m 1
4.
1
LUCY KUFFAlSbK.
Based on a story by MARGARET CULKIN BANNING
CUMBERLAND
OojvtlcM UlS by totv'i Ins.
Chapter One
It was years since there had been
such a sensation in Maple wood as
that caused toy the Holland divorce.
The fact that there was nothing
sensational In the trial itself only
added-to the amazement. Cynthia
and Stephen nad everytning . ,
youth, charm, position, money, a
small daughter to whom they were
devoted. There had never been any
gossip about them. Theirs had
seemed a perfect marriage. Then
suddenly, separation and divorce.
Only Stephen Holland really knew
wny one mgnt ne naa wanted out
of their house, never to go back.
He had told Cynthia, of course, but
although she was a woman of in
telligence, she could not understand
it. Perhaps a woman whose charm
and beauty concealed from others
her basic selfish and domineering
nature, deceived herself also. Per1
haps she was Incapable of self-criticism.
To her, Stephen's explana
tion that she was trying. ..nad al
most succeeded... in making a ro
bot of him, seemed preposterous.
He had been overworking and had
lost his sense of values, she said.
Even after the divorce, she felt that
one day he would come back.
It might be, their friends felt, that
this was one of those modern di
vorces of which so much was heard;
where ex-husband and ex-wife dined
and danced together and told every
one, without being asked, that they
were "the best of friends." But
although Stephen and Cynthia were
equal in their reticence and dignity,.
tney never met except oy c nance.
Cynthia and Stephen's widowed
mother were as devoted as they
had ever been.
In the months that followed,
Stephen, whose partners called him
a glutton for work, worked harder
than he had ever done before. He
pent so much time in the office or
n the law library that his mother
became worried. With caution, al
most with fear, she asked him one
night if he was not overworking
because he regretted what had hap
pened. Did he realize the divorce
had been a mistake?
"No, Mother," he said. "I will
never go back to Cynthia. I'll tell
you a secret The reason I am work
ing so Card is that in April I am
to go to Washington to present a
case before the Appellate Court
If I win it, I promise you I'll take
things a little easier "for a while.
Perhaps you and I will go to Eur
ope together... take Ellen with us,
if Cynthia agrees."
That trip was not taken. For
the first day Stephen was in Wash
ington, he met Maris Kent It was
at a reception given by Senator
and Mrs. Kingsley, who came from
Maplewood, and were intimate
friends of the Hollands.
Stephen thought he was being
casual when he asked Mrs. Kings
ley who the girl was, standing be
side the old woman with the cane.
"Maris Kent. And Watch out! Mrs.
Kent is a grand old character, but
she can be a tartar. Don't fool
yourself that she hasn't seen you
and her ewe lamb casting glances
at each other. See, she has de
cided it is time to go home. So you
can't meet the young charmer
now."
But Maris had determination as
well as beauty. She and her grand
mother had just entered their car,
when she exclaimed that she had
lost her bracelet . . . she would go
back to get it... her grandmother,
who had. said she was tired and
bored must go on without her...
some one would drive her home or
she would call a taxi. Mrs. Kent
knew Maris had not worn a brace
let, but she could not say so before
the chauffeur, so she drove home
alone.
"I lost my cigarette case," said
Maris to Mrs. Kingsley, when she
had returned. T happen to be
especially fond of it so..."
"Probably crushed to smithereens
in this mob" said Mrs. Kingsley.
"What does it look like?"
"Oh, never mind," said Maris,
"it's nothing special; the shops are
full of them."
"But It does matter, Maris, and
if you come with me, I know where
you will find. . .what you come back
for."
She led her straight to the corner
where the Senator and Stephen
were talking. She asked innocently
if Miss Kent and Mr. Holland had
been introduced and then told her
husband he must come with her at
once to greet a prominent guest
who had just arrived.
"I hoped we'd meet," said
Stephen.
"So did I... that's why I came
back," said Marls. "That accom
plished, I must be on my way."
Stephen offered to drop her at
her home. Just as they were leav
ing, Mrs. Kingsley eame to them
and told Stephen she was going to
court the next day, when his case
came up.
"Like to go with me. Maris?"
she asked impulsively. "Yes? Then
I'll stop by for you."
Mrs. Kingsley was smiling at
them as they went out, but sud
denly her face became grave.
When Stephen appeared before
the court the next day, he matched
the Justices fci dignity and seri
ousness. In a few words he ex
plained that his client's contention
was that the defendant had in
fringed the basic patent law. As
first exhibit, If the Court pleased,
he would enter a box of perfect
hosiery. ,
might be a perfectly good party.
Maris, fortunately, Isn t busy so
wny non t you get her to guide you
around. You know you are .duck
soup for monuments!"
"Marvelous," said Stephen. "Will
you oe my guide, Miss Kent?"
"I will," said Maris.
Stephen had Intended to leave
nor Home that night. Instead, he
put in two long-distance telephone
calls; one to his senior partner,
the other to his mother. He wanted
them to say there was no need
for him to return immediately, yet
for some reason he Was a little
sorry when they urged him to
take a little vacation before going
baok to work. If he went now,
these meetings with Maris would
seem, after a while, a pleasant epi
sode, a mild flirtation. If he stayed
it might become serious. For
himself he could take a chance, but
if for Maris, too, it proved to be
more than It was now, they must
face the fact that is there was one
unsuccessful marriage behind him.
He left orders with the hotel desk
that he was not to be disturbed
by any call, switched off the light
and sat down before the open win
dow. The dawn was shimmering
the cherry blossoms with an eerie
beauty, when he went to bed. He
1
A if 1
"Marvelous," said
Stephen. "Will you.be
my guide, Miss Kent?"
i
"I never thought I'd live to see
the day when this would happen."
Mrs. Kingsley whispsred to Maris
as the Justices one by one, gravely
examined me siocicings.
"And now," said Stephen, "I am
entering a box of stockings with
flaws, or runs as they are known."
"What next?" gasped Mrs. Kings
ley. The "next" was Miss Lee. Sho
was called to a chair, sat down
and crossed her legs. Mrs. Kings
ley breathed something about the
end of the world, as Stephen ex
plained Miss Lee would demon
strate that a needle, invented,
patented and marketed by his client,
mended defective stockings on the
leg. The Justices leaned forward
and watched intently while Miss
Lee proved the truth of that state
ment. Next, Stephen produced the
needle which he claimed was an
infringement, pointing out that tho
only difference was that the sec
ond had a small handle, which was
unnecessary and simply a device
to evade the patent law.
"Better Jook" Maria whispered to
Mrs. Kingsley who had closed her
eyes, saying she could not watch
Stephen being thrown out of court.
"The Justices are looking all right.
What's more they are smiling. I
think they're having -the time of
their lives."
On the steps of the building, after
the court session, Mrs. Kingsley
and Maris waited for Stephen.
"You're the eighth wonder of the
world or something or other," said
Mrs. Kingsley, as she patted Step
hen on the back. "Wish we could
celebrate, but I've got to rush off . . .
due to snub an Ambassador's wife.
But I don't want to spoil what
was going to stay. He knew he
could not do anything else.
For ten days he and Maris dined
and danced and drove together.
Then one evening they were alone
in Mrs. Kent's living-room.
"Maris," he said suddenly, "I
want to talk to you seriously about
serious things, but not shut up in
the house. Let us go out and walk
under the cherry blossoms."
"Anywhere you say," said Maris.
The next moment she was in his
arms and their lips met.
"Do you know that is the first
time you have kissed me?" she
asked softly.
"I know," he said.
They walked in silence for a long
time. It was Maris who spoke
first.
"It isn't really serious, what you
have to say, is it... now that we
know we love each other? I know
you have been married, have a
five-year-old child and have been
divorced. What of it? The past
is the past; the present and the
future are ours."
"I want you to realize everything.
We will be living where Cynthia
and I have lived all our lives. . .you
don't know what life in a small city
is... the difficulties..."
"I know that we will have each
other. Nothing else matters. And
I am not afraid."
The last sentence was only a
half-truth. Maris did fear what
her grandmother would say. That
night, after Stephen had gone, she
went to her grandmother's room
and told her what happened.
"I love Steve, darling, and he
loves me. Perhaps there will be
hard things to face. But aren't
there always in anv marriage?
After all, I am your granddaughtei
and I have lived with you all mi
life. With my heredity and train
ing, can I be a coward.. turn awaj
from life and happiness, because 3
am afraid of what may happen and
probably won't? Would you wan1
me to?" .
Mrs. Kent took her hands ani
held them tight.
"You may be diving head on
baby, bead on. I had to spread
my warning on the record. Now
go ahead and dive."
Three days later, Stephen's
mother laid down a letter she had
re-read twice and went straight to
Cynthia. News, and its ugly sister
gossip, traveled fast and there muat
be no chance that Cynthia should
hear the astounding news from any
one but her.
"I can't believe it, dear," she said
when Cynthia had finished reading
the letter. "I had always hoped
that someday. . ."
"Thank you, Mother. I, too, have
felt that Steve might see it was
all a mistake; come back to Ellen
and me. Well, that hope is gone.
We might have foreseen this. Steve
is young, attractive and free. I
hope he will be happy. . .this time."
"xou are a brave girl and a gen
erous one, Cynthia. You know I
have always loved you and always
shall. And now he writes he is
marrying and right away. A girl
I have never seen, never heard of."
Cynthia, who excelled at ca3tine
herself in the role of a noble, un
derstanding woman, laid her hand
on Mrs. Holland's.
"She's a fine eirl. I'm sure, if
Steve- loves her. There Is nothing
cheap or shoddy about him. He
would never choose anyone who '
was second-rate. Don't pre-judge
her, Mother. You owe her loyalty,
too. She is probably younger than
I, certainly she is less experienced,
perhaps she is not one to face un
pleasant things. It may not be
altogether easy for her here where
Steve and I have lived all our lives.
I do not envy her."
"I only hope she Is half the wo
man you are, dear," said Mrs.
Holland.
That evening, Mrs. Kent gave a
party to announce the engagement.
"I would have been here earlier,"
Steve said to Maris as he came in,
"but I had a wire from Mother. I
called her up to make sure she was
aH right...! was worried because
she said she wouldn't come on for
the wedding, but that we were to
come to her until we find a house.
She's all right but it isn't convenient
for her to make hhe long trip."
"When is the big day?" asked
Mrs. Kingsley who had Joined them.
"One day next week... very
quiet," said Maris. "Just you and
the Senator and three or four other
close friends."
When Maris had gone to speak
to her grandmother who was beck
oning to her, Mrs. Kingsley told
Stephen she had written a long
letter to his mother, telling her
among other things that if she had
the wide world from which to make,
a choice, she would choose Maris
as the wife for Stephen.
"That's fine of you," he said. "But
you aren't worrying that Mother
won't like Maris, are you? How
could she help it?"
"Cynthia miprht try to hc.'p it. I
don't ttkc Cynthia's influence over
your mother. As a matter of fact,
I don't like Cynthia. . .never did.
So be on your guard, Steve."
Mrs. Kingsley meant that to be
her last word, but it was not.
"Tell me, Mrs. Kingsley," Maris
said later that evening, to her,
"Steve and grandmother have
warned me that life In Maplewood
may not be easy for me. Are they
right?"
"Who knows? But I do know
these small cozy cities take divorce
and re-marriage very hard some
times. Also they often resent those
who come from outside, especially
from big cities. They are clannish,
you might say. So be prepared, my
dear. You'll be on a spot. You
will win out, I know. But at first
my dear, you will be in enemy
territory."
Next Chapter: Maris leama
Mrs. Kingsley knew whereof
she svoke.
Mr. and Mrs. H. T. West, of Ay
den, spent last week with Mrs. West's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Miller.
Mr and Mrs. Charlie Umphlett
and children, of Winfall, spent Sun
day with Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Morgan.
Those visiting at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. C. L. Godwin on Sunday
were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Swain and
daughter, from near Norfolk, Va ;
Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Davenport, of
Elizabeth City; Mr. and Mrs. D. L.
Barber and children, Mrs. Mollie
Barber and Johnny Simpson, of Win
fall; Mr. and Mrs. George Roache,
Mrs. Charlie Umphlett and Mrs. T. E.
Morgan.
Mr and Mrs. H. T. West and Miss
Celesta Godwin visited Mr. and Mrs.
J. E. Perry Friday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. George Trueblood
called to see Mrs. J. V. White Sun
day afternoon.
Fertilizer Meeting
Set For July 22nd
Farmers, manufacturers, chemists
and salesmen will meet at the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture's
Tobacco Test Farm at Oxford, N. C,
July 22, to discuss fertilizer.
D. S. Coltrane, assistant to Com
missioner of Agriculture W. Kerr
Scott, will preside over the occasion
to be known as "Fertilizer Day," the
first assembly of its kind in the his
tory of the state.
Fertilization of tobacco, fertilizer
placement tests on tobacco, how the
state's fertilizer bill can be reduced,
improved fertilizers, fertilizer recom
mendations for cotton, corn and
small grains will be discussed by
well-known authorities.
TAYLOR THEATRE
EDENTON, N. C.
COOL AND COMFORTABLE
Today (Thursday) and Friday, July 14-15
JAMES STEWART and GINGER ROGERS
"VIVACIOUS LADY"
NEWS
PORKY CARTOON
Saturday. July 16
BOB STEELE in
"DESERT PATROL"
'THE LONE RANGER" No. 10
POPEYE CARTOON
Monday and Tuesday, July 18-19
DON AMECHE, SIMONE SIMON and
ROBERT YOUNG in
"JOSETTE"
The New Audioscopiks In Three Dimensions
NEWS ACT
Wednesday, July 20
STAN LAUREL and OLIVER HARDY in
"SWISS MISS"
"MIRACLE MONEY" a Crime Doesn't Pay
Thursday, July 21
Robert Montgomery in "Yellow Jack"
Friday, July 22
Kay Francis in "My Bill"
I
$F9 TOPS
VALUE
THEM ALL
Save money without sacrificing shav
ing comfort 1 Probak Jr. Blades give you
known quality at a record low price.
Specially processed to remove stubborn
beards smoothly and cleanly, these fa
mous double-edge blades are priced at 4
for only lOf . Buy a package today.
PROBAK
"jtNioR-BLADES
( TMWA
BLADES ONDT Vvflo!
Explains Marketing
Quotas For Tobacco
Tobacco growers' marketing quotas
for 1938 will be determined in part
from information that AAA commit
teemen have been gathering for the
y. past-two weeks or more
TVia Tnot.hnda to be fol
followed in cal
culating tobacco marketing quotas
for individual growers have been es
tablished . by Congress in the crop
control program for this year, said
E. Y. Floyd, AAA executive officer at
State College.
The committeemen have been asked
to determine what is considered the
normal marketings of farms which
have been producing tobacco in the
past. These normal marketings will
be subject to adjustment if necessary
to keep the total for all individual
growers from exceeding the state
and national quotas.
The national quota for Hue-cured
tobacco is 705,000,000 pounds of
which three per cent has been set
aside for new j growers. The state
quotas will be determined on a basis
of the normal marketings of the
growers in each state producing flue
cured leaf. A four per cent addition
to state quotas will be allowed for in
creasing the poundage ; of ; farms
whose quotas are inadequate in view
of past marketings. '
In determining normal marketings,
allowance will be made for abnormal
weather, 'plant diseases, and other
factors affecting production. The
committeemen will consider, the total
crop, land., on the. famvtheJand.in
cash' crojs other than, tobacco, . the
available curing barn space, and the
number of families on the farm.
Also taken into consideration will
be marketings during the past three
years, with the highest of the fol
lowing three items being used: (1)
the three-year average; (2) 40 per
cent of the sum of the highest two
years in the three-year period; (3)
60 per cent of the highest year.
MARY TOWE CIRCLE MEETS
The Mary Towe Circle of the Wom
an's Missionary Society met at the
home of Miss Helene Nixon on Mon
day evenin. Miss Nixon had charge
of the program. Miss Mary Towe
gave a very interesting reading on
"Settlement Houses in .Tampa, Flor
ida." Miss Jeannette Feilds pre
sented Itiie bulletin "Bringing Christ
to Korea." " f
.During the social hour the hostess
served delightful refreshments to
the following. Misses ? Mary Towe,
Joyce Stokes, Mary Wood Koonce,
Ruth Nachman, Mary Elizabeth
Feilds Hilda and Elizabeth Knowles,
Spivey Roberson, Jeannette Feilds,
Mrs. Edgar Feilds and Mrs. Morgan
Walker. '
It Was Inevitable
"i The fellow who introduced the
pork shortribs and sauerkraut com
bination was no fool. Concordia
Kansan.
; t Wisdom of the Press
The "simple truth is that there is
no entirelF satisfactory system ; of
taxing intangibles, or anything else.
Columbia (S.. &) Record. 7 J"
01?
i::s S":Mi-
Hertford, N.G