Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 199: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRAVE AND THE FARE. ‘“T never wore silk before!” she admit- ted, “‘ at least not often, and—” she looked at Lillian and checked herself suddenly. “Qh, excuse me! You don’t know what it is to wear silk, do you? I didn’t mean— I—” she stopped, confused, and turned away. Lillian laughed. She had only explained that she,-too, was on her honeymoen. “T’m not really a servant!” she said. “These are not my clothes, but some I found, and Jack and I are—”’ Amy, slipping into her nightgown, still marked with the creases from the box in which it came, had not heard her. “ Aren’t these sibbons pretty?” she demanded. Then she rose to her full four feet ten of stature. “And am I not cute, and ”—winking— 66 thweet! bP “Very!” — Lillian adjusted the garment to its wearer. “I started to tell you,” she began, patiently, but there was another dis- traction. ' The door opened and Hubert breezed in. “ All garaged and everything!” he shouted; then puffed a bit as if he had been running. Amy, with a bound, was in the bed. Lillian rose, hesitatingly. Hubert stood looking at her, not realizing he was staring. Embarrassed suddenly, Lillian started for ‘the door. ‘ You are through with me?” she ventured. “Yes!” There was relief in Hubert’s voice. ‘ Yes!” he repeated. Jack was pacing the kitchen floor as she returned down-stairs. At once the mater- nal welled up in her. “You poor boy!” she exclaimed. must be famished!”’ For the third menu she found lamb chops, and there were plenty ef potatoes. The fresh vegetables which could be cooked quickly were exhausted, but she picked a good brand of canned spinach. The lettuce was gone, but in the icebox were artichokes, deliciously cold, and there was a great sup- ply of mayonnaise. Jack, indefatigable or stubborn, reset the table. At about’ two o’clock both were seated before the steaming meal. Lillian cut into her chop and ate it me- thodically, telling herself that she must eat, necessarily. But she suddenly discovered ‘You O81 s that she had no appetite. The events of the evening, following the long day irf the car, and the excitement of the early wed- ding, all had been too much for her. - She looked over at Jack, and for a mo- ment thought he was neglecting his dinner also, but as she glanced at him he took quite a large bit of the meat and smiled with very evident delight. “You sure are a woneertw cook!” he exclaimed. Pleased, she bent to her own plate again, but it was almost hopeless. She felt as if she never wanted to eat again. Finally she gave it up. Watching Jack, she suddenly realized that he, too, had lest his hunger. Whenever she glanced toward him he hurriedly took something, but when ‘she looked from the shelter of her lashes she caught him eying his plate with a baf- fled expression which entirely matched her own feelings. She laughed, and after a moment he joined her. Before them lay the splendid dinner, practically untouched! She went over and climbed into his lap. So tired was she that her laughter was close to hysteria, and only the near presence of Jack quieted her. But it was an ‘uncom- fortable position in the chair, and soon they realized the extreme lateness of the hour. for the chill ef night had penetrated the house. They made their way up-stairs on drag- ging feet. He started fer ene of the front rooms, but she reminded him, with a slight smile, that they were servants, and that their clothes were in the rear. The two lit- tle rooms seemed cheerless, with little choice between them. On the verge of de- spair, she went to the window; then sud- denly uttered an exclamation and called him to her side. The rain was over, and a big moon, full and low in the sky, cast a silvery sheen over the trees. She clutched his arm. ‘“ Can’t we get away from here new, dear? It’s—it’s un- fair to have the first day of our honeymoon — upset like this!” He straightened. a jiffy, with the rain over, and a little light. Ill see if I can find an electric terch in that other fellow’s machine, or the garage, and we'll be away in no time!” COLM G AOOLK “T can fix the car in| COlini