The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-12-20


 the odor Of dying flowers and the chill gloom which only so mourn ful function can radiate seemed still to cling aloud the spacious room. It bore an air of unfamiliarity, too, | which was due in part to the fact that the massive furniture had not been replaced with the exactitude which its long established position l warranted. The little faded woman who ap- peared noiselessly on the threshold and peered within. much as mouse might have done, seemed at once to sense the general atmosphere and perceive it's source. She entered, and as a light footfall sounded upon the stairs she laid her slender arms about 3 huge old armchair and strove with l all her frai1 strength to move it to- l ward the table. "Oh, Aunt Fife, what are you do- ing?'' The words were more an ave- l struck exclamation than question, and a. young girl halted in the door l way as had the older woman at first. She was small and 1.-the; a dark, been pretty in other circumstances. Now her big soft eyes were deeply encircled, and her clear; dark skin l cha1ki1y paIlid.
 l Peters and Gerda have been sad. ly careless in rearTanging the room. ! dear. suppose T. must not scold then atat such q ] tiIe, bu! rhs shGn1d '3t1a l less as her personality. You know your stepfather always likes this chair nearer the light"
 1 Well, do let Peters attend to it later and come into the dining room!'' It was not impatience but en- treaty which sounded in the seeming l horrible in here! Haven't father and the boys come down yet? Rannie's always late!"
 You have no patience with his in- l Hr-y,,6 May I,i1 1T, sponded in gentle reproof as she fol- lowed the girl into the brilliantly lighted dining room, where at one end a round table had been laid for six. Remember, he cannot run up and down the stairs as quickly as you.''
 "Oh, did not mean to be unkind!'' l Nan Chalmers spoke in quick re- morse and her eyes darkened as she added in half whisper, "We should none of us be unkind to each other, should we? We cannot tell which will be the next to be taken!"
 ''It is the Lords wiI1.'' Hiss Efie's soft, resigned voice was lost in the clear, f1ippant tones of a young max and the deep rumble of that of an eldest living stepson entered the
 room together.
 Richard Lorne turned to the i'm. passive butler.
 Dinner, Peters. We shall not wal for Miss Chalmers.
 Soup was almost finished before ths 1 beauty of the family. appeared l Christine was twenty-two and re
 sembled Eugene in her co1oring, say, | that her blondness was of a colder more brilliant type, and there was n' hint of weakness in her exquisite lpe-fectly chiseled features. She car
 ried herself with the assured air o one conscious of her beauty, and he elaborate crepe gown made the nor
 simple mourning. of her sister @ane fo1 6,xxr1 h1y< ov-iro
 Eve been frightfully busy. sh fannounced as she seated herself. .'It' a, bore to try to separate the Shee]
 from the goats; but one simply mus know whom merely to send cards te
 and who must be replied to person
 ally. Why do people send condol
 ences, anyway?''
 Usually to be on the safe side il
 case they may have been remem
 bered in the will" Rannie locke,
 up with a strewd twinkle in hi sunken eyes.
 T hope, my dear, that you hay
 not touched the pile of correspond fence on the desk in the library" Mis-
 Ellie Meade glanced at her butterf1
 n1ece i'll nervous depreciation. tt
 have it all nicely arranged fo
 Gene: he says that he will attend t .- it this evening""
 " Christine tossed her head. m II meant my own personal mai ,n Aunt Fife I assure you, it's quit
 ders"
 g Randell the cripple, thrust himsel forward suddenly in his chair Mus
 we be hypocrites eternally? w n grieve, of course, each in our ow k, way, and that concerns only our ow IS souls if we have any, but there j .s something else back in the minds C V aH of us. and that is fear! Eve Y n you. even dad! Why, look aroun W the table! Aren't we each askin # ourselves: Will be the next? wi 1r hoJ; .< 1s the Lords will?''
 This is madness.' Richard Lorn 1S put down his coffee cuT, which he ha u, held suspended in a shakine han y while he listened as if hypnotized |
 ms stepson's harrangue. sLet | near no more of this, this wild ra.
 ing!
 y He gtrode from the room, an
 Randall laughed shr..ly
 You see? Can't bear to have h er ,nnermost thoughts brought to tn ,4 .. light of day!" sr But the others were not listenin, o U he had bade them, and each read i
 me eyes of the others the namelet ,,, thlng which had been locked up 1g week. on ln all eyes save those of the rs' mothers sister. Miss Efie they shor Id through, fnrough her tears with an amo ,a, silence she rose and put her ar he y tenderiy about the cripp1es sfou ,r tome, Rannie, you are all oye he wrought, and the fever mustn't ri.
 again. You know what pain it alwa,
 prlngs- Lie on the couch in n a room and let me read to you for ne The boy flung her off impatiently he Let me alone, Aunt Fife I'm n,
 a child, I tell you! I'm wise. wis nd than all of youi'' " A' i'd Nevertheless, he suffered bar :, Tt. lead him from the room ana or esoeu her when. on the threshol Dr. Iou'n find the light just right lat snink, over the desk, Gene sf ,et saio. Don't work too late dea De ansre are so many letters, and I e.
 ma, ma tune to help you in the nor,
 As the door closed (.1,risti,. 1,oo~