The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-07-02
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SYNOPSIS: Tony Latour's de-
 spair when Harriet Noel re-
 joct5 his marriage proposal
 causes his flight to New York
 with tho proceeds of a benefit
 play. Thus financed, he be-
 ocmcs an actor, soon being
 joined by Harriet, wh1 mean
 wbile has left Orchard Hill for
 the stage. But Tony returns to
 tse village after a bitter qrar-
 I'll following his discovery of
 Harriot's engagement tc Roy
 Donovan, their manager. Four
 ycar5 after little Pierfs's birth,
 Donovan deserts his wife, Har-
 riot, taking with him his step
 son, Bruce. Then she returns
 with her son, also talented the"
 atrically, to live in Orchard
 Hill, where, despite the gns-
 sipcrs, she finds TOny . true
 friend. Little Ann Beyis, Pierre's
 devoted playmate, shares their
 happiness, cIoudcd when Bruce
 ccmo5 to live with Harriet.
 Chapter 10
 HARRIET'S FINAL CLUE
 Harriet told Tony how Roy Don oyan, after abandoning her and Pisrra. had gone from bad to worse until no producer would trust him in any capacity. Then, it seems, he disappeared from he theatrical world.
 Why he sent the bcy, Bruce, to Harriet, is a mystery Perhaps he merely wished to rid himself of burden. Perhaps some trace of de- cency, or love for the lads mother, moved him to place the boy under better influence The boy himself could give no clew, nor did he know what had become of his stepfather.
 Bruce Carey, even at this age, was overbearing, in solent and without mercy when he set himself to gain his own ends. But he quickly learned that now, without his stepfather to support him, he must exercise judgment in his do- minion over his foster brother. So he disciplined little Pierre in se- cret, and dared the smaller boy to tell.
 On one occasion only there was rebellion, sudden, decisive and dis astrous, to the older boy. Bruce taunted Pierre with disparaging remark about his mother. It was as if he had touched match to powder, and stone flung with savage intent by the furious Pierre cut his head open so successfully that he was carried home uncon- scious with his assailant following in tears.
 The year that Bruce was IA, Har- riet was i'll nearly all winter and the vigorous, self-willed boy taxed her at times almost beyond her strength. When MT Gordon, one of our village grocers. offered to give Bruce a home and help him to an education, the boy in return to work in the store out of school hours, Antonio insisted that the offer be accepted.
 The rest which came with the elimination of Bruce enabled Har riet to rally and, for a while, she seemed quite well and strong again. But gradually her illness returned and as her vitality slipped away, the spiritual side of her nature be- came more evident.
 The championship of mother and son became more intimate and understanding. Pierre could not, of course, realize as Tony did, the full import of his mothers falling strength, but the lads sensitive na- ture responded and he became in- creasingly thoughtful for her. Vaca- tion time came and they were to- gether constantly.
 To Antonio, during those slow months of her illness, Harriet said many things which she could not have mentioned under other circum- stances-things which are too sa- cred for the old actor to whisper even to himself.
 But of her approaching death, Harriet Noel talked to her old friend with amazing freedom even with a smile. You sec" the old actor explains, "she made me understand and accept death not as if it were the end of the play, but as if it were merely the actors exit from the stage. T feel she would say, exactly as I used to feel in a play when knew that in an- other minute or two would re-