Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-14

he withheld? But! This WASH t
like Life as she'd been broupht up
to it. This wasn't like films either!
This Closeup" was something TOO
horrible.
It was in fact her first glimpse OF
Reality, which is no treat TO any
girl. Tor too often not.)
"Hush, hush," whispered the pines.
"Hush - >" He had nothing TO tell
her.
Still battling against the truth of
it. the poor mite told herself he
dared not just because of ter
being Lucy Joy ." and made
her puny effort against Fate.
She tilted her chin, forced herself
to smile regally. and said, you may
keep it."
"What?" blurted out Archie in
CONSERVATION.
MY handkerchief. You may Keep
1t IL you like. AS q sort of mascot,
souvenir. YOU know; to remember
Her voice trailed away at sight
Of the look on the Rover's face.
He said blankly. "Oh, thanks
very much" and stuffed the thing
back into his pocket.
ttlc IoNcT llidl illuuC liltHt
both could have told which was the
girl or the boy.
1t is pity Dante did not describe
afternoon tea in Purgatory. Quota
tions from this are needed to convey
that meal of Archies in the Joys
flower garden, where the finches
twittered about the bath and
the family were unwontedly silent,
only the eyes Of Mummie and
Auntie urging. What Is the matter
What has gone wrong? What,
what is it?"
He left as soon as he decently
might. Next day lie was due tn go
down to Wales, he told them. This
was his good-by. His face. as he
said it, should have made even
Mummie feell positively sorry for
the young man.
And what of the girl?
Upstairs to her room ut the Blue
Bungalow fed Lucy Joy as soon as
as she would never achieve for the
camera. she flung herself down. half
against her pillows. half against the
soft shoulder of her mother. and
sobbed for one impossibility on
which she had set her heart.
CopiOusly she wept, but sincerely.
The girl. for the first time miserable
as woman, meant every broken
word that was received with such
anguished sympathy by the two
who. loving her, could do nothing
for their darling here.
"Mummie. Auntie! cared for
him. l cared, mummie. / thought
he did. l was sure he did. He was
s-s-s-so Indifferent the other night,
Auntie-!"
They always are" murmured
Mrs. Harrison brokenly from her
He was >one OF those. They don't
seem to be able to help it. They
let you get so near them. Then
they're off! Then--well, l don't be-
lieve they're ever really very happy
themselves-"
Il hope he'll be miserable rs long
as he lives" declared Mrs. JOY
through small set teeth. Brute.
Brute to my child"
Her child sobbed. whats so
cruel is that l never did care for
anybody before, mummie! / was
p-p-perfectly happy because l
didn't know what happiness was!
oh, I'd know nowl" The small
warm tear-drenched creature with
ed in her mothers arms. IT'S him!"
In, darling. They never make
good hus-"
band? I've heard you say II your
self, auntie! Only b-before ] met
him l thought l was having such n
lovely time, with my career and go
ing everywhcre-Sir John sending
peaches and orchids! And the Ad-
miral-."
She blew her minute nose before
waiting poignantly, Il should have
said Yes to the Admiral II hadn't
met him. IL liked the Admiral!
And he'd have had you to live with
me at Treillage Court, mummie-"
MY baby"
And frankie he'd have helped to
get on! And | didn't think I'd
noticed the badness and fat!
thought men were so much kinder
when they weren't young. Oh. So
they are!" mourned Lucy, hoarse
with crying. so they are. 1t
doesn't make any difference, though.
Something's made me feel l couldn't
pup possibly marry the Ad-
miral now, auntie."
Mrs. Harrison thought, Then
there's something saved out of the
fire." AS she unlaced her niece's
shoes. loosened the gray silk stock
fngs ct heels and toes, massaged
the feet soft to her fingers as the
bodies of tiny moles, the elder
woman's unspoken comments ran,
That young scamp has done one
bit of good in his life at all events.
Thank God. the child will never put
up with anything less than the
real thing"
Il never imagined anything IL
like this happening to meme! Just
one little lovely flash of happiness
in ones life! Then all black for
ever after! SO terrible"
Il know. my pet, / know"
"-because I shall never be able
to feel like that about ANYBODY else