Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-19
ssThe InSider''
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water

neat. At one end of the huge room
was a boarded space. in which fur
niture was stored. Grace and I
glanced in there. The place was dark
and uninviting. In the obscurity
could discern an old-fashioned dress
er, four-post bed on which were
some pillows covered with a sheet.
and, farther back, some chairs and
tables.
That's dark and dusty" I re-
marked. I'VE don't want to go in
there"
No, we don't" the child agreed
promptly, pressing close to me and
taking my hand. There's where
want to so.
attic where stood a number of
trunks and boxes near windows that
let in sufficient light for US to see
clearly.
THE books are in these boxes"
the little girl announced. Let's
open one"
The lifted cover of the box she
indicated revealed a number of boys
books, undoubtedly a part of Tom s
childhood library. We glanced at
one volume after another until we
One of the pictures looked so inter
esting that Grace asked me to read
to her about it. 7r
Seating myself on top of a low
trunk. 1 drew her down beside me,
and read to her the beautifully
written story. The language was so
simple that it required no eXpla-
nations from me. When I had fin
ished the tale I turned to the fly
lao IN rrif C
name, followed by the words, in a
clear handwriting. From Mother"
sat for a long time gazing at
the inscription. I recalled what
Mr.. Norton had told me of Tom s
mother reading to her child tales
, from mythology and from history.
AS 1 unused of the woman whom I
had never seen, my thoughts re-
turned, as they did constantly just
now, to the man who had married
her, and who. as Tom had declared
hotly, had forgotten her. Had he
ever loved her very dearly, or had
he cared more for the second wife,
Grace's mother? And did he care
more for me than he had for these
other women?
An Odd Situation
The grotesqueness of the situation
struck me suddenly. Here was a
man who wanted to take unto him
self third wife! How could any
young girl with even spark of ro-
nance in her heart promise to marry
him?
For I was no longer in any doubt
as to my sentiments toward Brews-
ter Norton.
Hugh Parker's few words last
night had rung in my ears all day.
| They had taught me to answer for
myself the question as to whether
I could ever love my employer. I
knew now that heretofore my feel
| ing for Brewster Norton had been
one of gratitude for his kindness,
| coupled with fiattered vanity that he
| had found me worth attention and
admiration. But 1 could never love
hinl-never!
Yet how could I tell him so? I
dreaded his anger. ] knew also
| that he would accuse me- of caring
| for the man with whom he had
! found mo out-of-doors last evening.
Were I to acknowledge the truth.
Parker would be discharged. I was
sure of this, and I reflected on the
consequences of his discharge. re-
membered Tom and his plans. his
pleasure in his semi-vacation, all the
| hopes that were centered in his as
ISOLATION with his tutor this sum-
mer.
What could 7 do?
I was aroused from my reverie by
Grace's voice.
"Oh. Miss Dart" she was saying.
Are these the clothes I had when
I was little-the clothes that Auntie
was telling you about? Please come
and look AT them!"
ITO Be Continued)