Show the ine SILVER SIL a FLUTE U by lida larrimore 0 macrae company sc service ivIce SYNOPSIS on her eighteenth birthday barbara motherless daughter of christopher thorne artist awakes with anticipation of 0 the joys of the tha day she receives a birthday ring from bruce lifa maclalan MacL cLain aln young artist friend of the family but more than friend to barbara barbara and eruce bruce go eo ing on the sands at Province provincetown town he tells her a story of a gypsy boy a little gypsy girl whom he loves and the song of a silver flute she knows it Is 1 her own love tale her happiness turns to sorrow when she returns home to learn her father has been drowned CHAPTER ill III continued 5 the plans seemed possible at night lying awake with gay close anil and warm beside her in the morning hovi however eier with cousin julia managing every 1 thing thine a and ad cousin evie acting as though she ti u ere no older than gay the plans would seem silly and childish bit by bit hope would vanish and her heart would feel heavy as lead she seemed visibly to grow thinner the color left her cheeks and her eyes were tragically large bruce who had postponed his return to new york was constantly at the Thor neV but he seldom saw barbara alone she seemed content in a measure only when she was with the children loving her it hurt him to know how completely they filled her mind even when occasionally he held her in his arms he felt that she there something had gone the warm loving part of her which for a few hours had been his was now absorbed by the children he felt hurt and helpless and left behind in his studio bruce spent many sleepless hours was the she old enough he asked himself did she know how deeply he loved her had he be let himself in for unhappiness ile he asked her none of these questions loving her deeply he tried when he was with her to forget for the moment ills his own disturbing emotions lie he knew she was glad that he had postponed his return to new york when he left her at bedtime she clung to him the gray shingled house filled with flowers there were mere all sorts of 0 letters and cards mr tubbs the postman brought a letter from uncle stephen it was a very nice letter barbara read it to the children as they sat on the studio steps uncle stephen had seen in a paper the letter said an account of fathers rs dest death he be sent sympathy to his little fillette a allette nl Tl lette gay wanted to know french for goddaughter barbara explained Is he a frenchman asked jamie to whom frenchman meant the french canadians who lived in augusta maine blaine of course not att answered dont you remember how father used to tell us that lie he was the only other american besides mother and fattier father in the town where here babs was born the children talked in low voices about father barbara read the letter again it was nice and friendly she thought she lingered over the concluding sentence if a crusty old bachelor can be of assistance please let let himi him know now fit at once A crusty old bachelor then he married and he must be older than she had thought but he sound crusty fillette was a charming word saying it over made her feel that she knew uncle stephen my little fillette nl lette she tucked the letter inside her blouse and felt she had found a friend and then on a day so blue and golden so filled with sunshine and gentle wind and the smoky fragrance of autumn that it seem possible there could be sadness in the world they left father beside mother in the cemetery on the hill the house seemed desolate when they returned too quiet too tidy and neat father was gone that evening they sat around the living room hearth it gre grew chilly when the sun went down dovin and bruce had built a fire cousin ei eio ie had gone to bed with a headache cousin julia in jamies room upstairs was writing a letter to cousin will the children were glad to be alone barbara told them about the plans she made at night lying awake in the low carved bed the children accepted them with enthusiasm thusia sm 1 1 I can get a job after school kit said his face brighter than it had been since the day of the thel arm gorm dicky woods says I 1 can be his delivery boy jamie announced from the hearth rug ive already asked him about it if martha goes ill do the dishes guy gay said nestling close to kit her head against his shoulder stout fel bellai fella laI 1 kit said softly know ing bow gay hated washing dishes and dusting and making beds beda other people he haie shops barbara continued loving the children for wanting to help hell she lifted her face to bruce feeling hopeful wanting to be assured we could we bruce it a sensible plan dont you think we could bruce smiled but his eyes were grave what a child site she was no older than gay making her fairy tale plans it he could bear it for her the certain disappointment she was too small to dear it herself too young in spite of her courage it if he could bear it for her he be loved her he bored her so much the plans seemed possible talking about them in front of the ore fire sur bounded by that were familiar and friendly and dear they be separated they could stay in the gray house and then she know knew that they the plans vanished like bubbles touched by a careless it hand and cousin julia rosy and handsome and very kind appeared at tile the living room door ten she said in the brisk cheerful voice that made barbara feel small and rather foolish time for tired biddles to be in bed we cant can wo we bruce barbara I 1 a r asked when the children marshaled by cousin julia had gone upstairs to bed we cant stay here together im afraid not babble abbie ri he be answered his face very troubled and grave 1 I guess I 1 knew it all along she said wearily fairy tales ner fler voice quivered looking down he saw that her lashes were ere jeweled with tears dont mind so terribly darling please try not to mind so much 1 I 1 I cant help it bruce ue ile knew that she help it ile he knew that words were useless lie ile held her close wanting to bear it for her racked by her shaking sobs gradually the sobs grew less she sighed and then was still so still that he thought she had gone to sleep cut bu t presently she stirred bruce yes darling when are aou ou going back to new york tomorrow she clung to him for a moment then raised her head from his shoulder 1 I dont suppose she paused X 0 1 yes she sighed contentedly now were really engaged and he saw in the firelight a faint pink flush creeping into her cheeks what babble 1 I dont suppose iler her eyes w were ere suddenly shy you take us with you kit IM and gay and jamie and me why cabbie no I 1 suppose you she was grown up now and reasonable too reasonable for her years shoes and things are expensive and boys cat such a lot but I 1 can take you bruce brushed the soft hair back from her brow you and I 1 in my studio we cat cac count the stars through our skylight and every morning for breakfast ill slog sing you a brand new song iler her eyes brightened A little smile touched her lips bruce she whispered A new one every dayl and a special one for sunday he promised loving the shine in her eyes it faded away leaving her forlorn you bruce I 1 have to think of the children she squared her shoulders and lifted her firm farm little chin im the oldest no one at all but me kit IM hates it at uncle herberts site she steadied the quivering of her lips they tease him because lie ho wants to be an artist uncle herbert will probably make him sell life insurance or something he like and kits so splendid bruce lont dont you see and aunt lola is so silly she lives mostly in hotels since uncle george died that good for a child like gay and ezmie camle she paused and drew a long breath dont babble bruce said gently youre so tired dont think about it tonight 1 I cant help thinking youve seen it bruce the way jamie looks at chips cousin jolla jalia wont have a dog in the house ashes kind of course but she know about boys and jamies so funny and dear but what can you do something I 1 dont know bruce felt a vague sort of fear she looked so small and determined so very dear in her velveteen frock with its childish white collar and culls cuffs it II he be should lose her babble he held her closer afraid she might slip away it if you can caal manage it come to me yes bruce it if I 1 cant lie he wanted to be further assured very gently he changed the birthday ring from lier her right hand to her left now were engaged he said yes she sighed contentedly notor no were really er engaged 1 tto TO B bill CONTINUE Ol |