The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-05-21

sometimes talked to- Roxna. Never
to soul would Rogna repeat word
of IL.
Mothers returned7" Agnes asked
her.
"0h. yes Mr.. Braddon just phoned."
Agnes started. Rod7 Was he re-
turning?
Mr.. Judson Braddon,' Rogna said.
What did he say?"
"He is coming out. He did not In
quire whether or not you would be In.
Miss Agnes; he said to tell you he
WIS coming out. He will drive"
Twenty miles through this snow
thought Agnes. Jeb would
Also Mr.. Gleneith has returned TO
the city. He will be home on his
train.'
Motherl thought Agnes.
DO you require me, Miss Agnesr
NO. Look after Mother, Rogna."
"Oh, | Wilt"
The two girls gazed at each other,
both knowing There was no sense
whatever In Agnes pretending before
Rogna. "She mustn't use rouge, Rog-
ma. Don't let her. lit doesn't be-
come her; and 1t won't do her any
good =
Lying in the deep, warm water In
her bath OF palely tinted porcelain,
Agnes shut her eyes and saw, not Rod
on his train travelling away from her.
but Jeb forcing his car toward her
through the snow. She could see him
strain and laugh and swear when he
skidded. but come on, on. ON to her,
whatever tried to hold him. Even In
her imaglnings, he stirred her. Come
on. Jebl Oh, come onl
'Rod-dear, dreaming Rod. I'd like
to love you'll would; but don't"
And he hadn't so much as let her
say 1t.
1t wasn't the fact that Jeb was MAX
Ing money, and Rod nearly none. that
widened the difference between them.
For Rod was right about It; money
did not rule desire
Money might be one of the factors
that destroyed 1t. Money--or at least
the epoch of their marriage In which
the most money had come-was sep
arating her mother and father.
Before a mirror on the other side
OF that wall between their rooms, her
mother frantically was trying to make
herself more attractive to Father. and
to look younger. But Rogna
would watch the rouge Rogna would
not let Mother look ridiculous to Fa-
Their when he came home-ridiculons
to Father, who used to kiss her when
they Rugged Agnes between them In
the big bed OF the house where Moth
err had been a bride.
Oh. what was iove7
huge boar hound. had affectlonately
knocked his hat of, and he carried 1t
crumpled. Cravath, the butler. had
opened the door.
I'D evening, Crasath. Hello,
Light Onel"
That meant her and no one else. Al
ways. as long as she could remember.
1t had been Fathers greeting Light
One! Dark Onei His two daughters
his two babies once. Beatrice al
ways had been dark. like Mamma; Az
mes light. like himself.
Dark Onel Light Onei Dark One
Light Onelr he used to accent ip
rhythm as he tossed and caught his
children In turn before he kissed them
DARK One Light One land shooed
them away.
He bent and kissed Agnes now, care
full to keep his snowiness from her
dress. Hello. Light One!' he re-
peated "How's Dark OneY'
"Oh, she's fine. Fatheri-
How're the busters?"
"Father, they're wonderful
Good. Where's your mother7 IMP
Eyes. Father. she's In"
Good"
Cravath had taken hls things and
disappeared, leaving father and daugh
ter alone before the fire. Agnes liked
to have him linger with her. but the
thought OF her mother. waiting fol
him. tortured her. There had been {
time when, II she had not met hin
at the door, he would have leaped uI
the stairs. two steps at time, TO fine
what was the matter.
Now he stood. back to the fire, with
out Impotence. He had been ava,
for week In New York City; ant
his daughter. swept az she was witt
affection for him, and with pride Ii
him. and with gladness In all her mem
cries. could not down disturbing
doubts What had he done In New
| York during seven days - and eve
| nings and nights?
He was full Of feeling; and hov
| good-looklng he was! You could no
possibly think OF him as GRANDPA
| Their.
! He was now within two years 0
fifty, and he didn't appear forty. Fl
honestly didn't
His hair was as youthful as Agnes
own. He differed from hers, however