Show J B RRY SQ E LIDA LARRIMORE wm service CopT cortright right macarag selth co CHAPTER vill 13 cella cell waited impatiently in the shadow of the lilac bushes beside the gate at the tha end ot of the garden tom had said that he would come in halt half an hour it seemed an eternity since the site had crept quietly out into the dark if tom come I 1 I 1 sue she nas frightened desperate the devil of doubt and ills his fifteen brothers marched in a fiendish fl procession through her mind hush hugh was in love with janle janie something had happened this afternoon janie had lak fown n downstairs she wore at supper a bandage and a blissful smile talle cella celia needed to be told in words word janies face was enough and hughs expression as he pushed in tier her chair at the table janle janie had taken hugh away from her how flow had it happened how could he prefer brown little janle janie celias nails tilt bit sharp crescents into the palm of her hand she had to get away she stay on in mulberry square with rather father a cripple and mother econom economic iz in ins and people talking and hugh in loe ione with janle janie tom must take her away california she had never traveled only stupid trips with great aunt rose it might be pleasant tom had always loved her would he take her HP he must she grew very fond of tom as she waited for him in the shadow of the lilacs ilacas ile he was in his way quite as good looking as hugh every one predicted a brilliant future for tom senator mcallister governor mcallister the governors lady slie she would advance toms career be a perfect hostess entertain distinguished people ile he owes it all to his wife lovely little thing there were voices in the garden hugh and janle janie walked towards her under the arbor cella drew back further into the shadow of the lilacs im going with you janie said as they passed very close to cella celia do you feel like driving that far im going with you everywhere I 1 always janies voice was cella celia felt very lonely crouching there in the shelter of the bushes it hurt her to see them walk together through the gate hughs arm was around janle janie her ter head with its white bandage rested against his shoulder janio janie was secure it was cella celia who was frightened desperate how had bad it happened plain little janie pretty celia everything in the world was most decidedly wrong she heard the engine of the car they called horatius Horat lus fus she felt lonelier than ever it if you are pretty you can take what you want from life that theory worked out very well tell what was the matter with the world cella celia tom had kept his promise relief surged into her heart she gaie gae him both of her hands the idea of having me meet you here he looked at her searchingly in the glow flickering dickering in from the corner light 1 I feel like rachels gentleman friend something has happened the silver harp strings quivered are you consulting me professionally he asked in the teasing leasing voice which celia could never quite understand youre trembling dear the teasing vanished there was a tenderness in ills his voice your hands are cold im miserable she said brokenly tell me about it celia drew a long quivering breath hugh Is in love with janle janie she lifted her face dampened with dew wan and wistful she thought that the bile must look very appealing 1 I know that tom said quietly so I 1 must go away celias cellas hands crept up to her heart beart janle janie Is my dear little sister her happiness means everything in the world to me I 1 cella celia cella cellar I 1 she drew away from him her head bead lifted proudly no one understands she said in ID the patient voice of a martar there li Is no one who understands 1 I understand my dear there was only tenderness in toms pleasant voice ue ile drew her close to him of course I 1 understand ills gentleness disarmed her 1 I am unhappy she sobbed knowing that with him she could not pretend take we me away with you please lease take me away from it all would you go with me cells celia yes her eyes were wide and imploring you must take me I 1 cant stay here ile ho was silent for a moment would you marry me cella celia he asked gravely avely er tonight bonig tonight hul there was just then no thou thought ailt of the future in her mind she wanted only to get away to climb out of tills this predicament with some credit to td herself yes she said yes tom ill marry you now tonight she raised her lipskie lips JIe ae kissed them gently the scotch in me tells me m to let you work it out alone he said presently fear returned a sinking sensation you tom role 1 I lie amended the irish in me has always loved you too much then you will take me with you she waited breathlessly for his answer it seems like taking an unfair advantage l she swayed toN towards ards him tier ter hair brushed ills his cheek site she felt him trembling she knew that she had won yes lie he said IT ill take you with me im feeling all irish tonight II 11 janie janie roused from a pleasant dream opened tier her eyes with a start she fancied that some one lind had called her dreaming of course she glanced at the illumined dial of the clock quarter of three I 1 she turned over yawned dawned burrowed her head in a the pillow janie I 1 this time she sat up and listened it a dream hugh was calling her lie ile was rapping at the door Jan janie fel yes she answered como come to the telephone dear hugh was calling her dear in that tender intimate way she forgot to wonder why some one should be telephoning for her at quarter of three in the morning hugh was calling her dear I 1 she sat on the edge of the bed drowsy ecstatic totally unconscious of the chill in the air its long distance hurry flurry dear she tucked her toes into tiny slippers fastened the cord of her quilted kimono and opened the door hugh went downstairs with her she wonder much about the telephone call ile he loved her that N was as the only matter of any importance in all the world I hello lello she called drowsily into the transmitter cellas celias voice angil anew ered from here very far away celias news somehow did not seem beem tremendously exciting janle janie talked for a few minutes she placed the receiver on the hook she glanced up at hugh celia Is married she said harried 1 hugh echoed the word and yawned dawned again she and tom were just married janie explained somewhere down in Il maryland aryland leaving tomorrow for california janle janie added celia said she left a note for me celia would hugh actually smi selled ledL where did she leave it he asked under the bowl of lilies of the val ral ley on the piano appropriate hughs smile broadened into a grin cella celia would he repeated the note was short janle darling now that I 1 know bow matters are there Is nothing left for me to do except go away your happiness means more to me than anything else in the world tom seems to need me I 1 shall go with him dont let any thought of me sadden your happy hours cella celia it sounds sad it janle janie nestled closer to hugh and brushed her cheek against the shoulder of his dressing gown artistically sad hugh said there was quiet in tile the living room janle janie knew ashy cella celia had bad done d 0 ne it she bear that anyone should think hugh had preferred her she hoped that celli cella would be happy it seem fair to tom but tom she thought could take care of himself colia celia could never deceive him alth ith her poses it might after all be a very good thing for belld what are you thinking hugh asked softly 1 I dont think tom really needs her janie answered cut but the irish in him has always her ile he must have been irish tonight will your father mind hugh huch asked stroking with a caressing finger the peak of her brows father likes tom janle janie answered thoughtfully mother will probably be upset because of old thomas and all she glanced up at him an anxious question in her eyes do you mind hugh poor cella I 1 he said gently the last small lingering doubt vanished forever janle janie sighed blissfully the question was answered there was peace in her heart CHAPTER IX father was coming homel home I 1 that was the first thought which popped into janies head as she opened tier lier eyes one morning late in june she pattered over to the window and curled herself up on the seat the kun CUD was shining ant and the sky was a lovely blue rather father was coming hornet home uncle bradford was to drive into the city to meet them janie hugged her pink pajama knees rather father would be homo home for dinner at one ocl it nice its such a beautiful day she said laid to hugh at breakfast great I 1 lie he swung her up from the floor and kissed her brow where wh r 0 the chestnut hair dipped in a peak you tnt nugh hush she protested liking it very muth much why not noar it dignified its nice ile he set bet her down in the chair at the head of the table behind the coffee urn now mrs kennedy he said with a crinkly smile you can be as dignified as you like the brightness failed faded out of tier her race face it was grue and cry anxious dont call me that she said tier her voice catching a little dont you like the name hugh pretended to be offended its a lovely name she looked up at him with the sunshine slanting in across tier her hair a brown little girl with a shining look in her wide set hazel eyes only it scares me im afraid something will happen im afraid it cant possibly be true it Is true janie lie he said gravely 1 I love you little fellow janie glanced around the familiar old dining room bright this morning with sunshine at kiltie curled up on the floor beside tier her chair at mrs quillen puffing in with a plate of muffins at hugh smiling down at her with a tender expression in his ruddy brown eyes she thought that today father and mother were coming home she drew a long deep breath if is any nicer than this she said in a hushed sort of voice 1 I simply stand it the alie old brick house was filled all morning with a great bustling and stir janie scurried about in a frenzy of excitement with the small black dog at tier her heels libels there was only one thing to mar tier her happiness it seem right that celia should be so far abay an ay on one of her frequent trips I 1 ell L artistically sad hugh said upstairs she peeped into the cream and lilac room she make it seem possible that cella celia was married to tom mcallister that cella celia would never be just celia again cella celia had been a trial but she miss missed ed her she wished that tha t celia were home people came with offerings it was as agala a kala day in the square I 1 its not much said mrs bangs ban s the elder presenting a mound of 0 a delicacy known as apple float its lovely sirs mrs bangs 11 gay little laughing notes sp sprinkling themselves through the air thank you very much I 1 you may find it a trifle sweet mrs bangs lingered in the hall h all 1 I told annie to use twice tice as much sugar as the recipe calls for so you think we was stang stingy the apple float was more than a trifle sweet kiltie to IP the privacy of the alne screened kitchen porch enjoyed it very much all morning the doorbell rang roses hoses mrs Quille nl janie uncovered a box of fragrant pink blooms sirs mrs leland did you ever see so many danyl ivery every last vase to in the house Is full up now worried sirs mrs quillen who was enjoying the excitement atwould Tw seen seem a shame to cut them handsome stems the umbrella jar janle janie dragged it out of the hall closet a hideous affair of mottled green china which nicely accommodated the expensive v e stems of mrs lelands delands Le lands roses you do beat all janle janie mrs quit ten len admiringly observed it if a brass band was needed find so methin that would do it was a gala day in the square all morning the offerings arr arrived led miss ills ellie brought custards bustards cus tards baked in pottery cups old thomas brought the first strawberries from his garden tony silver brought an indigestible looking cake iced with leill swirls of bright pink frosting the general brought baroug lit three geranium blooms which he had probably borrowed when the owner was not around great uncle charlie brought his last iasi bottle of sherry wine there was an air or of suppressed excitement about great uncle charlie today what time do you expect them 14 asked about twelve janle janie au answered wondering if 1 It could possibly be true that father was coming coining home think ill stay the old man said if I 1 wont be a bottler bother youre never a bottler bother janle janie embraced him warmly she help hugging bugging people today hugh come in durins during the morning with a man mail who carried a be box what Is it janie asked this Is my present tor for the doctor hugh smiled at tier her sparkling eyes A radio you think of everything ever thing hugh she clung for a moment to his arm you taught me young fellow the radio ing ns installed in the room which had once been the parlor janle janie surveyed it with some satisfaction it does look cheerful she said its great hugh agreed well try to make up to him for ei aei era thing 1 I can if help me ile he held her close youre a ery good little egg not that she mid very softly call we me darling hugh birling Pir Darll ling Dg lie whispered with ills his lips against tier her hair they were lost to the rest of the world they did not hear the front door open and close they were totally unaware of an audience until a voice asked from the doorway cant you lavish a little of that on me celia was standing between the por cleres celia faintly tanned from the california sun cella celia in a smart new suit stilt and buckled slippers and a mam moth corsage of violets janle janie ran to meet her they clung to each other both talking at once hugh was forgotten for a moment ile he lit ht a cigarette ile he said nothing at all my husband had bad to stop at the office cella celia before the mirror repaired the ravages of janies enthusiastic greeting ile he sent me on in a taxi your hus husband bandt 1 janle janie echoed it seems so strange she searched celias face to see if she were really happy she appeared to be celia looks like the cat that swallowed the canary janle janie thought there are feathers all over her chin were going to be friends hugh cella celia extended a slim gloved hand of course hugh took the hand baud she offered bent to kiss her lightly on the cheek the tan Is becoming he be said you look almost real tom adores beaches celia remarked with the wifely air of ingher angher husband in the most dulcet of tones iles hes as brown as an indian did you know F father and mother were coming home today janie to the tha detriment of the violets was embracing clia again what a little cyclone you are 1 I C ella celia gently disentangled janies arms tom knew lie he simply dragged me away from california we flew part of the distance tom la Is a masterful ma man 11 celia looked to be happy she greeted tom prettily nhen hen he arrived halt half an hour later at the old brick house tom was obviously very proud ot of his beautiful wife it was quite as obvious that he did not intend to let her rule him ills manner towa towards r ds celia was still half tender and half teasing A good thin thing for celli janle janie thought and a messed good thin thing for tom they all talked at once in the excitement cit ement the real event of the day was temporarily overshadowed cella celia since her first birthday had contrived on every occasion to hold the center of the stage the clock was striking twelve when G great reat uncle charlie bounced into tile room coming he announced with his air of suppressed excitement increased a hundredfold ily illy sainted aunt marial maria im glad im not aslee asleep pr there was a rush and a scramble rambla sc towards ards the door they gathered la in the open doorway people were assembling dembling sem bIlD bling from all parts of |