Evening star., 1934-06-08
SHANGHAI ROSE
By ANNE FORESTER
author of Spite Wife"

tumn afternoon there was to spring
up a strangs sort of friendship,
founded on a reluctant and mutual
respect for the qualities each recog-
nized in the other.
Kitten, with the serene, appraising
glance of childhood, had decided that
Miss Abby would do. Without pream-
BILE now, she began scrambling conf
IDENTIFY into the visitors stiff, silken
lap.
Let her stay-I like it." at Roses
instintive movement. Something long
dead in Miss Abby's atrophied heart
stirred slowly into life.
"They tread on your toes when
they're little and they tread on your
heart when they're grown" she quoted
surprisingly. She sat down looking at
the small, cajoling face-the laughing
mouth, the blue eyes, with their fringe
of smudged black lashes so like Roses
| own.
| For a moment she seemed about to
say more. Then, letting the child slip
slowly to the floor, she held out her
hand in farewell.
Il must leave you," she said. What
am to call you, my dear? Rose?"
Then, at the girls astonished nod,
Bring Kitten to see me-" she
broke of with an exclamation of sur
prise.
Just the night before Rose had fin
ished unpacking the last of the trim
kets in her trunk. A few bits of
ton cup Of clear amber glass. The
late afternoon sun, slanting in at the
window, touched them glowingly into
| life. But it vas the sweetmeat box
| lying in the center of the heap on the
table that had caught Miss Abby's eye.
1t was an exquisite thing-the
sveetmeat box Some inches high.
| covered with finely woven lacquered
/ bamboo, soft as a silk handkerchief.
| The three compartments within it
held six small red lacquer sweetmeat
dishes. The outer lid, ornamented with
carved red lacquer and gold. was sur
mounted by recumbent ivory figure,
beauty and grace in every line OF 1t.
Almost. in packing to leave. Rose
had discarded the box, because of the
bitter memories it evoked, but some
thing in the sheer loveliness of that
Ildu ulSSuducu llcI.
The Sweetmeat box, Rose told Miss
Abby now, had been won by Harvey in
dice game in Shanghai. That it had
also been the cause of the bitterest
quarrel they had ever had she did not
mention. Nor the fact that it had been
won with money she herself had
earned-money she had thought we'll
hidden intending it for clothes for the
then expected child. Even now, look
ing at the box as Miss Abby held it in
her hands, Rose WINGED away from the
memory of that night and the things
she and Harvey had said to each
other
my dear Rose" Miss Abby's shrewd
eyes held an unwonted light of excite
ment, this is an exceedingly valuable
piece. wonder. My nephew JET
fiery collects this sort of thing If
you would care to sell :"
At the mention of Jeffrey Their
rold's name, Rose had taken the box
swiftly from her visitors hands, set
ting it back on the table.
II see." said Miss Abby, with her
enigmatical smile. mo traffic at all
with the Therrolds, eh?"
"Oh, I'm sorry :" A faint flush
stained the girls cheeks. Il didn't
meant isn't you, Miss Therrold -"
Miss Abby turned slowly in the
opened front door-elaborately uncon-
scious as she beckoned toward her car
of the eyes on the porches across the
road.
Its promise that you're coming to
see me-" she said clearly. We'll have
| luncheon one day soon-I1l let you
know" Then in a muted tone, her
hand on Roses own, she said gently:
Don't be foolish, my dear. And
I'd put that box away. It's worth a
great deal. Even if you don't want
the money, Kitten might need it some
day. If ever you do want to sell 1t,
let me know. I can send you to a
dealer in town"
(Tomorrow-Larry Has Plan)