The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-09-19
CHAPTER IV-Continued

therefore, when his meal was ready
and every last inviting touch had been
given the tray, she said casually to
Sylvia:
Suppose you take 1t up, dear?"
Ut"
YES. Why not7 Do you mlnd?"
mot at all. / just thought perhaps
you'd rather
Marcia shook her head.
Il want to stir the Newburg and see
1t doesn't catch" she explained, avoid
Ing the girls eyes. I'VE are too hun
cry TO risk having our dinner spoiled.
You might just walt and cut the chops
for Mr.. Heath and fix his potato. Find
out, too, II there Is anything more he
wants. You needn't hurry back. II.
keep things hot
The task suggested did not, appar-
emily. dispease Sylvia.
Here goes Red Ridlnghood," she
murmured, taking up the tray. All is,
# don't come back you'll know the
wolf has eaten me-"
In spite Of herself, Marcia smiled.
She opened the dor and stood watch
ing while the girl assembled the stairs,
for the hall was unlighted and the
tray heavy.
I'm safe" called merry voice
from the topmost stair.
Marcia came back into the kitchen.
She finished preparing the lobster,
Strengthened the silver on the table,
and let in Prince HAL
Ten minutes passed!
Fifteen
Half an hour went by.
She fidgeted and stopped TO pat the
setter. Then she went to the win
dow. Slowly the fog was lifting. BY
afternoon the weather would be fine
Just the right sort to get the boat off.
She would 60 up the beach and watch
the men while they worked. The
house was close. She longed for air
and the big reaches Of the out-of-doors.
A Jingle Of glass and silver! 1t was
Sylvia returning with the tray. Her
eyes were shining.
He ate every bit" she cried "Yon
should have seen him, Marcia. 1t
would have done your heart good. The
poor lamb was almost starved. He
asked for you the first thing dom.
think he altogether liked your not
carrying up the tray. although of
10 nnjifa IN ca
You explained was busy?'
Yes. But at first he didn't seem
satisfied with the excuse. However,
he soon forgot about 1t and became
gay as lark. Didn't you hear rs
laughing? The potato would fall Off
the fork I'm not as good nurse as
you. My hands weren't SO steady. I'm
going back again for his wet clothes.
We can dry them here by the fire, can't
WEI"
Yes, indeed"
.Its a pity there isn't a tailor at
hand. His suit ought to be pressed"
Il can do It." Marcia declared with
eagerness. I'm quite used to pressing
mems clothes. ! always pressed ia
sons"
This time the name dropped unno-
tlced from her lips. Indeed she was
not conscious she had uttered 1t. She
was not thinking Of Jason.
Sylvia was glad Heath was asleep
very glad indeed. She did not be-
Erudge him d moment of his slumber.
But what delightful person he was
when awake! His eyes were wonder
ful--so dark and penetrating. They
bored right through you. And then
he listened with such intentness, watch
ing every curve of your lips as II
fearing to lose word. Such attention
was distinctly flatterng Even though
your chatter was trivial, he dignited
it and transformed 1t into something
of Importance.
How interested, for example, he had
been In Marcia; in learning she lhaG
been married and now lived widow
in the old Daniels Homestead And
what most OF inquiries ne mad made
about Jason-the sort OF man he was
and how long ago he had died
Sylvia had not been able to answer
all his questions, but Of course she had
asserted that Marcia had adored her
husband because-well, not so much
because she actually knew II, as be-
cause widows ALWAYS did. Certainly
Marcia had declared she loved the
Homestead SO deeply she never In
tended to leave 1t, and was not that
practically the same thing as saying
she loved Jason, too?
Anyway, the thing that really mat
tered was Mr.. Heath's interest In her
Sylvia; In her trip east and her de-
scription OF Alton City, the little mid