VERNONIA EAGLE, VERNONIA, OREGON
transparent gown of orange and
black. She greeted her son with a
fretful “Van, I suppose you know
your father’s furious at you, and
making life simply wretched for
me?” 2nd gave to Gall only an ab
WNU Servio*
Copyright by Kathleen Norris
stracted frown.
“I think you were In school with
my mother, Edltha Petrie, In San
Francisco?” Gall said, trying to
“Kind of mussy." But she turned pursued resolutely, “that she Is
CHAPTER V—Continued
seem at ease.
toward the drug store none the running around with that Buddy
“I was in school with nobody’a
Life, at this accelerated pace, less; the opportunity to be seen Ralscb crowd—of course they may
mother, and I won't be Incriminated,
fairly burned her up. The new by all the town, having soda at be a perfectly decent crowd un
and 1 am praying the Lord to grant
pleasures enchanted her, but never Dobbins' with Van Murchison, must derneath—”
me a long and prosperous thirty-
“Why, she’s nothing but a school
satisfied, leaving her always strain not be overlooked.
one I” Mrs. Murchison said, to the
All Clippersvllle came In and out child I” Van said In distaste and
ing for more; which indeed was
company at large rather than to
the position of them all—Lenore, of Dobbins' on a hot summer eve displeasure.
Gail.
"Well, she’s not such a school
Mary, Van, Fred, to say nothing of nlng, and she kept wheeling about
“She’ll never forgive you that as
their elders. They went everywhere, on her high stool to greet library child but what she lets Buddy
long as you live, Galli” Van ex
anywhere, they did anything and acquaintances and neighbors and Ralscb take her out In his road-
claimed In the laughter that fol
ster—”
everything that might promise fun. friends.
lowed. Gall laughed, too, but she
“Oh, 1 love It! I think It's price
They all saw that she was with
Breakfast on the Macclelshes'
felt hot and uncomfortable.
less!” Van exclaimed, laughing, as
yacht, for example; life on the Mac Van Murchison.
In all It was an uncomfortable
Ariel came in and put her slim Gall’s troubled voice fell still.
clelshes' yacht had nothing to do
visit; the least happy she had ever
“I don’t know what to do about
with sailing or the water. The yacht arms about Gail from behind and
had at Far Nlente, even including
might as well have been ^moored kissed the bright wave of tawny It,” Gall began again, . “I was won-
the first, with Its nervousness and
dering," she added timidly, “what
ten feet underground In a coal hair over Gall’s ear.
shyness. Three men Gall had never
mine, for all its gay party ever
“Take our places," Gall said, get you would think 1 ought to do,
seen before were absorbed In the
Van?”
saw of the sea. Yet there was some ting down. “We’re done!”
topic of the golf tournament at Del
He was Interested now, but In an
CHAPTER VI
thing distinguished about being
She walked along beside Van si
Monte, and for a litltle while on
asked to spend a week-end on a lently In the street The man kept annoyed, reluctant sort of way. He
HE next day she rose unre- Saturday afternoon Gall was excit
real yacht!
up his regular stream of chatter said quickly:
“I? For heaven's sake, what
freshed and dissatisfied, and ed by the possibility of their all
The glory spread far ahead of for a minute; somehow It jarred to
It, and far behind it. Gall saw her night Gall broke across It sud should 1 know about It? It seems dragged heavily through her prep going down to lonterey to try a
to me If she's such a fool she likes aratlons to go to Los Gatos, as If day's preliminary playing.
name In the dippersville Challenge denly.
But In the end it was decided
more than once during this amaz “The reason I wanted to come to run ’round with a bounder like the prospect were anything but In
that the three men and Van should
vitlng.
ing cummer, listed among the guests away was—my brother Phil was that, why, let her do it!"
It would have filled her with leave before breakfast and go there
“But you don’t understand, Van,”
at affairs whose distinction a few In Dobbins’ there.”
Gall said patiently. “She’s only sev ecstasy a year ago; she felt dull alone.
“Your brother Pbll was!"
months back was beyond her wild
“That Is, I would," Van said, “if
est dreams.
“Yes. 'Way over tn the corner. enteen—she won't be eighteen until and doubtful about it now.
Ariel, all helpful sympathy, came 1 didn't feel It would leave Gall
next Christmas.”
She had a feverish feeling some In one of the twosomes.”
"That wasn’t no hindrance to the out to the gate when Van parked tn the lurch!"
“Why didn’t we yell at him?”
times of having lost Edith, lost Phil
“We’ll take care of Gall,” Mrs.
and Sam and Ariel, lost touch with Van asked simply.
Chlpp said. “We’ll J-jst leave her
She had to have sympathy; she
her work at the library and her
THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING
here to amuse herself, and the boys
duties at home—one could not U vp had to test him. With a sudden
will be back for dinner, and we'll
two lives, after all. and Van’s very letting down of the bars she said,
The luck 'that had brought the Boston Lawrences to California Just
exactions were a delight, an an "Because his girl was with him.” at the beginning ot the gold rush seems to have deserted the present gen all go home Monday afternoon."
Gall had to protest; her library
"And don't you like her?" Van eration. From a 4,000-acre ranch, their holdings have shrunk to a small
swer to her wild young ardent pray
ers of last spring. Nothing mat demanded, with his delighted air farm and the old family home In Cllppersvllle. Phil, twenty-five. Is in the job would stand no more trifling.
Iron works. Sam and seventeen-year-old Ariel are In school. Gall In the
tered but that she should please of discovering something amusing. public library and Edith In the book department of Cllppersvllle's largest She must be back Sunday after
“I despise her!” Gail answered store Young Van Murchison, scion of a wealthy family, returns from Yale noon, positively.
him, should keep close to him.
It was arranged. The bridge play
Dick Stebbins, Phil s best friend, has the run of the Lawrence house. Ariel
One night in late August she somberly.
“Not really!” he exclaimed ec Is sneaking out of the house at night for toy rides. Gall, who would marry ers plunged back gladly into the
and Van walked home from a movie
Van. feels she Is making no progress In his affections. Phil suggests In mysteries of vulnerability and re
In Clippersvllle. The night was statically. "What? Phil’s girl?”
viting Lily Cass, his sweetheart, to supper. Gall and Edith feel she is not
“She’s not a girl, really, and It's "respectable," and are in a quandary. Gall goes with Van to a house party doubling. The young men played
insufferably hot, and the audience
was glad enough to straggle out very serious,” Gall said, determined at Los Gatos with the Chlpps, his uncle and aunt. She Is received coldly. As tennis and Gail watched and
the house party Is about to leave a roadhouse, at midnight. Gall sees a laughed and applauded.
Into the black darkness of the Calle, to sober him. “She’s a divorced drunken
man helping Ariel Into a roadster. Next day Ariel admits she was
Later, going to the cabin to dress,
where the air was some degrees woman, and she has three little there, and displays no remorse. Gall Is gloomy as rhe considers the family'»
she heard Mrs. Chlpp good-natured
boys about three and two and tutlook.
cooler.
ly reproaching somebody for some
"Whew! That was frightful,” one—”
“Oh. I love It I" Van said with late Miss Juliet Capulet 1" Van re there, honking wildly, at ten o’clock. thing. The voices came from behind
Gall breathed.
a screen of shrubs and tall flow
.‘•This is a snorter!” Van com relish. “Phil 1 Old sober-sides! I minded her Joyously.
“Here." he said, leaping out, ‘Til ers, where the hammocks were.
mented. “Los Gatos tomorrow, hey? adore It I I’m crazy about It!"
take
that.
”
He
stowed
Gall's
suit
Gal) laughed faintly, and was si-
“. . . . It was dreadful. ... I
"Van, how can you say so!” Gall
And into the pool."
case In the rumble. The three stood
lent
The moon had not yet risen, but reproached him, hurt “She’s a ter
come for you early tomor- smiling and gossiping In the soft mean it was unmistakable. ... I
“
IT1
mean It was enough to make him
there was an odd light In the world rible girl; she comes from Thomas row,” Van presently said. “How’s foggy morning.
Street Hill; she was one of the nine o'clock? That gets us to the
“I wish I were going with you I" furious," said Mrs. Chlpp's amused.
Indifferent voice.
Wlbsers.”
Ariel said frankly.
ranch at noon, easy.”
Another woman’s voice spoke
“Oh, I think It’s perfectly
The girl felt cold,, unresponsive,
“Well, why don’t you come?” Van quickly
in answer, laughingly and
grand 1” Van said, with his raw, heavy.
exclaimed, suddenly fired.
Joyous laugh. 'Think of the trouble
They were standing close togeth
"Oh, no, 1 couldn't. I’ve got a indifferently, too, but with more
and expense saved—bls family all er at the old fence rail; be might date with the crowd tonight," Ariel vigor. Mrs. Murchison’s voice.
ready-made I"
Gail could not bear the first doz
easily have put his arm about her. protested, “and 1 couldn't anyway.
But suddenly perceiving that she But he never attempted that sort of I'm not dressed I And I couldn't en words.
But the last trailed
was not amused, and that a genu thing; Gall wondered sometimes If anyway."
througii her consciousness, as she
Ine mood of anger and disappoint It were some queer lack In her that
For an instant the matter hung escaped, scarlet-cheeked, out of
ment was keeping her silent he prevented him, or some missing tire, and Gall did not know whether hearing.
changed his tone and said rallying, quality In him.
“. . . with a Clippersvllle girl!"
or not in that Instant Ariel sent
lightly:
The tone, the emphasis of the
Going Into the house she deter her a glance of wild hope. Immedi
"Why, what do you care who mined that she would not go down ately the younger girl settled the voice, interpreted the whole to her
your brother marries! You don’t to Los Gatos at all tomorrow, and matter, and was running back Into perfectly. Van's father would bo
have to marry her! It’s bls fu- felt a great relief in the thought the house shouting, “Have a good furious with him for going with
neral.”
a Clippersvllle girl. It served him
If they wanted her they could make time!”
“I suppose so,” Gall conceded aft- a special overture next week.
Despite her sister’s protests, Gall perfectly right, wasting his time
er a moment wearily.
She wandered away to her own felt like a murderer as Van's car with a Clippersvllle girl. It did
“Want to Jump Into the car
room, returned in pajamas, brush shot away across the long bare not matter whose feelings were
rush off somewhere and get cool?” Ing her thick mop of tawny-gold road, away from dusty, dull Cllp- hurt or were not hurt; It was only
“It would take too long, and I'm hair.
persville into the beauty and shade a Clippersvllle girl I
too tired, and I promised Edith to
“Phil was at Dobbins’ tonight,” and coolness of Far Nlente. The
Her face blazed, her throat was
be home early. She gets nervous.” she said suddenly, “with Lily."
thought of that quick, hopeful thick and dry. Her heart seethed
The car was parked a hundred
Edith opened her lips to speak, glance of Ariel's—that glance that like a boiling pot, and her thoughts
feet from the Lawrence gate, Gall made no sound, They stared at might not ever even have been sent went round and round dizzily. Her
went to the fence that had once each other.
or been thought of—haunted her. hands felt cold, and she was shak
been their meadow fence, and
Not that Ariel could have come, ing.
“He wasn’t!" • Edith whispered
leaned on the bars and stared Into after awhile. ", At Dobbins!”
no. Obviously that would have been
What did It matter what that vul
the night that was now lighted by
“In one of the twosomes—the al a mistake.
gar. smart, rouged, thin, dark worn-
"I Was In School With Nobody's the moon.
But
Gall
kept
wishing
that
she.
coves.”
*t> said or thought! It did not af
Mother!”
“Phil's marrying would simply
“He's crazy,” the younger sister Gall, had urged it, had Impulsive fect Gall Lawrence; It did not af
at nine o'clock; whitewashed sur wreck our home," she said, revert said darkly. They brooded upon It ly, ridiculously, p.essed It. It would fect Van Murchison.
have made no difference In the out
faces and the adobe walls of the ing to the topic deliberately, desper In silence.
It did affect Van, of course.
Gall felt tired and blue; discour come, for even little Ariel knew
oldest buildings wore an odd pale ately.
Wandering about the room tn a
“Oh, forget It! He won’t marry aged about Phil, about Ariel, about that she mustn't expect to go places thin cotton kimono, she addressed
glimmer of white.
her own hopes and plana concern just because Gal did. She wouldn’t herself aloud.
"Maybe we'll go over to the beach her," Van assured her easily.
have come. She would know that
*T think," she began a Uttle ing Van.
Sunday," Van said,
“You poor fool I You thought you
■
“1 may be engaged to be married they might snub her.
thickly—“I think what worries me
“I wish we were there now I"
might be engaged tonight!
And
yet
the
memory
of
the
little
"Take you In a minute!" he of Is Ariel. She's proud, she's so sen this time tomorrow night,” she
“Well—you may be.
sitive—"
thought, when she was in bed. read Hying pink figure and the shouted
fered eagerly. The girl laughed.
“I'd like to be, Just to get even
“Shucks I She Isn't any prouder Ing. "There's a moment when one “Have a good time!” In Ariel's odd with her! I’d like to be so stun
"A hundred miles," she said drily.
"And we'd get so hot going over, or more sensitive than you are!” isn't, and then suddenly—one Is. ly deep voice would not let her be ning. so smart, so popular that she
and be so tired coming back, that Van said unsympathetically.
He That's all there Is to it Girls do at peace. She was gnawed by hung was wiped out of sight . . .
hated to be serious, Gall knew. He get engaged; almost every girl gets er for Ariel. Incessant and deep.
we wouldn’t gain much."
"I hate her. . . . No, I don't sup
__
Van's mother proved to be a thin’. pose I hate her. . . . Yes, I do.”
engaged."
“Ice cream at Dobbins’!" he sug- was hating it now.
She
thought
of
the
Fosters
and
|
dark,
smart
womau
U>
a
beautiful
«TO
i-OMTIMITWO >
gested.
“The thing about Ariel Is," Gall
Th‘ LUCKY LAWRENCES
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
the Delahantys. Three, busy, home
ly unmarried sisters In each fam
ily. Two In the post office, two
teaching school, one In the library,
one a stenographer. Gail's heart
failed her.
It was not fair that some girls
should travel, go places, do fas
cinating things, and that other girls
should drudge away at the library,
year after year, while hope died
and youth faded and enthusiasm
was spent—like the Fosters’ and
the Delahantys' enthusiasms—<upon
church fairs and preserving fruit
“It’s not right,” Gall said solemn
ly to the shabby old silent room,
through whose windows the hot
smell of pear trees and burned
grass was penetrating from the
dark night outside. “There’s noth
ing in character, if it only gets you
what the Fosters and the Delahan
tys have got!
“I’m not sure," she decided dark
ly, “but what Ariel’s in the right 1
I’ll bet she gets to London before I
do!”
T