Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-08


Copyright. 1884: BY IDA n EVANS
ON TWO PARTS PART Two)
Valencia bought a new Navajo rug for
lher great grandmother room, aRhast the
while Suppose she never say him again !
Suppose he went out OF her lfe-tust
like this-suddenly and finaily7
But three days later she came face 70
face with him. In q Christmas shopping
crowd on Flower street in Los Angeles.
Valencia had been shopping. Her arms
were filled with packages; q clock for
her father, 8 marabou-edged dressing
gown for her 1inery-loving great-grand-
mother. q sweater for Mike, toys Tor
"leetie" babies Of the pickers.
Almost she dropped everything, clutch
ing at Russ arm.
'Russl Now you've got to listeni I've
found you'll"
He had stopped. But he drew his
would have discouraged almost any girl
except Valencia
He said, with flicker OF his eye to-
ward a movie sign across the way. An.
Queen Christina In person. Or Catherine
the Great who takes her man and flouts
emp
Don't be 50 sinyl"
'Tm not SHY. I was" He stressed
the verb. He looked at her.
valencia's own eyes dilated. She was
appalled,. That hard, stubborn antago-
nism--why, she had seen that before.
Once in the eyes OF Portuguese pick
er when bedraggled woman came TO
the fields pleading ''AGanuaii You must
come backl You mustl" He said with
finality, NO. No. Go way. / call the
boss"
And once a tiny film star. lovely as
an houri, In Russian ermine coat, while
Mike filled her car with giant poinset-
tias, pleading with the tall blonde Top
sitting beside her: Just an hour this
evening, Enrol? It Is Christmas eve
yes. dear. The bracelet Is beautiful. But
want you more than your gift His
speech was clipped, bored, final. sorry.
Can't make 1t tonight, Lame NO. Can't
Sorry. No. Can't possibly"
And her own father had left that
small pathetic doting grandmother In I
temper and he had never gone back.
Valencia closed her eyes to hide her
hurt and fright
When she opened them, Russ was gone
in the holiday crowd.
valencia was unable TO radiate cheer.
She was somber-eyed on Christmas eve.
Listlessly she trimmed the tree. Ana
on Christmas morning she did not speak |
at the breakfast table, because she was
afraid II she opened her mouth she
would sob loudly.
It was a pity that she had this self
control. GIL Reid finished his break
fast in high dudgeon, afterWard stalk
ing down from the house to the office
He tried In justice to keep IN mind that
the girl had had no mother. She was
spoiled brat But what harm did
poor Grams presence about the place do
anybody There was plenty to eat ana
to spend and God knew his acres were
enough to accommodate two women.
Gran herself in q purple silk shawl.
sat IN her chair for a long time. unob-
trusively watching the silent girls back.
Christmas dayl Gran crept from the
room IN the end, trying not to weep.
Russ Downes too was, at the same
bitterly muttering, Christmas
Day Hope it drags to an end some
time" He was lounging noodily In an
overstuffed chair In large fraternity
room He was working up courage TO
borrow fare back home from one Of the
boys. He wanted to be out Of that girls
native state.
The large room was noisy with card
games and four radios. But the clamor
luited him It covered his doldrums.
20 ne sat on hour after hour.
With q Jolt he came out Of his cloudy !
orooding. from the Gilbert Redd t
nursery VINO was talking about
hat placer
A radio was talking. Calling all cars
calling all cars disappearance
/. from Gilbert Redd nursery {
emale violet eyes may be con-
used OF mind =. G
Had Valencia run away? Part Of the q
all had been indistinct. Ii
Russell got up from his chair. More
han one Of the boys were willing to let Il
ina take a car for few hours. e
He did twenty miles in twenty-five b
minutes. There are not many cars on z
he roads on Christmas day. Ia
He slowed a little nearing the Redd is
ate and then he muttered profanely e
light IN the yard stood Valencia. talking a
18th energy to Mike. Gil Redo was gett- i
az into his car, ten yards from the two. ia
Russell sped on In self-disgust. What lei
fool he had been to get panicly over
girl he did not care to see agatnl Now %
e had seen her again and wished he b
admit. le'
Fortunately she had been too engrossed h
18th Mike TO recognize him as he pass n
The day was hot and yellow. He rode Is
q ainilessly. turning at the first cross a
lad. ~
Moody and disIikine the hot yellow =,
~, he had covered about three sun =.
azed miles when he came upon the -
title old lady. with a suitcase and q 3,
lien sable cape, sitting at the side Of =.
le road. ~
aAre you waiting for some OneP" he = =
ked.
ssDo no taxicabs pass along this road2" =, -
e asked with spirit, lifting the small -
bite head as II to defy any one who .,
ought he saw tears.
where do you wish to go?" he asked :. y,
nifty. ~
To his dismay. her thin tears became =. =.