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1UR5DAY, FEB. 20, 1I3« THE FRANKLIN PRESS AND THE HIGHLANDS MACONIAN PAGE SEVEN Ishbel TENTH INSTALLMENT 'hey dined together., Angela in highest spirits. Her wit flashed the tip of her tongue; her laugh- rang like the thin chiming of Is. . „ You’re very bright tonight, icduff told her. Yes. I’ve had news from home ay.” Oh, that’s it!” His manner was ;hed. “It must have been cheer- ;he laughed behind her cham- jne glass. “It was something I n’t expect,” she said, rhey strolled out of the dining- )m and took two ’rickshaws to ie Street. At last they went into ; tiniest and blackest of all the Dps, and a wrinkled old Chinese ne forward to ask in a squeaky ice, what they wanted. She ex- dned that she wanted a jade icelet, very rare, very choice, e mStn studied her with atten- n; then he clos-ed 'his shutters d ’bolted his door. 'I show you something very rare, ssie,” he said, moving majestic- y through the small square of e shop. He pried at the drawer a lacquer chest, which sprang en and revealed an inner com- rtment. Angela fancied she ught a gleam in the whites of j eyes. His fingers moved mys- riously at t’he back O'f the chest, essing on secret springs till he ached a long black case. From its Ivet folds, which seemed to hold e dust and dead odor of cen- ries, he drew out a bracelet and spended it with a clash before ;r eyes, “Ah!” she exclaimed, in admira- 3n. “That’s it!” Macduff was impressed. He took ,e bracelet in his hand and passed through his fingers, bluntly, ithout the car^5sing fondness of e Chinese. Five carved Buddhas ' dark jade were strung together 1 an intricate silver chain. An elo- lent bracelet, a bracelet one ould remember. She could not ive dreamed of a better choice, he merchant named his price. It as absurdly high and twice the ilue of the trinket. She did not ire. “1 want it,” she said to Mac- uff, “and il won’t haggle at all.” “Are you glad to be homeward ound?” Macduff enquired. She did ot answer. “Angela, I asked you a question.” “I know, Macduff. Forgive ine, ut I’lii wondering whether I’m lad or not.” “What happened, Angela? I now that something hit you hard.” “How clever of you!” “I thought you’d be glad to get lack to your husband and home. “I’m |jiot going back to my hus- land.” She spoke as calmly as if he were flickering a speck of dust rom h-er clothes. Macduff lookeji at her suddenly ,nd dropped his pipe from his nouth. “You’re not going back to our husband?” he repeated, stu- idly. “No. He doesn t want me back. Ie wants a divorce.” “And you’re going to give it to tim?” His voice rose from its deep umble to a peak of surprise. “Why not? You see, he’s fallen n love with a girl of seventeen, .nd youth must be served.7 “Well, I’m damned!” Gently he ouched the back of her idle hand I’m double damned I The swine! “Hush, Macduff.” Her fingers overed his lips. “The bracelet, then? I’m sure it lad something to do with your lews.” “Yes,” said Angela, simply. ‘Lovat wanted the bracelet for the firl he love.s.” “Angela, you’re a fool!” said Macduff, suddenly. “Yes. I’m afraid I am, a miser- ible fool. But let’s move on. It was one of the red-letter days n Miss Mudge’s life. When they vere back on the Marenia, she ooked upi Mr. Charlton, feeling liat her pleasure was something she must share with him. “I wonder if I shall be able to iettle down when I get home,” she (pas saying, “il’ve always thought t better to feel planted in one >pot.” “I S'houldn’t suspect that from knowing you. Miss Mudge.” His voice was teasing, but it passed over her like a caressing wind. “Why not?” “I can’t believe you’d bang the door shut on adventure. If you were that sort, you wouldn’t have come on this trip around the world.” “I think you’re discovering things about me that I didn’t know myself. But, you see, there hasn’t been much chance for me to ^ anything but stay put.” She leaned against his sleeve, her quaint, small face thrust up into his. Dick feared that she wanted to be kissed, that she wanted very badly to be kissed by him, yet did not know it. He held her hand and felt it burning in his cool clasp. Miss Mudge caught fire under his touch until all of a sudden he was holding her, shaking, in his arms. O God! he thought. Though he hated tears, he was moved by»the desperate note of hysteria in her voice. She shuddered and clung to him. He was shocked by the fervor of her embrace. “I’m so ashamed!” she murmured into his ear. “‘Ah, don’t say that. It’s stupid for a woman to be ashamed of her feelings. They’re really the most charming thing about her.” “But I wouldn’t do this in Ohonto,” Miss Mudge went on. “I wouldn’t be so abandoned.” “You must forget about Ohonto. You’re very far from there now, and you must knov/ by this time that there’s a broader, freer world than that.” Dick laughed. Aliss Mudge listened, entranced. Perhaps it was true. His words sank sweetly into her consciousness. Suddenly she buried her face in his collar. “Mr. Charlton!” she mumbled. “My dear!” said Dick, catching her in a firm and sustaining grip and laughing at himself for a fool. He turned her face up, dripping with tears. He saw her drenched eyes and the eager, tremulous curve of her lips. Bending over, he kissed her so slowly and thoroughly that she fainted against his chest. With a quick surge of concern he put her back in her chair and bent over her, wondering what he could do to revive her, but he saw that her hysteria had been wiped out in a deadly wave of inerti^. After a while she got up and scuttled along deck without a word —a ridiculous figure, with ridicu lous skirts, flying towards the com panionway. She had called him Mr. Charlton, even when he had kissed her! Dick wiped the sweat from his brow. Never again. He regret ted everything that had happened, everything from the very begin ning. This had been different from all his other experiences; it left him with a self-disgust. He was strangely touched, thinking of Miss Mudge’s lonely pillow. The Marenia was steaming across the Pacific with her homeward- bound pennant flying from^ the mast. Captain Baring was having a cocktail party in his .quarters. Miss Mudge was talking to Dick Charltioti. Her sparrow face was aglow, and she was drawing on a cigarette in the ridiculous, inade quate way she had. The chief officer seemed to be rather 'embar rassed for once in his life. The Foster girl, who had been drinking cocktail after cocktail with her at tention fastened on him, was reel ing over in their direction now. Her expression was glassy and de termined. Angela saw her step be tween them and' catch Miss Mudge by the shoulder. Heavens! Was she going to make a scene? She was drunk enough for anything. Suddenly Joan’s voice rose, strident and hysterical, over the baibel of tongues, arresting the attention of everyone in the room. Miss Mudge was blinking at her, not knowing what it was all about. Joan, a blaz ing fury of red locks and dishevel- ment, was bending over her and shouting things that made Angela’s heart stand still. “You think Dick loves you, you poor little simp!” she cried. “Well, you’re mistaken. He loves me. Do you understand ? He loves me. He’s laiighing at you. Yes, I saw him kiss you on the deck at Yokohama, after you had thrown yourself into his arms. I saw you faint, you silly little crow. You didn’t see me in the beach chair, did you? Why did you ever leave Ohonto, or wher ever it is you come from? Why did you fever think you could comc around the world and behave like anyone else? Don’t you know you’re a sketch? Take a look at yourself!” ' Joan threw back her head and laughed.. Dick tried to intervene, but she pushed him off and took firmer hold of Aliss Mudge, on whose face a slow realization was dawning. “You think because Dick dances with you that he’s in love with you and not with me. Well, he’s laughing at you up his sleeve. Everybody knows he’s making fun of you, but you’re too simple to know it. He knows you’re forty- three and never had another man in your life.” (‘Stop her, stop her, some oneAngela was murmuring through pale lips, but everyone seemed to be rooted to the spot.) “He knows you say your prayers at night and help to support the missions. He knows you’re a Dry who’s cheating, a silly little school teacher trying to be a sport, smok ing cigarettes, painting your face like a harlot, swigginj? at a drink— yes, and ,no doubt sleeping with him, too.” “Stop it, Joan! You’re mad.” Dick was towering O'ver her in ashen fury. He caught her by the arms. She pulled herself free and slapped his face, “Don’t speak to me! 1 haven’t finished with her yet. She wears cotton nightgowns with necks like this. (Joan gestured from shoulder to chin.) She sleeps with curlers in her hair. I’ve seen her, on her way to the bath. Won’t wear her glasses, for fear they might spoil her appearance. Bumps into chairs. I'alls over tables. Chatters, chat ters, chatters, to everyone who will listen to her. All about Ohonto and the wonderful children she teaches. ’Swonderful! Thinks the world is full of glamour. . . . Oh, I’ve heard her by the hour. Loses her money at ^fonte Carlo. Thinks Dick’s Sir Galahad. Ha! Why is Dick good to her? Dick’s good to her because everyone on the boat knows she’s used up her savings and can't go ashore. Dick’s sorry for her. Dick’s mad with me. . . . Little school teachers should stay at home and keep their pennies in their cotton stockings. . . . Shouldn’t be a nuis ance to grown-ups. . . . Shouldn't think that a Spanish shawl ,will make them fit to kiss,. . . . Poor little Miss Mudge.” . . . Everyone tried not to look at Miss kludge. At first her cheeks had burned. Now they were ghastly pale, except for the dots of rouge, high up on her cheeks, that made her look like a wax model. Once she had raised her hand to protest. Then it had fallen lim])ly. What was the use?*Captain Baring stood as if he were' carved in rock. Me regarded a drunken woman as the final debasement of human nature. Hell of a mess for Charlton to get into! His favorite officer, and he wasn’t a fool with women, either. He’d have to haul him over the oo'als, though it probably wasn’t his fault at all. Dick had bee.n cold to more attractive women than Miss Mudge. The captain knew all ,about him. But a scene like this—before passengers! It wouldn’t do. The chief officer had turned his back and was hastily swallowing a drink. Angela and Macduff stood in appalled silence. No one knew what tack to take, but Miss Mu^ge herself took hold of the situation. Ignoring them all, she put her arm around Joan’s drooping shoulders and said in a clear, high voice: “Come on, you foolish child. Come down with me.” (Continued Next Week) Winton Perry Makes University Honor Roll Winton Perry, Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Perry, of Franklin, is listed among 358 students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who made the honor roll in their studies during the past quarter, according to an announce ment received from the university news bureau. Honor roll students at the university must average a grade of B (90 to 95) in all their studies. DINE FOR SiASB AW0 SCALP Madi in U. S. A. The Ar.fSs«p^3e Sso!p Medicine— Diffsrsai frota oriinaty Holr Tc«ie» — «e &tl. FEEL IT WOHKl Al All D'uga'uH Writ* for FREE Bsok!«t “•'’>« Tru(l> About Th« H»lr." Na'lonil Hemeiy '-o., N«w tatmMimmuii WOOD'S MUSTARD SPINACH ISold by these Deal©rs^ HIGHLANDS W. S. Davis F. A. Edwards G. 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The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Feb. 20, 1936, edition 1
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