Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/110

 That afternoon they decided they would climb a mountain. It was an important day for Louella for she was about to attain one of her life's ambitions. In her excitement she forgot all about her weak heart and her fallen arches. But it was not long before these slight physical imperfections began to get irksome.

"My word!" she puffed. "Let's sit down on this log awhile."

"You don't mean to say you are tired already?" he exclaimed. "Why I don't believe we're up three hundred feet."

"It's enough," she growled. "Anyway it is my altitude record."

"Why, Louella," he said, "this isn't anything. There are mountains in South Dakota higher than the clouds. Terry Peak is over seven thousand feet and Flag Mountain is almost as high."

She commenced mopping her brow with her handkerchief.

"As far as I am concerned," she said, "it's so-much wasted space. Whoever invented mountains ought to be ashamed of himself."

He laughed. "So another of your pet desires is exploded," said he.

"Yes," said she ruefully. "And I nearly exploded too."

For the next week Louella was content to remain about the house. She and Mrs. Nordstrom spent many an interesting hour together. Mrs. Nordstrom used to pray at night that this elegant lady would remain with her always. Madame Leota knew that her presence was appreciated. That is why she did not return to her establishment at once.

One morning after breakfast she decided she would go out and walk barefoot in a new-plowed field. It was a noteworthy plan but it failed miserably for she cut her big toe on a sharp stone and howled like a coyote.

So much of an uproar did she cause, Ivan Alter came running to her.

"What's the matter?" he asked breathlessly.

"Matter enough," she cried. "My toe hurts like hell. I've got a touch of asthma and I've lost my goddam snuff-box."

Ivan scratched his head. "It appears to me," he said dryly, "that you are in an awful mess. Our grand tour has turned into somewhat of a fiasco."