The Washington times., 1930-10-08
CHAPTER 81

Cathie insisted on taking charge
of Marguerite's burial.
"Of all the crazy things, that's
the worst"
But, Ma, there's nobody but
me, and it, would be too heart
less to never go near her-lusC
let them put her in Pctter's
"Oh, well, have it your own
way. You're a stubborn
And to Gordon, who had come
to take Cathie, she said. See
that she don't overdo, won't
you? She's not the least oit
strong yet, the poor child, but
she thinks it's her duty. she
always was the tenderest-
hearted young one-give you the
shirt off her back, work her
pretty fingers to the bone
"I know, Mrs. Paige"
: sect her back early
"I will, Mrs. Paige"
"Cathie, have you got a clean
handkerchief"
"Yes-two of 'em," Cathie
called back. smiling, gettlng
into the car beside Gordon.
Too Wonderful
It was just too wonderful
having Ma to scold and storm
iust as she used to do, being
able to see the love in her
gentle eyes. and having Cor
don, too.
Being home again. Sleeping
In the back bedroom in the old
oak bedstead with the blankets
that were yellow from many
washings. Waking to hear the
street cars rafting down Hayes
street, and the cricketS in the
back yard. Waking again
to smell coffee percolating in the
kitchen, to hear Ma rattling the
stove lids, to be able to run out
and help, and be one OF them
again. happy.
TITS so good, Gordon, to be
home again. To have you. l
don't believe my knees will ever
knock together again. I'll never
be afraid of anything. Lies
done its worst to me. There
can't be anything but good
ahead"
He didn't answer in words.
Just squeezed her hand. and 1t
seemed to Cathie that that firm,
warm pressure would give her
courage to face whatever was
left in life to face.
Certainly it got her through
the day. After she had looked
for the last time on tn White:
still strangely beautiful face OF
the woman whom no one but
she had come to mourn, they
went to the place on Stockton
Street. where she had lived.
China Lilies
r. was an attic room in an old
house on the edge OF Chinatown.
It might have been the very
house where she lived. many
years ago, with her mother.
It was. very bare, but tneN
white-washed walls were clean.
There were clean white cur
tains at the windows. and there
was a white spread on the old
walnut carved bed. And over
on the dresser, faded, but still
pungently fragrant, six ivory
avs GOLD China lilies stood In
o glass of water.
China lilies. In ner
dead husbands room, IN her
own cell in the Jail, and here.
did Cheong know Of this?
I mean, did he ever come
here?" she asked softly.
why yes. He helped to
trace her. I don't know that
he ever came here himself"
Cathie looked away. She
thought of the newspaper stor.
les she had read. that
fat, Italian widow with the
shawl and the veil. who was
supposed to have been Mar
guerite's only visitor
could it have been Cheong?"
A little picture of Cheong N
a long skirt, and a shawl
flashed before Cathie's eyes
Intuition? Just a no.
ton? It couldn't have been
Still they do marvellous
things with makeup . It
might have been.
Timidly, she asked Gordon
Did he think she was right?
My dear, I don't know" he
told her earnestly. "The old
fellow was very wise, more wise
and powerful than we'll ever
know. It might, have been
he or it might have been
someone he sent. Depend on
it, If, Cheong had a hand in it,
the truth will never come out.
Besides, it wouldn't help to
know. Alfred Farnsworth is
gone. and we know that he
wanted to go. The doctors
story of that last visit with
him should heln lis to forget
the tragedy. Though she didn't
mean to be, Marguerite was
kind. She gave him, the swift,
merciful end he wanted, in.
stead of invalidism and agony
-. and she's gone. too, zone
beyond censure, gone where
we'll hore her queer troubled
soul finds peace"
Zee! Away
She let him lead her away