The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-09-11
CHAPTER. 6Sf

L devoted the rest OF my sunday
morning at Dreamwo1d to writing my
weekly note to Jim. It was the Gus
tom for Rosa to send this along with
her own letter. It Inundated me be-
yond words to be compelled to ask
the favor Of her, but it was my only
way of getting in touch with Jim, so
put my pride in my pocket. But
L didn't put my caution there And
since the letter must go through
Rosa's hands, I wrote-discreetly
Dinner, thanks to Rose having gone
off with Lennie Stone, was a. peace
full and pleasant affair. I've never
felt closer to Virginia, nor more
grateful for the privilege of being
close to her. The one thing that re-
Cured life a refrain, but without any
charming witchery refrafns strive to
have, was the unhappy thought of
Phoebe's arrangement from her sis
ter. Even if I had not been forbid
den to do one thing about this, I'm
not sure that I would have ventured
to break the perfect harmony with
what might have been a crashing dis
cord.
After dinner I ran over to Mason
Towers to call on Evvy's decidedly
shadowy parents and to ask about
her. She had been away for long
weeks and though Tom and 1 had
done everything in our power to
get some word to her. we were not
sure that she had received a single
message. It was decidedly irritating
to think that she might still be wear
ing herself out in a wild-goose chase
for Dick West, when I am convinced
that he's come back to the scene of
action, as his tribe has a way of do
ing.
Evvys mother RECALLED me with
choice list of whimpering COM
plants. Then she informed me that
Envy is out in the Lake Louise re-
gion, having a fine time and never
thinking of her poor old mother. The
atmosphere of Mason Towers made
me sorrier than ever for Envy.
don't wonder she's in no hurry to
come home. I have to confess to a
feeling of relief when my visit at Ma
son Towers was concluded and I
could return to Dreamwold.
The region itself brought back all
too wildly the tragic death of Shell
don Booth and the day when, out on
the path near the spot where Shell
don was killed, Envy poured out the
truth about her feeling for Sheldon
Blake. I could almost hear her tell
ing of the love she'd recognized
when it was too late.
Every step of the way thronged
with memories Evvy's tragedy came
first to mind. But it was followed by
reco11ections of Lane Cosby and the
hexagon gold piece he gave me long
ago.
1 found myself wondering if the
day would ever come when I'd ask
Virginia to get it out Of the safe so
I could send it to Lane. Our COM
pact was that if L needed a friend I'd
send for him. But I've weathered
some bad storms without calling on
the 'fbig brown bear" to help me
steer, and so I suppose I'll go on
without taking advantage of his gen
erous offer.
was just patting myself on the
back because 1 was convinced of this,
when an imptsh thought popped into
my head.
Gam Harrison" I admonished my
self, don't fatter yourself that you
are magnificent independent char
acter! You know perfectly well that
the reason you doR't expect to have
to send for Lane now is because
Ralph Lacy's here and you know per-
fectly we'll that you can count on his
friendship and add
When this thought was formulated
I jumped as if some one had shot the
words at me from a gatling gun.
WHY didn't-know that'"
gasped as if in protest" 1 never
thought of that a single time"
Then I scampered up the path to
the house as if some one were put
suing me and the only important
thing in life were to make good my
escape. I found Virginia in the liv-
ing room, putting the last touches to
a bowl of beautiful lavender and
white cosmos.
'@The rooms all dressed up sweet
ly for your friends, isn't it?" she
asked with delight in her pretty flow
err effects.
did you do this just for my COM
pany?" I asked. 'eJeanie, you are
the dearest dear, when you let anyone
mine through the ice and granite and
other f1inty surfaces down to where
you live
I put my arm about about her as
spoke and she giggled with delight
instead of withdrawing haughtily as
I'm sure she would once have done
To Be Continued.