The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-21

side Of the stairs, Bret on the left, n
the stairs were at least IL feet VIDE.
There seemed no least reasonable pos
sibility for a collision, and yet even
before it happened, Linda had a
dering premonition.
Bret and the woman would, under
normal conditions, have reached the
head of the stairs approximately to-
gether and side by side. But half q doz-
en- treads below. her. Bret slipped. HIS
off and his foot slapped down vio-
lently OF the step below. He was thrown
off balance, almost falling, and he half
caught himself with one hand, stag
gering, his head down, desperately try
Ing to recover his footing.
At the same time, he veered to one
side. His body fell forward faster thar
seemed that he must inevitably fall flat
on his face.
But he did not. At the last possible
moment, head down, feet scrambllng,
he butted into the woman. The butt
was distinctly below the belt, a foul
butt! A goat might have administered
The woman, thus abruptly assaulted
from the rear, bent backward like a
bow. Her feet rose from their good
solid footing on the topmost tread. She
flew through the air and alighted on
her feet, as a duck lights on land
with a little scattering run.
And turned around.
The butt, checking his momentum,
had saved Bret from falling. As the
woman turned, Strengthening her hat,
he came erect to face her, and his
countenance was a crimson cataract OF
shame.
She looked at him, moved toward
1i~e IT, &~;oJ - IoIhIo c1,ontHi~~
And suddenly she smiled reassuring-
ly and touched his arm.
"You don't need to say a word, young
you feel!"
And head high, hat still proudly in
place, she marched away.
Bret stood limp and p%aralyzed, star
arm. "Hooray for Boston!" she whis-
pered. That's a grand lady, Bret: If
your Aunt Sarah's anything like that,
bring her on"
He protested miserably: after that,
I should think you'd be ashamed to be
"1diot!" she cried, and squeezed his
arm. Even she wa so sorry for you
that she loved you. Didn't you see?
Women sort of like awkward mel, my
dear!"
But he would in no wise be COM
forted. Linda was almost impatient
with his stubborn gloom.
Bret lived with Aunt Sarah in one
Of those old, formless frame houses,
common in some parts of Brookline. He
brought Linda there today in a des-
pendent silence and ushered her in
and introduced her to Aunt Sarah.
Linda, shrewdly %appraising the older
woman, thought there was a depth of
understanding in her-and a deep love
for Bret. Just now, for example, after
one glance at him, she said acutely:
Whats the matter with you, Bret?
What mess have you got into now?"
So Bret made a confession, and
Linda watched Aunt Sarah and saw
something like rueful tears in the older
woman's eyes. But Aunt Sarah'S tone
was all evaporation.
IT declare, Bret, I don't know how
lessly. IF you can get across the room
without falling over a chair, go ring
for tea"
So Bret rang, and Linda said: HE
didn't finish the story, though" She
repeated the woman's kindly word.
Bret looked so pitifully sorry" Linda
added Smllingly' "she couldn't help for
He always does" Aunt Sarah agreed.
Some day he'll spill BURBERRY pie on
some girls white satin and look so
ashamed that she'll marry him out of
pity" She tossed her head. Its the
only way he'll ever get married" she
predicted. Hell never up and ask any
girl. Got a complex. Thinks he's the
only clumsy man in the world. Here,
Hester. Put it here"
The maid set the tea tray on the low
table before Aunt Sarah, and the older
woman poured. Lemon? And a bit of
toast and jam? There, Miss Nay