Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-03-16

I
part TWO
Later in the evening Nellie fixed q
bed for Forrest on the couch IN ths
dining room. She didn't see him again
} that night. When she came down n
the morning she found him sleeping
peacefully in black pajamas with q
green monogram, and looking very
young. except for the silly mustache
John Cooper came home and she
gave him his breakfast In the kitchen
After he had gone upstairs to bed she
wondered II she should give the others
bacon and eggs for breakfast or just
eggs.
~Come here, sls,H called out Forrest.
he was lying on his back with his
hands under his head. @Sit down" He
moved over Hospitality.
Il have to get breakfast"
"Oh, talk TO 8 fellow You don't see
me every day" Nellie sat down. sore
at me, aren't your" He reached for her
hand and smoothed her roughened
fingers.
II don't understand you, Forrest"
Il don't understand you, either" he
answered. IF everybody understood
everybody there'd be no need Of faith Z"
What surprising thing for Forrest
to say. 'Do YOU have faith?" she asked
curiously.
He grinned. "Sure, why not? And
sometime, when I'm as old as daddy,
hope to have understanding, too" He
reached up and touched her smooth,
dark hair. you don't look a bit old,
MALTA 81. 40
stage"
She laughed. Nonsense. Where were
you last EVENING""
II went to see an old friend, Merton
Gladwin, of the Merton GladWin stock
company playing down town at the
Castle Lucky I went, too. His character
man is sick, and I'm going to help
him out tonight"
what do you meanP You're going
to act on the stage2" Forrest nodded.
but you can't. Not on the day your
fathers buried"
you're working today, Nellie. And
your husband win work tonight"
That's different. That's necessary"
NO more necessary than this. The |
play tonight has been advertised for a |
week Programs printed, house sold |
out. THE Square Triangle" played
IN it before. Gladwin was tearing his
hair when showed up"
But why should you act tonight Just |
to please this Gladwin?"
ut isn't Just that. Why does any one
work2 Give me my pants, there ON
that chair"
She handed him his trousers and
held them up. "Peek-a-boo," he said,
looking at her through the thin seat. /
8 9
The services at ! O'Clock brought
them into g senblance Of harmony.
People whispered, Those two men are
Mrs. Cooper's brothers. The handsome
one is an actor and the other is well
to do. Old DR.. Belts certainly had three
fine children"
When they arrived home from the
cemetery Ina's headache was 50 bad
that Rod decided to wait over another
Gay. He made her comfortable in q
darkened room, then went down to-
the kitchen.
ANY errands2" he asked Nellie. I'm !
going for a walk" ,
I'VE need bread" She gave him q !
dime from purse in the cupboard. AS
soon as she had gotten her husband !
DIFF to work, she sank down In Daddy !
Belts old rocking chair It was her ,
first real letdown, and it seemed as !
Z she couldn't bear it any longer. All
If them at cross-purposes, pulling and
hauling. Another CHASTITY meal to 60 \
through with. Rod hadn't even offered 4
o pay for the bread From the dis I
ance she heard Forrest rehearsing out +
oud. The tea kettle was boiling. She !
'oused herself, made a pot Of tea, and (
'arried it up TO Ina. t
Supper was over, and Forrest had 4
already left for the theater when Rod 3
eturned. The walk seemed to have .
lone him good. Fine night outside" I
le said brislkly. 'How's Inaa"
"She drank little tea. think she's
1sleep." r
Rod sat down to his heated-up sup s
,er walked all the way downtown Il
nd back. Come here" He lowered his n
dice so that Rita, In the kitchen, 7
ouldn't hear. taking q little envelope I
rom his pocket, he exposed three red n
Tickets for that show" 4
e muttered. II thought we'd go and "
axe the kid-give us something to do" q
IN do no such thing, Rod Bettsl s.
Vhateyer's got into you?" n
"Ohs don't know. Thinking about n
be old man, I guess. And besides, I'd
ind Of like to see just how bum an tr
ctor Forrest is" Rod grinned ma q
ciously. -
you can go If you want to. But you'n fl
OF take Rita and me" 4,
Where are we going, mother2" Rita N
-om the doorway, spied the red tickets.
Oh, are we going to see Uncle Forrest D,
ct?"
You and aren't" said Nellie II II,
ant speak for Rod" n
"Oh. mother, pleased Please let's CO." N
ita bursted into torrent Of pleading. Id
ut Nellie was steadfast. re
Rod finished his supper. Wen, make Is
, your mind I'm going, anyway ii
ooh. motherl I know Daddy Belts
ould want you to go" be
Nellie put away some clean spoons hs
owly. What would / wear If did ne
,2r ~