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Show Now Everybody Nose To What Success Is Due DDIMI ILART TTQd ;dbrj DBy TTEMUPILE IBAIIILETf O PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY WNU SERVICE Much of the success of the local flower show had been due to Smith, whod organized it, and, being an ardent horticulturist, had won quite a few prizes. Later on, he was reading the report in the local paper when he jumped to his feet, with an angry bellow. asked "Why, whats wrong? Mrs. Smith, dropping her knitting. "Listen to this! he roared. "It says here; As Mr. Smith opened the show, all eyes were fixed on the large red nose he displayed. Only years of careful cultivation could have produced an exhibit of such brilliance. , CHAPTER X Continued 16 "Thats He the thing for you and Del. really loves fine stock. And you and he think of it riding over the country planning your gardens having a baby or two." Edith was going very fast. "It sounds heavenly, said Lucy. Then make it Heaven. Oh, Lucy, Lucy, you lucky girl you are going to marry the man you love. Live away from the world share happiness and unhappiness" She rose from the table restlessly, pushing back her chair, dropping her napkin on the floor. "Do you know how I envy you? She went to the window and stood And here I sit, day looking out. after day, like a prisoner in a. tower and my page sings that was the beginning of it and it will be the end." No, Lucy was very serious, "you mustnt let it be the end. You you must open the window. Miss Towne." Edith came back to the table. Her breath "Open the window? came fast. Open the window. Oh, little Lucy, how wise you are When Lucy had gone, Alice came in and dressed Ediths hair. She fourtd her lady thoughtful. Alice, what did they do with my wedding clothes? "We put them all in the second guest-suitshe said; some of them we left packed in the trunks just as they were, and some of them are hung on racks. "Where is the wedding dress?" In a closet in a white linen bag.u "Well, finish my hair and, we will go and look at it." As they entered it, the second guest-suit- e was heavy with the scent How dreadful, of orange blooms. Edith ejaculated. ,Alice, Why didnt you throw the flowers away? "Miss Annabel wouldnt let me. She said you might not want things ' touched. "Silly sentimentality. Edith was impatient. The room was in all the gloom of drawn curtains. The dresses hung on racks, and, encased in white bags, gave a ghostly effect. "They are like rows of tombstones, Alice. "Yes, Miss Towne, said Alice, dutifully. The maid brought out the wedding dress and laid it on the bed. Edith, surveying it, was stung by the memory of the emotions which had swayed her when she had last worn it. It had seemed to mock her. She had seen her own tense countenance in the mirror, as she had controlled herself before Alice. 'Then, when the maid had left, she had thrown herself on the bed, And had writhed in an agony of humiliation. And now all her anger was gone. She didn,t hate Del. She didnt hate Lucy.' She even thought of Uncle 'Fred with charity. And the wedding gown was, after all, a robe for a princess who marfied a king. Not a. robe for a princess who loved a page. A tender smile softened her face. she said, suddenly, "Alice, wasnt there a little heliotrope dinner frock among my trousseau things? "Yes, Miss Towne. Informal. Alice hunted in the third row of tombstones until she found it. "I want long sleeves put in it. Will you tell Hardinger, and have him send a hat to match? Yes, Miss Towne. The heliotrope frock had simple It floated in sheer . and lovely lines. beauty from the maids hands as she held it up. "There isnt a prettier one in the whole lot, Miss Edith. Edith, having dispatched the bo with a charming note to Lucy Logan, had a feeling of ecstatic freedom. All the hurt and humiliation of the bridal episode had departed. She didnt care what the world thought of her. Her desertion by Del had been material for a days gossip then other things had filled the papers, had been headlined and emphasized. And what difference did it all make? . ..." e, ' j Evans and Edith and Mr. Towne. Baldy, Mr. Towne wants to marry me. I havent told you before. It is rather like a dream and Im not going to think about it. I dont love him, and so, of course, that settles it. But he says he can make me, and, Baldy, sometimes I wish that he could. It would be such a heavenly thing for the whole family. Of course that isnt the way to look at it, but I believe Judy wants it. She believes in love in a cottage, but she says that love in a palace might be equally satisfying, with fewer things to worry about. Somehow that doesnt fit in with But the things Ive dreamed. dreams, of course, arent every- house? . . . Will you make cookies? had to tell you, dear old boy. "Yes, darling. Because weve never kept things "Then . I want you back. Aunt from each other. And youve been Janey made cookies, and she didnt so perfectly frank about Edith. Are know about the raisins. things a bit blue in that direction? Mother knows how to give cookie-Your letter sounded like it. raisin eyes. Mothers know Be good to yourself, old dear, and a lot of things that aunties dont, love me more than ever. darling. Well, I wish youd come back. Jane signed her name and stood He stood by the side of the bed. up, stretching her arms above her Id like to sleep with you tonight. head. It. was late and she was very May I, Mother-dear- ? tired. A great storm was shaking "Not tonight, darling. But you the windows. The wind from the may when I come home. lake beat against the walls with the But days passed and weeks, and boom of guns. Judy did not come home. And the She walsed the floor, a tense little first of February found her still in figure, fighting against fear. The that narrow hospital bed. And it storm had become a whistling pan- was in February that Frederick demonium. She gave a cry of re- Towne wrote that he was coming to lief when the door opened and her Chicago. I shall have only a day, brother-in-laentered. but I must see you. The next time she went to the Im Janey. It was a fight to get through. The cars hospital, she told Judy of his expected arrival. Tomorrow. "Ot, Jane, how delightful. "Is it? Im not sure, Judy. "It would be perfect if youd accept him, Jane. thing 1 men w half-froze- n, But Im not in love with him. "Bob and I were talking about it, Judys voice was almost painof how splendid it fully eager, would be for all of us. For all of us. Judy and Bob and the babies! It was the first time that Jane had thought of her marriage with Towne as a way out for Judy and Bob . ... "Cant yon trust the maids? are stopped on all the surface lines. How is Judy? "Holding her own. And by the way, Janey, that friend of yours, Towne, sent another bunch of roses. Pretty fine, I call it. Shes no end pleased. Its nice of him. "Gee, I wish I had his money. "Money isnt everything, Bobby. It means a lot at a time like this. His face wore a worried frown. Jane knew that Judys hos- pital expenses were appalling, and bills were piling up. I work like a slave, Bob said, ruefully, and weve never been in debt before. When Judy is well, things will seem brighter, Bob. She laid her hand on his arm. He looked up at her and there was fear in his eyes. Jane, she must get well. I cant face losing her. We mustnt think of that. And now come on out in the kitchen and Ill make you some coffee. Jane was always practical. She knew that, warmed and fed, he would see things differently. Yet in spite of her philosophy, Jane lay 'awake a long time that night. And later her dreams were of Judy of Judy, and a gray and dreadful purphantom which ... sued The next day she went to the hospital and took Junior with her. The day after Christmas. When he saw his mother in bed, "Baldy, darling; The operation Junior asked, Do you like it. Mother-ddoctor us is over, and the gives CHAPTER XI Jane knew what Judy's heart wanted. "She does miss you. I know it when she turns away from me. Perhaps I oughtnt to tell you. But I thought youd rather know. I do want to know, said Judy, I dont want them to feverishly. forget. Jane, you mustnt ever let them forget. Jane felt as if she had been struck a stunning blow. She was, for a moment, in the midst of a dizzy universe, in which only one thing was clear, Judy wasnt sure of getting well! Judy, with her brown eyes wistful, went on: Junior, do you wpnt Mother back in your own nice ear? hope. That is the best I can tell Like what, darling? to allowed see you. I havent been in the daytime? Bob let have have "Sleeping Judy, though they "I dont always sleep. She looked a peep at her, and she smiled. Does little Julia miss "Give my love to everybody. I at Jane. have had Christmas letters from me? I think about her in the night. From his hotel at the moment of arrival, Towne called Jane up. Are you glad Im here? "Of course. "Dont say it that way. How shall I say it? "As if you meant it. Do you know what a frigid little thing you are? Your letters were like frosted cakes. She laughed. They were the best I could do. I dont believe it. But I am not ' going to talk of that now. When can I come and see you? And how .much time have you to spare for me? "Not much. I cant leave the babies. Your sisters children. Cant you trust the' maids? Maids? Listen to the man! We havent any. "You dont mean to tell me that you are doing the housework. "Yes, why pot? I am strong and well, and the kiddies are adorable. We are going to change that. Ill bring a trained nurse up with me. Please dont be a tyrant. 'Tut-tu- t, little girl, she heard his big laugh over the telephone, Ill bring the nurse and someone to help her, and a load of toys to keep the kiddies quiet. When I want a thing, Jane, I usually get it. He and the nurse arrived together. A competent houseworker was to follow in a cab. Jane protested. It seems dreadfully They were alone in the living-rooMiss Martin had, at once, carried the kiddies off to unpack the Soon they were dining in a charming French restaurant. The waiter, with the first course, interrupted them. When he once more disap- Im peared, Frederick persisted. Wont you tomorrow. away going give me my answer tonight? After lunch Ill take you home and you can rest a bit, and then Ill come for you and well dine together and see a play. She tried to protest, but he pleaded. "This is my day. Dont spoil it, Jane. It was nearly three oclock when they left the table, and they had a long drive' before them. Darkness had descended when they reached the house. It was still snowing. Bob was upstairs, walking around the little room like a man in . a dream. I cant tell you, he confided to Jane after Frederick had left, how queer I felt when I came in and found Miss Martin with the babies, and that stately old woman in the kitchen. And everything going like clockwork. Miss Martin explained, and well, Towne just waves a doesnt he, Janey, and makes wand, things happen? I dont know that I ought to let him do so much, Jane said. "Oh, why not, Janey? Just take the good the gods provide. . . . Before Frederick Towne reached his hotel he passed a shop whose windows were lighted against the early darkness. In one of the windows, flanked by slippers and stockings and a fan to match, was a French gown, all silver and faint blue, a shining wisp of a thing in lace and satin. Towne stopped the car, went in and bought the gown with its matching accessories. He carried the big box with him to his hotel. Resting a bit before dinner he permitted himself to dream of Jane in that gown, the pearls that he would give her against the white of her slender throat, the slim bareness of her arms, the swirl of a silver lace about her ankles the swing of the boyish figure in its sheath of blue. He wondered if he offered it to Jane, would she accept? He knew she wouldnt. Adelaide would have made no bones about it. There had been a lovely thing in black velvet he had given her, too, a wrap to match. The evening stretched ahead of him, full of radiant promise. He knew Janes strength but he was ready for conquest. His telephone rang. And Jane spoke to him. Mr. Towne, she said, I cant dine with you. But can you come over later? Judy is desperately ill. Ill tell you more about it when I see you. Bob had cried when the news came from the hospital. It had been dreadful. Jane had never seen a man cry. They had been hard sobs, with broken apologies between. Im a fool to act like this . . . Jane had tried to say things, then had sat silent and uncomfortable while Bob' fought for Miss Martin had gone home self-contro- L be- fore the message arrived. Bob was told that he could not see his wife. But the surgeon would be glad to talk to him, at eight. "And I know what hell say, Bob had said to Jane drearily, that if I can get that specialist up from Hot Springs, he may be able to diagnose the trouble. But how am I going to get the money, Janey? It will cost a thousand dollars to rush him here and pay his fee. And my income has practically stopped. With all these labor troubles theres no And Judys nurses cost building. twelve dollars a day and her room five. Oh, poor people havent any toys. . Frederick laughed. "Well, what right to be sick, Janey. There isnt are you going to do about it? You any place for .them. cant put me out. Janes face was pale and looked But I can refuse to go with you pinched. Theres the check Baldy there was the crisp note in her sent me for Christmas, fifty dolvoice which always stirred him. lars. But you wont do that, Jane. Dear girl, it wouldnt be a drop He held out his hand to her, drew in the bucket. her a little towards him. (TO BE CONTINUED) She released herself, flushing. I Emma Lazarus am not quite sure what I ought to ' Emma Lazarus was a famous do. , Why think of oughts? We will Jewish poet and social worker born just play a bit together, Jane. Thats in New York city. Her first volume all. And youre such a tired little of poetry was published when she was only 18. Subsequently she wrote girl, arent you? His sympathy was comforting. Ev- a novel called Alide based on the erybody leaned on Jane. It was de- life of Goethe. She aided in provid- lightful to shift her burdens to this ing work and education for large strong man who gave his commands numbers of Russian Jews who fled like a king. to America. Her sonnet to the Sta- Yes, I am tired. 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