The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-10-24
JOSSELYN'S WIFE
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

liiiidu gong 10 tndl dinner HI
the Plaza-Mrs. Wallace. Your father
begged off. but she says she has to
60" Ellen reminded him.
"Oh, so she is And she stays over
night, doesn't she? Well, if dad doesn't
need the car. j may keep Torrens In.
then, and drive out after the dinner.
] could just as well stay at the studio !;
/ have TO be in town tomorrow-but
wen see. Don't worry if I'm not here.
Come on, Tom, we're all readyw
Ellen followed them downstairs. her
: heart dark with suspicious well in
keeping with the foreboding sky and
the cold duh air. When the plans
for the day were discussed at the
breakfast table, she listened, her
tragic gaze moving from her husbands
face to Lillian's serene face.
81 wish could go into town when
you do. Gibbs" Lillian said indiffer-
emily, giving Tommy the cherry from
her grapefruit, but I'm not going until
late, and I'm furious at having 10 go
at ALL I hate the Wallaces, I'm wor
y
gether my dolly is stuffed with saw
dustl"
IL suppose we couldn't be rude to
them again?' the old man said,
doubtfully.
81 suppose we couldn'ti' she an
swered, smiling. mo, and l wouldn't
have you go in with that cold, either
I'll go in about five and stay at the
Plaza and have a really nice time. so
don't give ii another thought You
have to go this morning, Gibbs~
"Nowl !" he answered. rising Pm
painting a lovely society lady, weight
three hundred. and a mustachel y
Tommy laughed gaily, danced with
his father to the door, and watched
until the roadster disappeared down
the drive.
The day wore on AT eleven o'clock
Lillian. whose woman was shampoo
ing her hair, wandered, with all its
glory spread loose over her shoulders.
TO Ellen's door.
"Snow, Elem"
Ellen had been writing, but had
stopped, and was staring bhndly ahead
of her through tear-filmed eyes. She
was glad she did not have TO face
Lillian as she looked out Of the
window.
$50 1t Isl" she managed to say
husllily.
Lillian wandered on, stood in the
bathroom door, where Lizzie was
working mittens and warm wooden
wraps upon the excited Tommy. When
she turned back into Ellen's room the
younger woman had entirely recovered
her self-control
While they lunched, snowfialzes fut-
tered softly down from a leaden sky
A wind began to whistle about the
corners of the house. Outside there
was great emptiness. an appalling
silence. Ellen forced herself to settle
down with her father-in-law in the |
study after lunch; the old man
seemed supremacy happy as she |
opened "Jean Christophe." He was es-
tablished in his great chair by the fire. /
with plaid over his knees, and in
terrupted the reading now and then to
himself upon having es-
capped the necessity of going out that
night. But Lillian seemed as restless
and nervous as Ellen did.
At four o'clock she came in to say
goodby, exquisite in her furs, and
Ellen suddenly decided TO try to walk
herself into a better frame of mind She
saw Torrens walking about the big
ear, as she went down the drive, and
presently 1t passed her and she waved
10 Lillian in farewell.
1t was bitterly cold, and a strong
wind was blowing. The snow fell fit
July: the storm was coming, but II
vas not yet fairly under way. Ellen.
usually normal and sensible enough.
'elt a sense of impending horror close
lpon her She did not want to go
nick to that dreadful house where
;elfshness, and deceit, and cruelty
iourished
But she did go back, and sent her
vet shoes downstairs by Keno. and {
lowly got herself into something {
warm. Sut Wtnt w lit ctuhss Nhtit |
ust before dinner Josselyn. Senior, {
oined her. Ellen was almost frantic
ow with underlined nervousness, her {
ands were icy cold her face burned. {
nd when one of the maids dropped :
poon at dinner she gave sharp little
nv. She and her farher-In-law were {
lone at the stately meal.
Here comes the Storm he said s
as wild assault of wind
rove violently against the windows $
"Oh. I wish Gibbs were here!" Ellen y
reclaimed. with suddenly watering a
yes. "Here-or that were any T
here In the world. with hirnl' her r
cart added. Z
And tonight where was he, while she
ent silently and heavy-henrted about J
lis house of shadows and menacesf $
he thought tormented her like a gnaw- .
IL pain. Where was he? Who was Il
1jaying the smile she loved so well, s
IL accents of that wonderful voice? n
he was NOT beautiful. as Lillian was. d
re was thin and nervous, and allen =
his atmosphere, but she was his II
lie. after all-she was the same Ellen n