good time
this morning. and after that he'd eade
out. He told himself he'd rather spend
Christmas afternoon and evening with
Mrs. Spencer and her cowed companion
than with the Bryants. He felt that he
loathed the Bryant girl. Hard as nails,
and so sure of herself as the devil, and
so sure of herself she probably thought
he had fallen for her like a ton of
brick. All right. She had a surprise
coming to her about that. But he faced
her with a grin left over from the
breakfast celebration.
II got a pair of good horses and a
cutter to go to the lake" he told her.
Thought p'raps you might like a sleigh
ride for a change"
Her eyes showed a momentary light.
But she spoke indifferently.
lawfully good of you," she said, and
David bit his lip. She warmed a bit
when David helped her into the sleigh
and tucked a heavy fur robe over her
knees.
"There'l be some drifts" he warned
her. But they won't bother the sleigh
any more than they'd bother the sedan.
It's not good going either way, but We'll
get there"
She smiled her superior little smile,
the n she o every time she looked
at him. She seemed bored stiff. He set
his jaw, picked up the reins and the
horses plunged ahead.
"You had a great time this morning,
didn't you?' the girl asked suddenly.
Eyes, I did"
He kept his attention on the horses.
He hoped she wouldn't talk. If she Ibid
it was ten to a hundred she'd make him
mad and spoil his morning. But his
next words popped out irrepressibly.
"You don't mingle much"
"No, I'm not a very good mixer"
You're young enough to get over
that" he told her CURLY, and added on
an impulse, you'll have to get over it
if you live in these parts"
"Oh, I don't know"
ou1e you uo1l = hIloW. 4lldCS WHY III
tellin' you"
Advising me? Thanks"
He was glad to see that she was an
noyed. He grinned and his spirits rose.
She did not speak again till they had
reached the lake. It was a nice COM
panionable little lake, and Miss Bryant
thought we'll of it. Then a sudden re-
Election struck her.
"Why, it's been cleared-a lot of it."
Sure it has. How did you expect we
were going to skate if it wasnt?"
"You mean you sent men out here
and had it partly cleared this morn
ing?"
Sure I did. You wanted to skate,
didn't you?"
You're really rather wonderful" she
said, slowly.
He stared.
"You wanted to skate, didn't your"
he repeated.
He led the horses under a tree, fas-
tened them securely, relieved their
check reins, and then, quite at his lei
sure, helped the girl from the sleigh.
Then he brushed a heavy deposit of
snow from a fallen log, signed to her
to sit down, and produced the skates.
"Can you get along on these?" he
asked as he adjusted them on her
walking shoes.
"You mean, can I skater I can. II
hope you can"
II reckon I'll manage, somehow"
He put on his W skates with care
full elaboration, stood up and held out
his hands. But she ignored them end
him. She was off like an arrow from
a bow, followed the clear space on the
lake, and giving him an exhibition Of
grace and skill that made his syes
widen. Then he averted them, swept
out on the lake himself, and, passing
her, put up an easy and competent
exhibition Of his own.
Were acting like a couple of kids"
he told himself, disgustedly as this yer
Torrance went on. But he was fed up
with her and her airs. What use was