Show CM VA maicy SCHUMANN illustrations ba vu se T ice SYNOPSIS aeria marsh petty selfish and tren taren t rome in corinth from school ta is met m t by her older brother 11 hugh gh A A K ariles her to the 1 I marsh hoe borne wb ere t widad mother fluvanna FI uvanna a warm lamed dried acif sacrificing sacrifice g and understanding her aeria sister mar liar welcomes I 1 obi and matronly with the 1 care fw e children as is at lunch luch with them of three ree sh wire wife dome has pleaded a engagement un on the way back to hn his w founded by one of 0 E t the e steel teel plant orel tars hugh paw passes doc hiller II Iler a 0 friem wh h m he no IOE longer sees eltse of n Dorri dorrias cs antipathy fitly flown dwinna jarsh M wakens the next net morning mornin g TI i a brearn about her late husband jini jim the she fears kez kezia 1 who tec unstable character lacter 3 i inherited ellen rend leton comes over his artistically artistically inclined girl who is a slit i is an n niece of she happily telis alli fluvanna the hai has become engaged to burdue ellen r fears fean that her father jim and lizzle lizzie will not sod rf mother kotlier mot lier gavin cavia improve the snatch t A hugh and dorrie dome go to the F ze farms to dance with 1 c their ac friends lun cun sad nd joan whitney ho he hat has been out of work ha has landed a new position cun and divri amt aee together and then disappear for a while dancing with JoanI joan hugh rugh is amazed 0 o toa fia her W in tears te apparently APPrent ly the has fmc ret borr worry y over her husband r VIB ellen and jerry erry speak about their nt to ellens parents pl renti lizzia is ii limn nuble until jerry sympathizes with iff misa ailments the matter is il left felog unexpectedly hush hugh hn has to visit vish I a cita on business return kg onroe anine to ask dorrie dorric to accompany him t ana her telephoning in concu confusion sion she he r q bwy i ban lianes up without saying good by st binally anrrea w to a accompany him the they y f a d daiy diy y and hush hugh is hippy i A at family party kezia ezia encounters jerry they itty had bad met a few evenings before at the freeland barms elten r llan i is disturbed when jeny imy is u absorbed by kezia IV continued Contin ucil 5 kehias hair had been in soft curls oil all over her head an effect i chich aich looked natural yet had taki ca B time to achieve she wore a amt white organdy dress with a bits scarlet chiffon handkerchief ef drawn through a bracelet just two tables of bridge you bow at art and HZ hugh over si there here hugh put up the card i tables like a love she said marry Y berj and will platt and mrs tig marsh dorrie beside the many xa w ad aid dorrie had been very cora dial had said to jerry welcome to 0 o the family her voice had a rich lich moving animation sometimes we st look like the home guard drawn up to receive you but were 4 zeally leally not so formidable y hugh had been fine always was t 1 1 I wondered why you were so dis te tur bingly pretty this spring ellen so this is the reason will r platt had told h her er of the pictures lie be tad bad seen in the gallery poetry and symbolic mystery he called them that was we kezia was out fixing the lunch she had come in and called 1 not flot art williams but jerry to f come out and help her with the ice cubes they were gone a long lime and came in laughing but the thing which kept her h litake rake MS as trivial even ridiculous 13 all ali evening long no look from jer zy tf no quick little glance ot of re aurance assurance su rance that laid hello dear all right so absorbed in citing ieula agreeable to dorrie to marly to kezia that she might have been wen anyone just someone whom it be had met tor for the first time and plas as not tibt interested binl of 01 course nt she want him to oct act dithering ing in her presence give her in e glances she liked him to 10 M reserved te served still it if only once his bis 1 ins J tl had flickered ered in her direction with trust and mutuality made her F ware a that he remembered embe red she M clasped the palms of her i tuna together you know god SW ibo laid soundlessly ulessly dl essly that I 1 dont er yu you very ve 0 altea ten b but I 1 do be ibm in vou for I 1 prayed P to go eo to sit ws school chool mother was so BO Etin tit suddenly she gave in n in all 11 at li once tot for no reason at ti so you must have done and this time itla itis about I 1 love him so eo terribly 1 dont art believe I 1 can go eo on ving it I 1 dont get hi himi dont t haat v to tell i il you you understand alelle he dont let him stop loving me i r thank you amen ikee bours 11 before this kezia fc Wl klied out the light ln in her room i th k iral via kold and green ereen chintz littles liet les ilo 10 down in her pil 11 aos lue ine night wind rustled the h stole 0 in wl th the france fragrance of ackle hc honeysuckle kle the w window was a 0 loog ot of silver y from the Ch noon the bogk downstairs tinkled kazla ezia was very ve ge eu 0 v cry ry contented enn tented with her sn e power 1 she ahe had t over men was was edous simply IMP Y tremendous it all itil aid adby just st as lolly A it worked a evey every time inari abot ad t your ya eyes es soft and in en the titi lot 70 your 11 tace face very close to tc a spoke n i it ly low and said id you i corked at many ly times it had bad 1 mur with rh walter degraffe DeG with r via with pet ett matthews atthews peu pete almost alitt 10 engaged to that pease pea sua rl purd Su tonight eric olsen 0 with jer ellen need to think she had that boy on a cooki when he was getting out the ice cubes he had turned his eyes on her he had keen eyes dark brown with a sort 0 of droop to them and said dont stand so close I 1 might splash that dress mind if I 1 say you look char charming aning tonight she moved from his side but on answered in a halt hall whisper whisp L r youre sort of 0 unusual yourself you fascinate me he had laughed and replied im not really sophisticated you knowl he had understood it was enough for f or a start hed be callino calling up soon she assured herself icke like the others she might have a little fun with jerry show ellen then hand him back to her CHAPTER V the telephone jangled constantly tor for nezia kezia young people came and went with chatter and laughter the radio played at all hours and meals frequently were delayed tor for kezia was always hurrying from one engagement ga to another the constant clamor began to pall on fluva fluvanna eina and her usual serenity was now occasionally casio nally disturbed it was a little hard to become adjusted to the furore of excite excitement nent after the quiet winter fluvanna assured herself that it was good tr her good to have agay a gay young person in the house kezia must have this bouti youthful ifal time of pleasure this springtime of her life was so fugitive its memories threaded the pattern of life lie with shining strands tor for the years to cume come for the past week margery had been having illness in her family and had sent the boys over to stay with her each day michael and will were a strenuous pair aged three and five who came at nine each morning and departed with tears and grubby embraces at five when will platt came to take them home she had been strangely languid each night too tired to glance at a paper or a book she stood near the window after lunch glancing over some mail she had received the telephone rang it was margery mother can you take the children out in the car this afternoon millie jennings is here visiting and I 1 seen her for ages I 1 been out of the hou house se since baby took sick ten days ago her voice had a plaintive note of course dear eric is polishing the car but I 1 think hell have it finished soon oh hes working on it margery hesitated could they play around the yard if the car available I 1 hate to ask you they were there so much last week of course bring them on your way to Milli millies cs kezia coming down the stairs said margery want the car the matter with her own she wants to see millie jennings and has asked me to take the boys out cut do we have to have those little devils again today the baby Is better she they were here yesterday and all last week margery imposes on you youl they can play around the yard il if eric ready its riot not much to do for margery ashes worn out and it will be good tor for her to get away tor for a couple hours and not little devils just a couple ol of healthy normal boys other people are worn out too muttered kezia under her breath fluvanna smiled you my dear last night I 1 was trying to come in quietly so I 1 waken you and I 1 stumbled over a scooter in the hall barked my shin look at III last night kezzie whom did you go out with last night I 1 dont believe you mentioned it and I 1 recognize the car kehias face became bland and innocent I 1 tell you A crowd of us went to emmy mark hams bees snyder is as tunny funny as a clown you should hear him take off lem potter and mrs lem potter and we had a swell supper went to the kitchen about twelve thirty and cooked bacon and eggs ate watermelon gatei melon no mail tor for me I 1 think ill go 90 up and write so some me letters I 1 owe everyone I 1 know she was disappearing up the stairs when fluvanna said was ellen pendleton at Em emmies no kezia answered carelessly fluvanna FI uvanna thought the she had heard beard jerrys voice from the drive under her window when kezia came in she must have been mistaken perhaps it had bad been bees bee snyder not jerry if 11 ellen had not been there kezia reminded her of her husband her thoughts lew flew away to him he had hated questioning so yet he could be loquacious on occasion expansive humorous wistful flattering natt ering a man of many moods she remembered how well he had dressed ile he wore a cutaway coat on sunday the silk hat and the winged collar which were the fashion of the time his bearing had an alien elegance which spelled romance to her generous too once he gave a cripple the contents of his purse then borrowed money from fluvanna FI uvanna to pay for their dinner at the hotel when lie he received change from a purchase ho he always put it in his pocket without counting it that house on lincoln street in which they went to housekeeping five old fashioned rooms and the bath downstairs the big elm aich which drooped before the door the enchantment laughter te tears 3 rs of early married life jim had loved horses and attended every race meet within a radius of 50 miles jovial sometimes when he came home sometimes discontented lie he also liked cards late tor for dinner late for engagements a card game lad had detained him the memories became a moving picture screen reproducing scenes in flashes scenes impervious to the assault alt of time friends parties the birth of hugh financial pressure disagreements and the sweet toll ot of reconciliation jim gay hopeful magnetic jim morose silent he always dominated the picture with that positive driving force of his perverse ill con si dered cL but a power nevertheless she thought sadly that it was human nature to love those persons best who had a streak of perversity in their makeup make up or perhaps one is only more aware of that love they test it so several times he be had been forced to borrow from her father to meet various demands but was never able to repay the loans after the death of her mother and his losses in the stock market jims habit of drinking increased he did not use soft words when he drank some inner demon spoke in cruel vindictive phrases when she saw him after one of those nights when he had come in with stumbling uncertain steps his handsome face puffy his hand trembling so he could scarcely hold the coffee cup she was amazed at the conflict of love and hate which struggled in her he reminded her oi 0 bleary old tom caveney who took away the rubbish but it was really jim her husband to whom she was bound for life their three children margery hugh and kezia were at school and might come home any time no one must know no one at all draw the blinds send the maid mai d to laundry telephone the office that he well head u up p smile at friends and strangers the banner of pride must float boat bravely while the craft is sinking and then that day the freshly ironed shirts and childrens garments lay on the bed put this pile in hughs room sew the lace on margerye Mar gerys dress socks or of vary varying ing sizes colors must be sorted mended a stitch here a button there she had never been able to put a way away freshly laundered clothes since without a leaden feeling tor for suddenly she looked up and saw jim he was standing by the chiffonier I 1 one elbow on it watching her jim you home have you had your lunch he did not answer at once his gaze was somber but not unkind he sat down in a chair and motioned tor for her to take one A foreboding gripped her she watched his hands lean restless clutching the arm of the chair until they were white at the knuckles an odd ring on his little finger a ring which he had inherited inherited from his father was raised into prominence im in a bad way fluvanna FI uvanna sick he shook his head her glance hardened money again I 1 jim you know yes I 1 know what youre going to say youve done a lot helped me out a dozen times but this time this time he struck the arm of the chair with his list you gustl must I 1 say she rose without a word went over to the bed gathered up some of the garments and put them in a drawer she the she draining away everything the she had she had been too easy she had to think of her children their education future 1 I must have the sum startled her for what 1 I it you know I 1 IEs his eyes swept the room came back to her sell something put a mortgage on the lecuse 1 I wont nothing can make me wont eh his lips curled in a hateful smile rather see your husband go to the penitentiary I 1 suppose the penitentiary his words re sounded like the echo of Waves waves and the blood seemed to slip quietly away from her body leaving only flesh and nerves the penitentiary 1 I dont believe you she said faintly he did not reply then scarcely knowing what she sha was doing she went into the adjoining room where nezia kezia slept kezia had left a legless doll on the floor mechanically she picked it up and put it into the closet then jim was in the doorway ht H was holding a revolver idly in his hand horror froze in her was hi he going to kill himself before her but he pointed it at her jim you dont try to be funny slie she gasped 1 I 1 must have it before tour four she smelled the odor of 0 whiskey stop waving that revolver around you know its loaded so it is she backed away from him out into the hall she wanted to call him a coward and a bully but she was too terrified there was something brooding and insane in hu his look you say you wont 1 I cant how can you threaten me Us this way what il if the children should see you you could borrow it on your steel stock 1 I borrowed the last on that will you telephone kimball H hes e s waiting her thoughts raced it if she could get away from him until he came to his senses 1 I I 1 wont do anything until you lay that revolver down he looked at her and then at the weapon sullenly ill keep it until you go through with it escape escape behind her was the attic door why she run downstairs out into the yard it was in her mind to gain the maids room and lock the door she whirled and ran up the stairs he caught up with her as she was closing the door grasped her by the shoulders give me time to think you are frightening me to death she moaned he placed the revolver at her breast his face was savage do as I 1 tell you bowl now she had caught the weapon in her hands struggled with a strength gaw r Y IN 7 M mn ra 7 ox V 1 7 1 af do as I 1 tell you now she had bad never known she possessed it had gone off with a terrible report the gun fell to the floor jim stared at her his arms his shoulders relaxed she watched a |