Show the SILVER S I 1 L V n FLUTE by uda lida larrimore 0 macrae smith company TWO service Syri SYNOPSIS on hr her eighteenth birthday barbara motherless mot herler daughter daught cr of christopher thornt thorne lovable but impractical Wirt birtist awakes with lively anticipation of the loy joys of 0 the day she rec receives elNes anone among other presents pre ente a birthday ring from bruce young artist friend of 0 the family but more than friend to barbara barbare barbara and bruce SO 60 Pick nIcking on the sands at frev Ince town CHAPTER II 11 continued 4 its like the storm manuel tells about barbaras voice was tinged with awe you remember cruce bruce when seventeen Bev enteen men were drowned that storm came on a beautiful day thinking of manuels story made her suddenly afraid why she know it was like something seen through a fog a dim white ghost of 0 fear she shivered and pressed closer to bruce frightened he asked conscious of the shiver she nodded seeing it still the dim white ghost of fear why 1 I dont know sing to me eruce druce til ill tell you it story instead that will be nice she nestled against him sighed A happy story please child bruce thought feeling still the hurt of her unconcerned 1 I hope have a nice trip I 1 lie ie saw her fingers curling around his hand and all other emotions were lost in tenderness she was a frightened child clinging to him wanting to be comforted once upon a time he began his lips lips close to her ear there was a gypsy boy who loved very dearly a little gypsy girl irr iier face was the shape of a heart the boy thought it was a beautiful face lie ile saw it everywhere in the clouds in the forest pools in the flames of the gypsy fire re barbara listening almost held her breath was it only a story she forgot the storm forgot to be frightened arl ht was bruce talking to her they played in the woodland together he continued the gypsy boy and the gypsy girl whose face was the shape of a heart the boy dare to tell her he loved her because she was a little girl no higher than his heart and he sure that she knew about being in love barbaras heart beat fast A ring of twisted gold she pressed it against her cheek check the boy had a silver lute flute bruce continued lie ile played it only for her at night ahne the moon was shining he played for her on his silver flute the lute flute knew only one son song 9 1 I love you little gypsy girl with the roses in your hair lie ile hoped she would uDder understand the song of the silver flute ile he hoped she w would love him too she heard it singing to ID her heart the song of the silver flute it wash was amazing but it was true barbara lifted her head saw the expression in braces eyes saw and understood the smile that was close to tears touched her upa again she understands the khe said softly she knows about being in love the storm had blown itself out the wind was quiet now and sunset colors deepening into night streaked the sky in the west the storm was no longer a menace happy II appy bruce asked above the nolee noise of the engine halml 1 barbara nestled closer into the curve of his arm it all being happy she thought she felt different older quite grown up it seem possible that only this morning she had been perfectly happy because it was her birthday and there were got going dg to be presents anti and a party bruce she said thinking aloud bimm ril ill nei neier er be perfectly happy again why not he asked surprised and blittle a little hurt because she gravely explained til ill always be thinking about all th the e taxis that could run over you an and d germs and bombs and things II 11 darling darling Dg III 1 the anxiety in her voice amused and touched him go with me tomorrow he said softly dont lets walt wait 1 I bruce the she said firmly although her heart beat faster at the thought it if we put in a heater ill have to be here because anybody could cheat father and ill have to see miss abble about making S some ome dresses for gay and jamie ought to have its his tonsils out and fall house cleaning I 1 suppose he be teased dont tease bruce her hand on his arm asked him to understand you know how father Is lies iles a darling but he be just know about dresses and tonsils and things I 1 ai her voice trembled 1 I dont know how manage bruce heard a stifled sob nis his arm tightened around lier her mannge manage lie he said martha Is efficient effi clent and lie be here in the summer perhaps in a year or two we can give up the hie job in new york at christinas babbie ills his lips were against her hair it if you wont go with me tomorrow yes she be promised gravely if father mind DarIl darling Dg I 1 I 1 love you so much there were lights in the gray shingled house together they un latched the gate and walked up the path to the steps what will your father say bruce asked holding tight to her hand father loved mother very much she answered nn softly 1 I think he will understand she stood on the lowest step and the light from the fanlight fell on her curly brown hair bruce saw lo in the deepening dusk her shining dark eyes the grave grate little smile that curved hs hei soft red lips babble he asked do you hear it now the song of the silver flute ill always hear bear ILI it she said always forever and ever darling darling I 1 love you so much the front door opened and kit stood in the rectangle of light Is that you dabs babs ills voice sounded strained and hoarse what Is it she asked her heart thumping wildly with fright 1 I we kit paused and gulped p fathers drowned barbara knew he was trying not dot to cry what Is it she asked again it its father kit answered not trying now to choke back unmanly tears lie went sailing with mr loring and the wind broke the rigging ani adf the boom must have hare hit father because when they got him father Fa therl the word was a heartbroken sob all of the color ebbed out of her cheeks her eyes were tragically large oh no DO kit no tears splashed over kits thin cheeks uis ills chin quivered like a childs babs he sobbed fathers drowned CHAPTER III people were all day they came to the gray shingled house everybody was sorry and kind and anxious to help cousin evie arrived from providence and vas as installed in gays room aunt josephine she reported was just getting over one of her spells and would come as soon us as the doctor gave her permission to travel cousin EvIe was tall and thin with crimped yellow gray hair and a long pink nose in providence she was merely aunt jo se phines echo a poor relation often enough snubbed and disregarded in the gray shingled house she felt important por tant cousin julia came from augusta maine and jamie moved up with kit cousin julia felt important wherever she was because she was aunt jose phines daughter she was large and rosy and handsome and very efficient and kind aunt lola wired ired from florida where she had gone tor for the winter she was leaving at once the telegram said uncle uie herbert wired from his office in pittsburgh that business would detain him there until the end of the week after that he would start for province town ile he and aunt emma and the boys sent sympathy and love the clung to each other dazed bewildered shaken with grief the house no longer seemed their own a pleasant PICa gant friendly place it was all fit at once so painfully tidy and neat they were more comfortable out of doors there at least everything was as it had always been they sat together on the studio steps gay pressing cluse to kit jamies head against barbaras ba knee chips stretched out in the sunshine across their feet sometimes they talked about father remembering little littie things sometimes they were silent and each knew what the others were thinking though no one put it into words they were to be separated again this time perhaps forever the thought was never far from barbaras mind she grieved for father deeply and sincerely but the thought that the children might be separated was somehow harder to bear there were times when nhen she hoped duped that it happen lying awake in the I 1 low ow carved bed with gay asleep beside her she made elaborate plans she would sell fathers paintings tho the lovely ones in the attic she would start a shop in the studio hooked rugs und and china and etchings she would take boarders hoar ders in the su sunnier mier somehow she would manage to keep the children together TO HE canti CONTINUED 1 |