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

She handed Linda a plate laden with
teacup and saucer, and bearing a slice
or toast spread with jam. Bret stood
py the hearth, half the room away.
Aunt Sarah said to Linda:
him Br ;a tells me you used to live near
20 yes" said Linda, and turned to
look toward Bret.
What followed was extravagantly
complicated, completely catastrophe.
Yet 1t happened-or seemed to happen
$50 slowly that no least detail could
be missed.
When Linda thus turned, she tripped
over her own feet. Her right foot caught
on her left. throwing her somewhat off
balance and forward. The effect of this
was to make the cup and saucer slide
almost off the plate. Linda tried to
catch them.
Beside the table there was also a
standing lamp.
Linda, sliding on the treacherous rug,
Threw out her hands in a desperate eff
tort to balance. The cup and saucer,
and the toast spread with jam, slid
OH the plate and fell on the floor.
Cup and saucer splintered, the toast
te4 ;n sdSgg i3y. stickily:
lamp twitched out Of eouiiibrium. bowed
to meet her. She embraced it, but like
an actual physical opponent, it bore
her backward as though to thrust her
down. She tried to catch herself, her
arms whirling like windmills, but the
lamp was memorable.
n table. The table was covered with
a piece of tapestry. Her fingers fastened
on l fabric, clinging desperately.
AT the same time, embracing the lamp
and clinging to the table cover, she fell.
She fell IN a sitting posture, Inc into
her lap and on the floor about her
cascaded all the objects on the table,
n tapestry as floating objects are
Waterborne over a cataract. The wreck
was complete and absolute.
Linda had sat down on the toast.
instantly she tried to get up again,
scrambling. Her foot caught somehow
IN the front breadth of her skirt, ard
as n Strengthened up the skirt ripped
left knee.
She stood there like a statue un-
yelled.
The thing. had happened suddenly,
though slowly, too. Bret had had no
time to move. but he did move now.
He leaped to Linda's side and caught
her in his arms and held her close,
and cried:
Linda, are you hurt? Linda, are you
nall KILLED? Linda, are you all right?
arms? Legs? Broken anywhere?"
T. don't know" she whipped. "I
don't know"
"Darling!" he stammered. Gosh, you
might have killed yourself. Are you all
right, dear?"
Linda, in his arms, looking past his
shoulder at Aunt Sarah, was Satisfied
with what she saw.
why, yes" she decided. "I think
I'm all right. Yes. Bret. I'm fine!"
Aunt Sarah said cr1sply: Him! Bret.
ring for Hester to bring some safety
pins for that dress. Linda have a fresh
cup of tea"
I'm S sorry" Linda protested. "1
was awfully clumsy!"
Aunt Sarah nodded a dry twinkle in
her eyes. It's fortunate you're not a
you'd never be able to milk the cows
without breaking off their horns!"
And Bret cried, in sudden illumina-
tion and delight, as though this made
them suddenly akin:
Hey, Linda! That's exactly what
n always says to mel"
When Linda presently said goodby
Aunt Sarah held her hand long and
her eyes were amused. You're a splen-
did actress, my DEAR" she said.
20 In not an actress, only a dane
err" Linda protested.
Aunt Sarah did not contest the point.
And an understanding woman, too
she concluded. Come and see me soon
again."
Bret had left his car in the garage,
and they went out to get it together.
But in the Swallowed interior Of the
garage Bret caught Linda to him, held
her close and hungrily.
Gosh, darling!" he cried. "You don't
know what a difference it makes in the