Show I 1 q A I 1 Z many i av illustrations ba irwi myers X lp yi 1 XA C fetics SeTi cs CHAPTER XIII continued 13 lizzie nodded couo know beter than most he had her completely fascinated and when he took up with kezia I 1 saw her go down week by week got get thinner and whiter he is the tha cause of all this trouble hugh felt that jerry was to blame in a degree but that the major blame could be laid on lizzle lizzie herself the dissonance she created had driven her imaginative daughter into the arms ol of the first youngster she could dream about when the dream toppled the discord was more poignant than ever but you tell a mother whose cooperation was important that you thought her a harmful influence on her child that night in the tha library he tossed some travel pamphlets to ellen and his mother aai 1 I got these today from an agency look them over and tell me which trip you two would like to take they looked at him questioningly as they unfolded them theres a good boat sailing in three weeks england france spain italy germany murmured fluvanna shall we take them all or are we limited to two or three Gre edyl paris or florence since ellen wants to study ellens blue eyes flew open startled her lips parted but she did not speak hugh said his mother warn angly in gly not joking ive had a busy day planning this I 1 speak ot of it until some details were vere settled but they are now ellens lather father and mother have given their consent all you two have to decide is where you want to go and the earliest date you can be ready to sail fluvanna FI uvanna looked agitated no no she began she stopped at the radiant expression on ellens face the girl sitting on a hassock near hugh clasped her hands hugh youre not fooling tacy said I 1 could go away with fluvanna FI uvanna are you sure theres no mistake oh I 1 cant believe III theres no mistake answered hugh smiling and you mother you said you always wanted to go cousin fluvanna FI uvanna think ol of III paris florence the louvre the gallery 1 ellen buried her head in the arm of hughs chair he patted her shoulders comfortingly ang i y Fluva Flu vannas face was a study of struggling emotions leave you she whispered hugh nodded slowly then ed ellen as though her need were greater IUs his mother was quiet gazed at the fire ellen raised her head touched her shining eyes with her handkerchief excuse me I 1 go all weepy with grief or happiness lately but it was happiness this time aimel oh fluvanna what wonderful precious times we will have tog together etherl and I 1 shall study so hard and try too paint really good pic pictures 1 hugh how can I 1 thank youl pull your chairs up close to mine said fluvanna in an oddly hollow voice well go over the folders together the sailing date was set for the seventeenth of april and the days flew by in a hurry burry of preparation tion until there was only a week left for fluvanna to say goodby good by to dear familiar furnishings to margery and her children to kazia to hugh kezia had offered to stay at the big house with hugh its costing us quite a bit mother Mot lier for rent each month and feel better about hugh you iz someone were in the house bouse with him and then anna might just as well be cooking tor for three instead of just one person the experiment of housekeeping had bad been fun fuli tor for a while but kezia was finding washing dishes and getting meals irksome also jerrys salary augmented though it was by the new position was woefully I 1 y small for two people accustomed to be tree free with money her mother welcomed the arrangement however she would rather hugh had bad company in the house in her absence mother keen about this trip confided margery to will platt sho she looks look rather lost and seared scared hugh is pushing her into it and she would barefoot through the world for highl however it is a good thing for ellen and mother will enjoy it when she gets there she has always wanted to go they reached new york the morning of the day they were to sail it was mild and sunny they leaned at the rail ot of the iffie ferry watching the spires ot of the city come closer the skyline has a soaring aspiration in it mused ellen sometimes the bips tips of buildings are in the clouds but they always reach up up tip I 1 like this approach to the city so much hugh smile down at her again he had the feeling of a rose opening the delicate face the petal texture of her cheeks had the softness of a flower she looked like a different person these last few weeks since she knew she was to leave corinth whether ellen would paint great pictures or not he did not know but he knew that as her charm moved him it would move others the unconscious seeking for love was in her melodious voice in the graceful movements of her slight figure what she sought she would find perhaps on this trip he hoped so 1 I recognize the empire state building said fluvanna well go to the top of it today hugh promised their taxicab went slowly across town held up by the traffic and the whisking lights the crowds of people on forty second street moving in restless rhythm lashed back and forth like the sea A man selling roses at the comer ot of fifth avenue extended his bun bunches cles ingratiatingly gratia tingly to passersby passers by the sun sparkled on the silvery top 0 of the chrysler building when wo we come back we will stay here a week said ellen all ot of america is here the west the I 1 fri I 1 ia av I 1 A unexpectedly Unexpected lk she kissed nira illyn with clinging warmth north and the south all fused in a kind of eagerness lor for achievement I 1 felt that when I 1 went to school here hugh when we come back will you come on to meet us hugh smiled at his mother you heard im coming over to get you when you are ready to come home nol ellen leaned forward to look in his face with a sparkle in her glance are you bribing us ua to cut short our stay fluvanna rested in the hotel while hugh and ellen shopped went to a matinee after a lato late dinner they went down to the boat which was to sail at eleven although they were early knots of people promenaded promenades the decks gay laughing groups boys scurried down corridors with luggage the whole ship buzzed with activity hugh had secured an outside stateroom with twin beds flowers were already there from kezia and jerry fruit from margery and will books candy letters and bon voyage telegrams from friends youre so quiet mother said hugh sitting on the arm of her chair tired no dear she replied she reached for his hand hugh her boy the moments the dear moments were flying and an all the while her heart knocked the tha passionate certitude 1 I shall never see him again twice lately she had had attacks which she felt might be her last two or three months only a little while at most she could have been with him she reasoned and he wanted this wanted to help ellen he had been better lately in his enthusiasm for helping ellen it would work out tor for the best perhaps a dear wish would be fulfilled that old wish goodby good by dear loveliness dearest and most tender of what are a few weeks of life to give to help you the wheelis turning turning this body will never come back no harder to say goodby good by now at least not much harder ellen and I 1 are going tor for a stroll around the deck lU mother other well be back in a few minutes ellen tied a ribbon about ner hair put on her beaver jacket fluvanna watched hugh hold open the door tot for her pass through alter after ellen ills his tall easy bulk filled the narrow narrow aperture the light from the corridor shone on his face A wave of 0 pride surged up in her exquisite exultation my son my her pale lips murmured ellen and hugh explored the lounge the library and the dining salon then went for a turn about the deck they paused and stood at the bow ot of the boat the april air was sweet and A mystery overhung the deep water of the river the lights on the jersey shore remind me of necklaces strung in a jewelers window said ellen softly you have pretty thoughts ellen she tucked back a strand ot 0 hair which had escaped from the ribbon her white forehead gleamed above the straight fair brow and youre very pretty too she smiled dreamily quite lovely in fact 11 1 I cant think ot of anyone id rather have feel that way about me she said simply she leu left him to look over the side of the vessel coming in a stream now hundreds of them she said returning 1 I r realized until this thi s moment what a wrench it is to see you both go ill miss you too be lonely im afraid with your mother gone oh ob dont worry about me 1 I have my business yes she mused men seem content it if they have that business he heard the deep blast ot of a whistle and a good sized shed vessel brightly lighted went downstream down stream what was that some sort ol of pas passenger boat too small tor for an ocean liner sailing at eleven repeated ellen it seemed a century away this morning yet here it is al most upon us did you ever have that feeling of 0 waiting tor for a day or an hour bour half afraid it come because it means something definite yet it comes and is gone so quickly ile he nodded numbly he felt that there was something he wanted to say that ellen might say yet they bandied these in anitia back and forth the moments were passing he folded his arms on the rail and stared at the gray water lighted by flickering gold the consuming passion he had had tor for dorrie sprayed its vitriol over his mind he have any anything Liing to say nor did she it was the pale moon the april night the romance ct c the river which stirred magic impulses whispered to his imagination it was the loneliness of ellen and himself which accounted tor for it a mood which would woud pass ellen touched him come we must go moving through the thronged thron ged deck they went back to the lounge ill stay here a halt half hour while you talk to your mother then it will be time for you to gei gee off she came to the stateroom when the bell 11 rang for visitors ashore Flu vannas face tear wet held a soft radiance hugh kissed her goodby good by he extended his hand to ellen goodby good by dont forget to write occasionally 1 I wont forget unexpectedly she sha kissed him with clinging warmth hugh stood stock still a brief exalted emotion throbbed through him she have done that she really ile he turned to lo his mother again and said mechanically cable when you get there darling youve asked me that four gimesi protested fluvanna and ill write from froin the boat and also as soon as we are located in paris be deluged with mail and remember a letter a week from you ill be miserable it if I 1 dont have at least a line or two irom from my boy ill prossie to send three lines now get olt off or be pulling up the gangplank she patted kissed him again and pushed him out of the door ile he stood on the pier his limbs oddly shaky watching them at the rail fluvanna and ellen his mother did not look excited she was gently smiling mother alother was mystical looking that was the word ellen was trying to say something to him her lips formed words he could not hear bear he shook his head she tried again the ship was moving sliding almost imperceptibly ellen resorted to gestures you she motioned 1 over therel there she meant he would be coming for them ile he nodded his head in assent over there but they were leaving him it came upon him with a pang of desolation there would be an ocean between ellen had kissed him the revelation was blinding ellen why he seen it before not momentary impulse but love directing him ellen he their destinies intermingling ile he saw it as clearly as it if a directing finger pointed and she did she would love him her kiss had told him walt wait stop the shiel they gol he struggled through the crowding shoulders hurried down the pier to be opposite them again they watched him intently he formed the words 1 I love you to ellen she looked puzzled shook her head put her hand behind her ear he tried again 1 I love you joy broke over her face and he could see the color sweep clear to her brow she turned to his mother ile he could see her say he says he loves me mel fluvanna nodded at him delightedly why mother wanted this too r ellens eyes were on him he could see her mouth tremble she stretched out her arms the boat was moving faster once more she gestured this time more timidly you over there she threw him a kiss he watched until the deck became a dark blur of 0 figures as the boat moved away from the lights ot of the pier swung into the river he would follow no he but he would go in a few weeks thin things gs were better go home get gel things in order perhaps the last ol of hay june he stumbled along the wharf at the street a pleading derelict asked him for a dime he put a dollar in his hand while he waited for a taxicab he looked up at the heavens in the powdered sky one star shone more brightly than any of the others bright star steadfast and enduring THE END |