Page 6 Friday, August 15, 1941 SOUTHERN OREGON MINER VA kA H arry ’ © Me Ci uri W.N.U.Servicc INSTALLMENT THREE—The Story So Jaird Newsum and Shirley Maguire mayor of Covington. Mr* Maguire I* kava been engafed for soma Ume. With giving a dinner for the Newsum* Kath­ the depression. Newsum Sr. gave up leen. another daughter, la helpins her hl* business and Jaird had no work. mother. Laura. Kathleen had just met Maguire la editor of th* Clarion and an Irritating atranger who kissed her a • CHAPTER III—Continued Maguire. In dozens of small ways "I think they might have kept the Mrs. Newsum during the past year evening free after they accepted had insinuated that she thought each Mother’s invitation to dinner," cried of them would be happier free. She Kathleen hotly. "Especially since was forever hinting that long en­ she isn’t asked to the bridge party.” gagements were unfair to both par­ Shirley said nothing. She «imply ties. She lost no occasion to flick could not be made to express her­ Shirley’s sensitive pride on the raw. self adversely about her future Because Shirley did not betray the mother-in-law. At least Mr*. New­ sting her adversary, who was a sum was supposed to be that some­ thick-skinned woman, felt it neces­ day although Kathleen wondered if sary to make the attacks more Shirley ever would marry Jaird. pointed. No wonder Shirley of late Perhaps Shirley guessed as much had felt a little frantic. "If Connie Mays’ father didn’t own for she stared at her engagement ring and her mouth looked suddenly half the town, old hens like Mother Newsum would tear her reputation thin and tired. Shirley was twenty-two. And she to shreds," burst out Kathleen sav­ agely. and Jaird Newsum had been en­ Her remark was apparently irrel­ gaged ever since she was eighteen and a half. They had expected to evant. But not to Shirley. She felt be married as soon as Jaird finished as if she were walking barefoot on hot asphalt. She had known for a at the university. Jaird had graduated with honors long time that Jaird's mother hoped according to schedule. But there he would jilt Shirley for Connie had been no wedding. It was just Mays. But Shirley hadn't known one of those things for which no that Kathleen knew. Though proba­ one was to blame. Jaird had ex­ bly everyone did. Mrs. Newsum was pected to go straight from school not a subtle woman. Connie was the only daughter of into his father's factory. He had been going to get quite a nice sal­ Eugene Mays. She was just nine­ ary while he was learning the busi­ teen and freshly home from a ness which he would eventually in­ swanky finishing school in the east. She had always had everything un- herit But on leaving school Jaird found a distorted world. Completely dis­ rupted by the forces of an industrial and economic crisis. He did go into his father’s business for simple reason that there was business. After losing money two years Blake Newsum, always a conservative man, decided to cut his kisses. He closed the factory. He had enough of an income to live on provided that it was carefully ex­ pended. He owned his own home. He admitted that his change of plans was a little rough on his son, but Jaird was young, said both his father and his mother. He could af­ ford to wait, he and Shirley. It was painfully apparent almost from the beginning that the New­ sums did not propose to be saddled with Shirley. Their attitude made it impossible for Jaird to marry her until he was economically able to support a wife. And so Shirley's radiant dreams had been hopelessly lost in a vicious circle. She and Jaird had been on tiptoe outside the door of ecstasy for three painful nerve-wracking years. CHAPTER IV No one can go on day in and day out keyed to the last notch yet for­ ever cheated of fulfillment, without dulling the blade of the spirit Shir­ ley and Jaird had possessed some­ thing so sharp its rapture had been kin to anguish. But the years and frustration were getting in their deadly work. Shirley's soul shuddered. She bad a terrible feeling that ev­ erything which made life a wild sweet adventure was dying in her hands. Losing its high zest Grow­ ing stale and savorless before she had ever put her lips to the cup. And there was nothing she could do about it Nothing! Not a muscle moved in her lovely controlled face. But in her heart something wept like Hagar mourning in the Wilder­ ness. A Hagar who had no Ishmael to share her exile. “Yes, I knew the Newsums were leaving early,” said Shirley quietly. "And I knew Mrs. Mays did not invite mother, But I don’t believe she minds.” Kathleen bit her lip. “You mean she’d die before she let on.” ”1 think she’d rather stay at home With Mike.” "And that’s love, I suppose,” Jeered Kathleen. “Yes.” Kathleen looked sharply away. She knew Shirley was thinking that if she and Jaird had a home any­ where, it would be heaven just to be together. Kathleen suddenly had a savage longing to do something about the things Shirley desired and was being denied. “Why don’t you and Jaird kick over the whole doghouse?” she de­ manded in a roughened voice. “I mean elope and let his people like it or else." Shirley had a strange white cir­ cle about her mouth. “We can’t do that," she said, "Because of the old she-cat?” Shirley shivered and walked over to the window Kathleen stared aft­ er her and felt a little frightened. It was the nearest any of the family had come to putting into words the unmistakable change which bad oc­ curred in Mrs. Newsum’s attitude in the past year. And Kathleen was not sure exactly how Shirley would receive the intrusion. But Shirley, staring down the tree- lined and rather shabby street in front of the Maguire bouse, had for­ gotten Kathleen. . Shirley was think­ ing of Jaird’s mother who once had not disapproved of Shirley, but who recently had complicated an already galling situation by an increasing tendency to delay her son’s mar­ riage to the girl of his choice. Shirley could not blind herself to the humiliating truth. If possible, Jaird’s mother hoped to prevent his ever marrying Shirley I She was just nineteen and freshly home from a swanky finishing school. "HÌ.Phillipr on the left shoulder which Laura had artfully covered with a Inc* fichu resurrected from the red bag and dyed with coffee grounds. Kathleen always insisted that her mother could perform miracles if turned loose with a few remnants and any­ thing to tint them with. Laura grinned. She had to admit the lace fichu had been an inspiration. It came out a rich golden-brown color and fairly saved the life of the ecru organdy. She brushed her black hair till it lay sleekly against her head, touched the lobes of her ears with the cut­ glass stopper of her old-fashioned scent bottle and, grimacing a little, used the tip of her finger to apply a hint of rouge to her humorous lips. "Belle Newsum simply must not be allowed to patronize." she told herself with a grin, thinking of Kath­ leen. Actually Laura found it difficult to smile when she thought of Shir­ ley and Jaird's mother. The boy was everything desirable. His fa- ther was a just, though rather ob- tuse man. But Laura had known Bell Newsum all their lives and found little excuse for her being. The key to her character lay in the fact that she had never been sure of herself. Even as a girl she had not been popular. And she had en­ vied others who were, although she toadied to them. Jaird had the good sense to inherit none of his mother's foibles. He was more like his maternal grand­ father, who had been a simple un­ pretentious laboring man Belle Newsum did not like to be reminded that until her marriage she had not belonged to one of Covington's first families. But to Laura's relief Jaird had no tendency to false pride. On her way downstairs Laura stopped in for a look at her daugh­ ters. Shirley was absent in the bath­ room. But Kathleen in scanties and a ridiculous band of silk and lace that passed for a brassiere was just stepping into her dress. It was crisp white net embroidered in red dots, with a long bouffant skirt and tiny puff sleeves and a brief silk slip that stopped just below Kathleen's dimpled knees and had saucy cher­ ry-colored ribbons for shoulder straps. Kathleen grinned at her through the mirror. Downstairs Laura found Hulda In full possession of her somewhat lim­ ited faculties. The dining room looked quaint and charming. Laura lit the long yellow candles. She loved the play of soft flickering lights on delicate old china and thin slen­ der glasses. The purple irises made a rich tapestry against the satin of fine damask and linen lace. "It's not bad," Laura told herself, thinking again of Shirley and Belle Newsum and of the fact that Hulda must be cautioned about the weak handle on the gravy dish. "If only everything holds together.” reflected Laura, "the Newsums can't help believing we are less wormeaten than is generally supposed.” der the sun she wanted. Especially if it was something she had no busi­ ness to want She was a thin, nerv­ ous, rapacious creature, strikingly smart looking in an odd. bizarre, almost neurotic fashion. At present she wanted Jaird Newsum. She wanted him pretty terribly because he belonged to Shirley Maguire and was not supposed to be for sale. "Sometimes,” said Shirley in a steady but rather lifeless voice, “I think Connie is a little to be pitied, She never has been crossed. It's not her fault if she has moral indi- gestion.” At that minute she heard a car Kathleen got to her feet with a gesture of baffled resignation. It draw up at the curb, and her heart was no use. Shirley would not con- quickened. She hadn't seen Tom in descend to her opponent's tactics. almost a month. Although the city Connie Mays merited no quarter at was only a couple of hours away he and Mary Etta did not come out to Shirley's hands. "If she ever looked at a boy friend Covington a lot. They never had. Mary Etta was not fond of Tom’s of mine in that way of hers I’d scratch her green eyes out, so help mother. me!” cried Kathleen with her own It was one of those things Laura private venom, and slammed the did her best not to think about It door behind her. was impossible to contemplate with­ Alone, Shirley stood very still. Her out rancor. And so Laura did not if heart beating in strange thick jerks. she could help it indulge in intro­ Why hadn't she poured it all out to spection on the subject It was awk­ Kathleen? The ache, the festering ward enough for Tom to have his pricks. Shirley's hands crept up and wife full of sore thumbs where his covered her burning eyelids. What mother was concerned. Laura had was it that locked her tongue so she no desire to harass him with painful couldn't speak? To Kathleen. Or to reactions on her part, She had seen her Mother. Shirley couldn't even men pulled to pieces between con- with Jaird bring herself to discus* flicting loyalties. the thing that was poisoning her Laura hurried Into the hall and heart. Tom came to meet her. Was everything to be spoiled for "Hullo, darling,” she cried, and her and Jaird? thought with a pang that he looked Their happiness for years had tired and much too thin, although been within the grasp of their strain­ she did not say so. ing finger tips. And yet it jeeringly “How are you, Mary Etta?” eluded them. They were forever be­ "Quite well, thank you, Mrs. Ma­ ing brought up just short of rapture. guire.” Tantalisingly jerked back from their Tom's wife had never called desire by a checkrein. No wonder Laura mother nor did she offer her their nerves were raw. lips. They were very scarlet and • • • Laura Maguire stood in front of as uncompromising as her clever the mirror in her bedroom and ex­ black eyes. Mary Etta too was thin. She looked like a amined herself with rather jaun­ From choice. fashion drawing. And that’s ex­ diced eyes. She had dressed early actly how she wanted to look. A because there were several last-min­ bit angular but very smart. ute tasks to be done and Tom and "I’m so glad you all came early,” Mary Etta would probably arrive before the other*. Tom was Laura’s Laura said, and realized she was first-born and although she never ad­ gushing—a criminal offence in Mary mitted it, he had a prior claim on Etta’s eyes. her heartstrings. "We left sooner than usual so as But it was of Shirley Laura was to try out the new bus,” Tom re­ thinking. For Shirley's sake it was marked. “You have a new car?” Laura ex­ claimed. "How perfectly elegant!” • : 1 " " ' " " 'M." ’ "Mary Etta has,” Tom corrected her. Laura glanced at him quickly. But he did not meet her eyes. Prob­ ably he was afraid they would re­ Begin this fine «tory to- ' veal the bitterness which rankled day. There k stili time. within him. (TO BE CONTINUED) It I« Not Too Late Even thè beginiicr will find thia pattem ensy to our Order to: Therc was an old woman Who lived in a shoe. She had a lot of skillets And needed only two. II,>s IS* w Kansas City, Mo. Kncloae IS cents tor each pattem desired I’alteinNu Name She gave 'em to her country: Thus from a single shoe Will come a boot that's certain To knock out you-know-who. Mary had a frying pan, A kettle and a pot; IVEDDING KING TILE the VV very name of this patchwork quilt is intriguing. Thirty-two pieces of varied prints und plain colors make up its 18-inch blocks; 30 blocks and a three-inch border are required for 90 by 114 size. OUSEHOLD f ■>' ii*T But very seldom used 'em She ate outside a lot gave them for defense— Now when a bomber wings Its way o’erhead she claps her hand* And cries, "There go my things!’* • • • Jack and Jill went up a hill. But when they saw their bucket Was partly of aluminum To Uncle Sam they "tuck it" She I had a cocktail shaker For which I had much use And. oh. the deadly wallop That shaker could produce I But now it’s joined the army— It's in the flying corps; If ever it hits Adolf He’ll know that war is war. Little percolater. You feel cheap. I bet Doing very little In the kitchenette. You could be a weapon For the U. S. A. ’Stead of making coffee Once or twice a day. • • • Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard To check on her pots and pans; The aluminum ones She knew were like guns In helping defensive plans. • • • Frying pan, frying pan. Where have you been? I've been to London And back again; I’m part of a bomber That flies o’er the sea . . . Who ever'd have thought that Could happen to me! • • • Yoo hoo, mistress. Have you any pots? Yes sir, yes sir, I have lots. One for Benito And others for Fritz— And, boy, am I hoping They score perfect hits! • • • Sprinkle talcum powder inside an ice bag or hot water bottle when storing them. The powder helps prevent the bag from stick­ ing together. • • • /MIDDLE-AGEx WOMEN [,S] HEED THIS ADVICE I I Ttiouaanda of women m« to lux tin lotl«llm> l>r< nt- M lot to women -cauaed by thia period In lire w with Lytll» X Pink- Kam'* VeaaUbla Cull- pound — tamoua tor oyer no yntra l'lnkbatn'a l.'um|K>un