Thoraday, January 30. 1941
mm
THE RI.KIN TRIBUNE. EI.KIN. NORTH CAROt.fNA
CHAPTER HI
After Mft^'s beantifiU wife,
Ellen, died. Mark, for almost
the first time, became aware of
hia adopted daufhter. Valerie,
fourteen. Ellen’s relatives In*
sist that Valerie come to live
with them, but Math h lust as
Insistent that she stav with
Jiim. Dorothy, Ellen’s sister,
nias her eye on the (rust fund
;hat BUen left Valerie, and has
already beeun to make efforts
o obtain custody of the sirl.
She insists that Valerie wear
black, but Mark «ys she can
have whatever clothes please
her most.
"Well find your favorite shop,
and buy 'cm out. But maybe
you'd better not tell Dorothy."
"Oh—no—'•
He laughed at the horror In
Valerie's eyes. Then he decided
It was no laughing matter.
The train slipped away from
the platform. Valerie and Mark
had almost ml&sed it. Mark
apologized steadily for the two
minutes left him, and said things
about the traffic.
He was so charming. Valerie
wondered how Dorothy could
look at h(»n so crossly. She and
Paul stood in the vestibule of
their car. behind glass, for now
the door was shut In their very
faces. Her aunt looked out at
them grimly as they stood side by
side on the platform. She looked
like Miss Wcatherbec. at Bolton,
bursting with things to say. most
of wliich would make you wlsli
you had never been bom. It was
funny, because of cour.se she
—I mean. imtU tliey were older-
so what are we going to do?"
"Oh, we'll muddle along," said
Mark.
His eye was caught by a riot of
color behind a plate>gli
dow. He pulled around a comer
and parked his car.
They came out an hour later,
and plied boxes In the rumble.
Vaicrie had Insisted on carrying
tliem. She wouldn’t trust them
to be delivered.
"I never saw so many at o
eight dresses, three suits, and
four coats—besides hats and
the rest—" she .said as they drove
away. "Whatever are we going
do wiUi all the clothes I have
already?"
Mark lighted a cigarette, and
waved the problem away,
bet Mrs. Banwood knows some
needy souls. She looks as If she
would. If she doesn't, there are
always some people who—well,
look out for people—'■
"I know—the ^Ivatioii Aimy,"
said Valerie. "But probably Mrs.
Banwood will fix it. Kousekeep-
are clever, aren’t they?"
'Arc they? My acquaintance
seems to have been limited. Your
mother picked Mrs. Banwood off
a bush somewhere. I wasn’
crazy about her at first, but
I believe she’s good for me. She
Cakes me down. If she looks at
tong. 1 begin to wonder If my
face Is dirty, or If I have a cater
pillar on my collar—•
Valerie giggled delightedly. She
knew Mrs. Banwood’s effect on
'She’.s only my second—I
mean housekeeper." she explain
ed. "Tliere was one at school. If
the girls met her In the halls
ran. We never knew why we
We just did. So of course
the child was nob her business.
Let them dress her in rainbows,
for ail of her. Housekeepers were
not at a premium with conditions
what they were, and places like
this didn't grow on bushes. She
tried to smile reassuringly at Val-:
brie, who found the grimace ter-!
rifylng. ;
"Thanks for the things," said
Ml'S. Banwood. She settled the
clothes more firmly In her long
arms. "I know two little girls;
who aren't lucky like you. They;
will be thankful enough to have!
them."
Everything nice seemed to be
happening at once. Also several ^
tilings that were not nice. The
best was that the day before they,
going away. Shirley called
her up. Valerie had thought she!
Iiad forgotten.
Mark was in town, and ChU->
tem called h-r to the telephone'
In the upstairs sitting room. "Will
you speak to Miss Endlcott on the
telephone, if you please. Miss
Valerie?" in Chlltem's best man
ner. 1
Valerie had almost forgotten'
sort of behind her face. Maybe I
it was her thoughts. 1,.*.,,,.
Anyway, .she liad no chance to ronsniiM.p.*.
speak, for suddenly the train was! " . . .
gone, leaving a faintly disturbing | Mark lieaderi for (lis
scent of smoke about their heads ncxt iLmmg H? l-ad he «ld
It trade you think of Places-■ {os, ®
w’'15id‘other'far before they went‘adventuring. He
exciting, Isn t It? Valerie asked,rh/. rim,, i.r. i.ari laft v,,.,*
fm {mrr ^ ^ ® '’‘f" .solemnly that
M'aik 'stoniwKi -t.nrt i„ tl'iriBs to transfer to
richt ^..nb .. o'!’ her right
"I 'US I I;r "S'-
around Che curve of Uie drive uiid
was gone.
"You 'mean—AwaV’" ' Valerie w.atchcd hU car vanish
among the trees. She felt small
1 think Ui(V
out me. and I’ll show you a real
vacation.”
"Nothing else
would vou be waiiline L„ arid at the
! rat 'ntaJbX.;"
•'California and the South Seas
are all right with me.'
They came out of the station. I
M . ... • ' .1 .VlOStt
, I to her own rooms.
Valerie went into her dressing
1 and opened the big clothes
I their hangers. It liardly
headed for shops. Mark asked, „„
erie'afS? Po.ssible%"he was about „ ,
grovm-up. collapsb-d and told himlsurt a» overag'’a*uf. \
fathor‘^°You ncv”r saw my' !
'lolhe.s umil ^hey^ were disliked, and carry-ing them i
m? MoXV' I® neatly on tier bed. Then ■
the smooth lovely tones of Shir
ley's voice. Shirley’s message wu
brief. She wanted, she said, tc
remind Valerie of their engage
ment.
"I've been up to my cars, dar
ling. or Td have 'phoned before.
Going over the proof of a silly
book, and trying to finish a story
for an exasperated editor only
two Jumps behind me. Could I
drive over and get you tomor-
"Tomorrow we re going away,
said Valerie. She would have
been almost sad if she hadn't
wanted to go so much. There
was something about Shirley that
was so sweet. "Could—could you
please have me when we get
back?" It took courage to suggest
It, but she couldn't quite give it
up, "Wc wouldn’t be gone so very
long. I do so want to come to
your party!"
"Of course," said Shirley over
: the wire. “Perhaps It will be even
nicer, because we'll have more
time to think about it. Call me
as soon as you get back, and
we'll make a date. Maybe Mark
W’ould come for dinner, and bring
you home."
"Oil—yes—■’ It was wonderful
how things straightened out.
"Have a good time, darling.
Don’t forget - when you get
home—"
fon’t -- goodbye — thank
She sat stUl for a moment
after she put the telephone back.
What was not so nice was the
sight of Ellse’s maroon car In the.
drive, as she came beck from a
flying trip to the kennels, late
that afternoon. She would have
to lose herself in the
shnbbery if Hiae hadn't caught
aght of her Just as the big front
door swQng open.
„ IQise turned back and drew
Valerie iato the house beside her.
Valerie led'the way Into the main
drawing room, which always
awed her slightly. But she felt
ujat fonnallly belonged to EUse.
she sat on the edge of a petit-
^int chair, because Elise had sat
down and was undoing her furs.
'T happened to be passing the
gates, and thought I’d run in.and
see If I could carry you off to
drive a lltUe." she said. "You
must need cheering up. darling.
You re been on my mind night
and (hty. and I’d have run In days
ago. but I thought It more tact
ful to leave you and your dear
daddy to get a bit acquainted."
Elbe got up and went to Val-
erle'i chair and held out her
liand. "We’re going to be great
pals,' she said. "Come on—we’ll
drive till dinner lime: then I'll
bring you back, and your daddy
may be home, and perhaps you’ll
take pity on me and give me a
ite to eat. Wouldn’t It be sweet,
1st us three?"
Valerie had to think very
quickly, she let Elise take her
hand, although she got up and
stood beside her.
"Oh—yes—thank ymi—" she
said. "But you see, we’re going
00 a trip. Tomorrow morning.
Very early. My father may not
get home until late tonight. And
I'm packing—at least, I’m help
ing—”
(Continued Next Week)
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Sample Soringt
Os«WvBd.-T
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Charlotte 1.45
N. Wilkesboro 45
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REYHOUNQ
TKink of
tKe chances’
of accident
represented
in the figures
of A
license plate !
Insure '
PAUL GWYN
INSURANCE
Phone 258
West Main SU Elkin. N. C.
wrong. And Mark had said get ■
rid of them.
She gui, out the pile of boxc.s .
from the comer of the dre.sslng
room, juitl began to untie tlieni,
lifting out dcllcioius layer.s of
white tl.ssue paper, from which
rose faint but exciting .scent. A.s
she shook out the bright cl'.iffon.s,
the organdlc.s. and the tweed.s
K' she forgot Ellen and her theories.
— 'Forgot the empty rooms below.
Forgot for the time, even that
there wa.s Mark.
I She wii.s bulanrcd in enchant-
' monc before the newly filled
, closet when Mrs, Banwood walk-
: cd into the room. Valerie jump-
:ed and confronted her, .standing
I before the swaying garments dc-
j fensivoly.
; "I—I’m afraid I didn't
> you knock—" she said.
"I knocked three tlm»
Mrs. Banwood. "What
hear,
’ said,
orld!"
'Just—ju.st my new thing.s. I-
I'm .sorry I didn't hear you." Mrs
Banwood fingered ii bright ehif-
fon critically. "And wlio Ls go-
|iiig to wear tlic.se?" .siie a-sked.
I "I -I ant." Valerie ran pu-si
her Into the bedroom and gather
ed a pile of sober garments from
the bed. "Tliesc are for you"
She thrust them Into Mrs. Ban-
wood’s arms. "My father said
you would know what to do with
them. You sec. somebody may
need tliem—"
"Who bought you tlie others?'
"•My father," The words made
magic. She wanted to say them
over and over — "my father."
When she said It. she could see
the ugly gray of Mrs. Banwood'
disapproval fade.
"Aren't you going to wear any
mourning?" The woman seemed
able to speak in nothing but
questions. Tliey sounded bald,
even to her own ears.
"My father says It's what's In
your heart—not what color you
have on.”
Mrs. Banwood looked down at
her accusingly. "And your moth
er hardly In her grave'"
Nervous tears filled Valerie's
eyes, she could almost see the
world turning again into the dim
and dusty place where she had
lived so long.
Mrs. Banwood was a little
troubled at the tears. After all.
wore tlK.m C!he Ii-iiieim/vieu mars, uno IhC ,
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