OCR Text |
Show THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING f ti' Tlio luck that had brought the Boston Lawrences to California Just jp'at the beginning of the gold rush seems to have deserted the present generation. gen-eration. From a 4,000-acre ranch, their holdings have shrunk to a small farrti and the old family home in Clipperevllle. Phil, twenty-five. Is In the flfllron works. Sam and seventeen-year-old Ariel are In school, Gail In the public library and Edith in the book department of Cllppersvllle's largest sloro. Young Van Murchtson, scion of a wealthy family, returns from Yale, jfl Dick Stebblns, Phil's best friend, has the run of the Lawrence house. Ariel Ljjls sneaking out of the house at night for joy rides. Gail, who would marry Van, feels she Is making no progress In his affections. Phil suggests In-jlfvltlng In-jlfvltlng Lily Cass, his sweetheart, to supper. Gall and Edith feel she is not "respectable," and are In a quandary. Gall goes with Van to a house party it Los Gatos with the Chipps, his uncle and aunt. She Is received coldly. t roadhouse Gail sees a drunken man helping Ariel into a roadster. Next jfllay Ariel admits she was there, and displays no remorse. Gall Is gloomy a she considers the family's outlook. She again accompanies Van to Los tJatos for a week-end visit. She meets his mother, who la very distant. ! |