The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-02-22

seen before. -
= why, child, you're right thin"
she said before she had thought;
twice about it. She was sorry the,
minute the words popped out be-
cause it wasn't tactfuL Gypsy was
more than thin. She was hollow
eyed. She looked as II she'd had
sleepless nights.
They chatted for a while but, in,
spite of her most valiant efforts
Mrs. Pettingill discovered the con-
versation was tagging. Gypsy
seemed utterly dispirited. The only
time she frightened at all was
when the visitor spoke Of her
fathers recovery.
That's it." Mrs. Pettingill told
herself as she went down the steps.
She took his illness too much to
heart. She's tagged out. Why, that
child's not WELL"
After she had left Gypsy sat for
a long time, relaxed in the low
chair. staring at the pattern the
maple branches threw across the
porch. Clytie came out after a bit
and pumped up pillows and wanted
to know II Gypsy would like glass
of milk. Gypsy said listlessly that
she thought not; when it got cooler
she was going to walk down the
street with David to the drugstore.
She didn't acknowledge. even to
! herself. what she wanted to do
there. She could see. in her minds
eye, the little telephone booth at
the end of the shop. hidden by the
jutting cosmetic counter and the
lending library shelves. She wanted
to call certain downtown number
she wanted to ask question.
At home someone would be
sure to hear.
1t was 10 days now since Toms
tall figure had flung itself out OF
the apartment door. Ten aching,
dreadful days. At first she had been
angry. resentful. bitter; now she
only knew that all she wanted in
/ the world was the sight Of him,
| the sound Of his deep. pleasant
voice and the touch of his hand on
hers. What had they quarreled
about? What did II all mean? Why,
there was nothing in the whole
world so important as their life
together. To throw it away like
this. without az look behind. with
out a gesture of regret--it was un'
| thinkable.
Nd yesterday. to crown her
"A trouble, Derek, who had been
! drifting toward the dark shadows
ever since that night of the fall,
had died. Some enterprising and
suspicious reporter had caught
wind of the true state Of affairs,
The mornings newspaper had car
ried a story full of yelled insinua'
lions. Gypsy's name had not been
mentioned but it was only a ques'
ton of time. she thought drearily,
before the whole. miserable story
would come out. .-....
When first she had read OF
Derek's death. Gypsy's heart had
ached and her tears had fallen. The
affair seemed pitiable beyond belief
and tragically sad. But now she
had come to see that perhaps
Derek, In leaving life. had justified
himself. He had refused to make a
compromise. He had loved Lila
truly and deeply.' Whether she
would be able 20 1uilH d new happi
ness on the ashes Of his dead love
remained TO be seen.
what a puni5hment for her.
Gypsy had murmured IN pity. She
! had forgotten her own trouble. con
sidering this. And she had wept in
the night. longing for Tom to talk
to, 10 comfort her. l.$
Hunt had stopped by for mo-
ment the night before: He had said
IN q low tone. 'a'Rotten luck fol
him! Rotten luck for us all"
Gypsy had looked at him quickly
and proudly. "You can deny you
-
zuv n, ~,