Show the lucky lawrences laurences Lawren ces by KATHLEEN NORRIS ty by kathleen norris gervice SYNOPSIS S thi the gotton lawrence Lawren ces came to california at the beginning of the goli gold rush but the be holdings of the 9 amily have shrunk brunk to a small email farm and the th old family home in Clippe raville phil twenty five has gone into the iron works gall to the public library anil and edith to the book department of tore store sam I 1 Is in school and seventeen year old arlel ariel Is I 1 becoming a p problem phil Is in fascinated by th that terrible lily cass caa whose husband ban ha deserted her young van murchison scion of a wealthy family returns return from yale and gall call has ha visions through marriage with him of the turning of the lawrence luck dick stebbins phils friend has haa the ron ran of the house phil bugge su suggests gge to his sisters consternation that they invite lily coax cass to the house gall goes with van tor for a weekend week end with the th chipps his uncle and aunt she ls Is received coldly at a roadhouse go gall I 1 sees so arlel ariel at midnight next dy day arlel admits she was at the place and displays display no 0 remorse A policeman brings arlel ariel home announcing that tins has been killed in an automobile smashup ariel arial was driving one of the cars dick steb bana who has been admitted to the bar has hair the case against arlel ariel dismissed gall suddenly realizes that she he loves dick and not van CHAPTER VII continued lo 10 ne ile had bad rn p money he was country bred he was only the son of the people who rented the old lawrence place over in stanislaus it did not matter gall who had always felt that clip pers ville limited and bound her knew herself quite willing ah breathlessly willing to live contentedly in clip pers ville forever or out on the sta stanislaus nis ranch fo forever if dick so decreed what arlel ariel or edith would t think hink of this sudden altering of all her dreams was nothing there was nothing anywhere except dick all life was a tal now and she walked in the glory of it like somebody lifted above the earth all the happy old customs that mat she and edith had known tor for years were touched with new joy and new pain when dick joined the family circle the air was only a little more electrified than when he did riot not come and meanwhile van had established a more comfortable footing in the old lawrence house than ever before and while he and arlel ariel did not seem to be exactly flirting exactly having an affair there was a far more substantial base to their relationship than his friendship with gall had ever known very quietly in an almost bored tone arlel ariel told her sisters to in early november that van was going east to get to worl work ONO no more col college legeT no he wants to get into bustness business ills his father says hell start him in the new jersey plant then he wont come back to clippers valle ville yes les hes going to be back for a week in january month after next iles hes coming back after her iedith said eald when she and gall were alone oh ede it does look like it I 1 galls gails imagination was off at full speed arlel ariel married at eighteen to young van murchison edith and phil and sam living on here at the old house herself and dick but this last snatched at her breath herself and dick people in the library would glance at her ashes engaged ashes going to marry that young lawyer richard stebbins dick would have cases and she would study every detail of every case and keep up with him and she would have bables babies bables babies tumbling about among the flowers happiness happiness happiness to be married to him to have dick all to herself hersel fl 1 the miracle of marriage the amazing flaming glory of it surrounded surrounded her with a cloud of mist by day and of fire by night it began to as if things were happening in Clippers ville after all the sluggish current of galls life was stirred in many ways it was not only that phil got a raise and that van murchison hlson might marry arlel ariel sam was working tor for a scholarship and might actually win a year at columbia I 1 columbia university in new york gall was assistant librarian now with the name abigail lawrence printed in gold on the library windows and a salary of flaty five dollars a month and then christmas was coming always exciting it seemed doubly so this year she fairly lanced danced to work in the mornings and edith would come came home in the darkness of five her singing over dinner preparations in the kitchen dick was boarding with them now for his bis mother had gone to oregon to stay with a daughter newly widowed and there were only men on the stanislaus ranch there was one cloud in the sky to be sure gall and edith acknowledged its existence bravely one december evening when they asked dick if he thought phil really cared for uly lily cass case that a hard question to answer dick said with a faint frown anil and a sigh do you like her dick well ashes riot not my type but ashes an awfully sweet little thing really Is the she divorced dick no but theres talk of it IL bif it she were do you yon believe phil reamy really would marry her A pause then dick asked slowly would you girls care youve gall said with a brief mirthless laugh 1 I suppose I 1 bare tin re dick sighed again there there never was anything wrong with lily he be offered doubtfully not gall agreed forcefully except that she was as common as fruit flips flies and ran with that terrible box factory gang eang and chewed gum in church and talked way up in G major thin rather finished lilys case tor for the moment hut but a little later gall said apologetically 1 I dont know why I 1 got so wild about poor lily she certainly Is having a rather tough time of it ill tell youl you dick said eagerly phils the quiet mulct sort he loves clip pers ville he change places with the president phil wants to stay here and develop the place and he loves lily or if he loves her m dick floundered turning red and correcting himself has hastily we know he loves her you be so scrupulous gall said with a dry little laugh 1 I believe stand up tip for phil if he went out some night an and d cut throat thron tl but she loved dick for ids his loyalty none the less and curried the mutton stew with one idea la in her mind they all eat it and he loves it curried I 1 christmas failing on a tuesday they all went up to the woods on the saturday afternoon preceding lt it and came back laden with evergreen scarlet toyon berries crisp polished huckleberry branches and the one great bunch of mistletoe that dick climbed high into a dying oak to secure gall frantic to start tying bundles and mixing batters had bad to spend the wet monday in the library she walked up to at five not only to wait for edith but to help her effectually while she was waiting edith was in an exhausted whirl of last christmas sales arlel ariel also was there as one of lier her christmas assistants at two dollars a day rain was twinkling and sparkling in the black night as the lawrences Lawren ces came wearily excitedly out and started for home arlel ariel was very silent but gall and edith were gay christmas eve at library and shop was over and nothing but fun and holiday ahead edith thought of the tissue pa per and ribbons ribbon la in her lower bureau drawer she would begin wrapping and marking packages right after dinner she had completely ruined herself on presents as usual and she felt the usual joy in her plight gall thought of presents too she wondered it jick would give her a present of course he would 1 she would not care what it was it would be the most valued thing she received 0 she felt weak helpless dick needed socks and ties and belts and gloves it he went to los angeles next week he would need gloves but she had dared give him none of these books she had two books for him in one with a fast beating heart she had written dick with love from A L love love from abigail lawrence tor for dick insl perhaps well be married by next christmas 1 thought gall running racing hurrying home in the black rainy darkness of christmas eve etc it seemed to her the most wonderful christmas they had ever had prom from the hour on christmas eve when she arlei ariel and edith got home wet cold and tired to the warm kitchen and to planning and laughter and tea toast and jam and wrapping gifts and surprises until the two dinner on christmas day was safely served there was not a flaw they got all their presents ready and at eleven set the table for breakfast then walked under warm shining stars to church at midnight every one stumbled back utterly exhausted to go to bed heavily and blindly fingers sore from strings and tinsel backs and feet aching hands bands scented with vine pine resin hearts filled with happiness and then it was christmas morning and every one was thanking every one else and gall gail was honestly amazed at all the things they got and such beautiful things tables were loaded with boxes and bundles everybody got everything ery thing there was no end to the gifts nor to the tissue paper and ribbons that rained on the floor tor for somebody always to gather up and heap on the fire breakfast leisurely and late was wonderful and by eleven the scents of the early carly afternoon meal were in the spicy warm scented air diel was led leaving dug for or lua los angeles at seven ariel arfel had promised d miss lizzle vall with whom she ghe had been studying dramatic express expression fi n to have supper with lizzle lizzie and nd her mother 0 hut but come home early dar darling i ing for tomorrows your birthday and we have to celebrate all over again I 1 thus thin gall call as she flew abo about u it the kitchen in the full glory of d inner dinner getting IF oil oh I 1 will gall artel ariel was very docile slie she seemed to her hear als sisters to be at her sweetest today van had find sent her no present that they knew of but christmas malls were always late phil and dick walked down to the post at noon returning laden with cards a and nd small packages but bui it if van had bad sent either to her arlel ariel gave no sign at two they sat down ravenous to I 1 the feast everything was perfection long after three the sex lingered at the table nibbling falsini and nuts trying the german honey cakes that had come as a greeting that morning sampling the christmas candy and when finally there was a stir it was only after an unanimous decision to abandon all plans for supper phil went off ou to some point unknown probably to see lily sam helped clear the table dick had to walk down to his office to get some papers and arlel ariel herself suggested that she walk with him because she had a present for mary binney and could leave it by the way but please leave the silver and glasses for me to wash please ariel arfel pleaded oh nonsense I 1 gall said she and edith made short work of the clearen cl clearing earIn up the short day ended with them b oth both stretched luxuriously on galls bed reading nt at intervals talking desultorily waiting for night to bring the other members of the family home how long will dick be in los angeles gall only about two weeks it its a ship case A great chance for him 1 I think hes such a dear ive grown awfully fond of him this fall said edith iles hes a darling ariel arfel put her bead in the th door ive ire been asleep she said blinking we looked in and saw you when we wa came in im going to miss valls vails now said arlel ariel who was and coated and gloved ill be back early dick will be gone when you yon come back 1 I know it IL I 1 said goodby good by to him arlel ariel looked very pretty in her dar dark k blue coat and snug blue hat she came in fit kissed gall kissed edith 1 I dont want to got gol she said with a W weary eary sigh alga 1 I hate to have you gall said affectionately think of being eighteen tomorrow baby mothers poet eighteen A mothers lothers nothing not hingl 1 arlel ariel said bitterly gall edith asked when arlel ariel had gone did she get anything from danl van not that she told me it might be delayed in the mall A telegram be 1 I know there was a silence in the big shabby pretentiously furnished room gan gall roused herself stiff and drowsily 1 I told dick id start packing hla his bag for the trip she said with an exultant rise at her heart well miss him oh wont wet we I 1 edith yawned dawned agonizingly gall crossed the hall to dicks cold big bar rack of wit a room to find him done with his packing and ready tor for good bys lie he looked almost handsome or at all events gall found the lean big featured face handsome band some as he belted his coat and pulled on the new gloves that edith had not been too self conscious to give him if gall had bad youre worrying about this easel edith accused him for he be seemed un usually grave no yes im kind of worried dick said arkels Arl A els gone to the valls vails dick and phil back saml saint gall call called come out and say goodby good by to dick 1 I think we ought to kiss hi him to goodby good by on christmas night I 1 edith said giddily in a rare mood of daring for answer his big coated arm went about iler her and he kissed her so heartily that she emerged breathless and protesting then it was galls turn the clean shaven hard bard cheek was against her own his tremendous grip lifted her held her shoulders tight she felt weak helpless she drank the deliciousness of that first kiss as if it were a draught of heady wine E for or an instant she was his bis dazzled and ecstatic then panting laughing she was squarely on her feet again still close to him well edith I 1 the next time you have a bright idea you might take dick and we me into your counse counsels lall 1 dont warry worry about anything that comes up gall dick was saying rather confused cont used and breathless himself very big ery much the man ill be back in a few days everything will come out au all right I 1 lie was gone they heard the engine start in the yard and laughed at each other as they wandered down to the kitchen edith and sam had bad tea and cold turkey after all but gall although she sat with them at the table was feeding on finer food and could not touch then their tangible viands ner her mouth her whole being still pulsated to dicks dick grave hard definite dell nite kiss how he be had kissed her ya bf ba CONTINUED |