Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-10-19
CHAPTER XIII-Continued

ask you to marry me-"
"Do you know how selfish you
are, Baldy?"
81 know how wise l am"
She made an impatient gesture.
'You're not thinking of me in the
least. You are thinking of your
pride"
He caught her hand in his. 81
am thinking of my pride. Do you
suppose it is easy for me to let
Jane-take money from him? To
feel that there is no man in our
family who can pay the bills? I am
proud. And I'm glad of it. Edith
want you to be glad that I won't
take-alms.
Her wise eyes studied him for a
moment. "You blessed boy. You
blessed poet" she sighed, II am
proud of you, but my heart aches
for myself"
He caught her almost roughly in
his arms and in moment released
her. "I'm right, dearest?"
''No, you're not right. If we mar
ried, we'd sail to Italy and have a
villa by the sea. And you would
paint masterpieces. Do you think
my money counts beside your tai
ent? Well, I don't"
"My dear, let me prove my talent
first. AS things are now, I couldn't
pay our passage to the other side"
'You could. My money would be
yours-your talent mine. A fair ex-
change"
He stuck obstinately to his point
of view. 81 won't tie you to any
promise until I've proved myself"
"And we'll lose all these shining
years"
''We won't lose a moment. I'm
going to work for you."
He was, she perceived, on the
heights. But she knew the weari-
ness of the climb.
Coming out of the garden in the
late afternoon, they were aware Of
other arrivals at the Inn.
"Adelaide and Uncle Fred, by all
the gods,' said Edith, as they
peered into the dining-room from
the dinness of the hall. ooh, don't
let them see US. Adelaide's such a
BROMIDE
They crept out, found Baldy's car
and sped towards the city. 81 should
say" Badly proclaimed sternly,
that for man who is engaged, a
thing like that is unspeakable.
"Oh, Uncle Fred and Adelaide"
said Edith, easily; "she probably
asked him., And she was plaintive.
A plaintive woman always gets her
way"
Adelaide had been plaintive. And
she had limited for the ride. ''Why
not an afternoon ride, Ricky? It
would rest you"
Sorry. But I'm tied up"
II haven't seen you for ages,
Ricky."
81 know, old girl. I've had a
thousand things 4
"Tve-missed you"
1t wasn't easy for Frederick to ig-
more that. Adelaide was an attrac-
tive woman.
ooh, well, can get away at four.
Well have tea at the old Inn"
Heavenly. Ricky, I have a new
blue hat"
"You could always wear blue"
He decided that he might as well
make things pleasant. There was a
shock in store for her. Of course
he'd have to tell her about Jane.
So Adelaide in the new blue hat
with wrap that matched-with that
porcelain white and pink of her COM
plexion-with her soft voice, and ap-
pealing manner, had Frederick for
three whole hours to herself.
She told him all the spicy gossip.
Frederick, like most men, ostensi-
bly, scorned scandal, but lent will
ing ear. What Eloise had said, what
Benny had said, what all the world
was saying about DePs marriage.
"And they were married here to-
day. I didn't dream it until Eloise
called me up just before lunch.
Edith had told her"
edith was here?"
eyes, and young Barnes
She stopped there and poured the
tea. She did it gracefully, but Fred
erick's thoughts swept back to Jane
behind her battlements of silver.
"Four Jumps, Ricky?"
"Um-yes."
"a penny for your thoughts"
"They're not worth a penny, Ade-
laide. Lots of lemon, please. And
no cakes. am trying to keep my
lovely figure"
"Oh, why worry? like big men. +"
"That's nice of YOU"
Martha's little sponge cakes were
light as feather. Adelaide broke
one and ate daintily. Then she said,
"How's little Jane Barnes?"
Frederick was Immediately self
conscious. "She's still in Chicago"
"Sister better?"
"Much."
"When is she coming back?"
"Jane? AS soon as Mrs. Heming
can be brought. home. In a few
weeks, hope"
Adelaide drank a cup OF tea al
most at draught. She was aware
of an impending disclosure. When
the blow came, she took it without