The Washington times., 1931-06-13
CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER 80
Jenny's secret apprehenSions
grew. She was afraid for her
flesh. RapierS Of hot steel
were beginning by now to jump
through the pain in her side.
She did not betray by word,
the rising tide Of fear; but as
her mind began to take on the
cruel habit Of visualizing that
moment when the ether-cone
would descend and conscious
ness plop over into lethaI
torpor, the skin began to
stretch across her face like
hauled tarpaulin.
And yet. to Jennifer, even
though her father had said to
her once in a voice that had
for the moment given her
pause, "Your mother may be a
Sicker woman than We relaize,"
there was something Of a game
In this going Of Jenny to the
hospital again.
Jenny had seen to 1t that 1t
was like that.
BY hook and crook, mostly
crook, her daughter laugh1ngly
assured her, Jenny had man
AGED to prevail upon DR.. Noon
to stretch hospital routine sut-
ficiently to obtain for her a
three-room suite, which was &C
complished by the simple de-
vice of opening doors between
the ordinary type Of room.
There hung over the Rarick
household the air Of some one
about to be married or about
to set out on a voyage OF ex'
ploration. Boxes and packages
began to arrive at the house
three days before Jenny left it.
Her PremonitiOn
"Jennifer, If anything unfor-
seen should happen :"
Mother, I can't bear it!
Why are you talking like that?
You mustn't frighten me, darl'
ing. It's disgusting"
"Jennifer-idiot, stop being a
cry-baby all over my new water
wave. I haven't the slightest
intention Of terminating my
earthly engagement at this
time. I am speaking Of the
"Oh, I know. OF course"
eff I should die, Jenniter
Mother, I can't bear 1t.
YouTl make me hysterical."
IF I should die, Jennifer, Of
which I haven't the slightest
damnedest Intention"
"Then cut out the requiem
mass"
Il want you to be a good
"And not smear my pima
fores. -"
And not smear your pima
fores, and be good-and happy,
Jennifer. I haven't been either.
I'm rotten at moralizing, dar-
ling; I've never done much for
you except love and. :"
IF you say that, I'll drown
myself under 80 of these pink
satin pillows. II I'm a self, I've
myself to blame. Myself, my
own self, nobody but myself"
"AS a mess, Jennifer, you are
clever, beautiful, rich, and de-
sirable. I want you to be good
and happy. I haven't been good
and happy, Jennifer."
IF you don't stop it," cried
Jenniferss taking a long strand
Of her mothers red-sun-colored
hair between her fingers, "I'll
yank." She did, and as they
fell together among the heaps
of pillows, the telephone, for the
dozenth time that hour, began
to crow.
Strange days for the Raricks.
Family dinner three nights in
succession, no guests, but Jenny
at table in the kind Of tea
gowns she affected, high at the
neck, low laces or furs crowd
ing about her wrists, the rather
medieval effect blending with
the sonorous splendor Of the
dining room.
On the Briny
Ramon was on the high seas
by now. On an ocean that
some time, somehow, she had
hoped to sail with him. One
swallowed the pain, grinding
finger nails into tapestry. To
have had a lover who could en-.
cure to be coveted by Emanie
Bursilap! Shame Of that! To
sit there quietly, Tapped with the
low surf Of this small and lovely
music, and only the wall Of her