The Bismarck tribune., 1934-09-27
CHAPTER XXI

although he never let Caroline sus-
pect what was in his mind. He felt
for her the respect he'd been
brought up to show to oil girls in his
own class and he believed that he
could make everything right in time
but that time was too indefinite to
be awaited "a he had awaited their
wedding date. At times he hated
himself for wanting her 50 over
poweringly, but he knew that there
was nothing else in the world he did
want Ambition had never touched
him, or real desire for any other
woman. Caroline and ease, and his
lie would be complete.
Caroline had had no difficulty in
securing her old job At the factory.
The personnel director had listed
her a. . capable and promising
worker He was glad to have her
Jack, although Caroline was sur
prised that she'd got the place when
she saw that the number Of en-
ployes was greatly lessened since
she'd been away.
She spoke to Howard about it. He
instantly took advantage Of the op-
portunity thus offered him to inn
press upon her the fact that his
fathers business affairs were in .
precarious condition. Caroline un-
derstood-it was another plea for
patience. But it was unnecessary;
she had resigned herself to waiting.
Howard's being 1T the factory-al-
though she never saw him there
made it easier for her. After al.
he was working too, saving, perhaps,
for their future. And they had al
most every evening together-hoV
much better that was than the lone
liness Of never seeing him.
They took long drives In the
coupe, dined and danced ct the small
innP which none Of their friends
patromzed, went occasionally TO .
;uburban movie theatre, taking
their limited pleasure where they
found it It was tacitly agreed be-
tween them that 70 parade their
relationship in the haunts Of people
who knew them would serve no good
purpose and cause endless gossip.
Many evenings they spent with Mrs.
Rutledge, in spite Of her protests.
when fhilir was away Caroline
grieved for her mothers lonely
state. But Alva still held out
against Howard and would not &C.
company them out Of the house.
She had grown very frail and deli
cate in the past few months. The
strain Of her changed life, its dis
appointments and burdens, had told
heavily upon her. Caroline watched
her anxiously
One day when she came home
from work she found her mother
reading . letter from her Aunt
Fern -her mothers only sister.
There were tears in Ava'3 eyes
and : wistful expression in her voice
"a she said: "Poor Fern-read it
Caroline" and held ont the letter
for Caroline to take
Fern wrote tha: she. was III and
tired, and would be glad + Ava
:ould come to her for little while.
It was . pathetic appeal, not meant
Co be complaining Or hopeless. but
it filled Caroline with . great pity.
To- both Fern and her mother
"It made you homesick, didn't i,
Nom >" she said impulsively well,
why don't you 60? You need .
~hange, someone to talk 70. fatner
and | will manage al right
Caroline, you couldn't; not with
,u. Mrs. Wade. And there isn't
eny money anyway.
"You're going!" Caroline insisted.
ut may not Be rest for you but It
will be fun for YOU to see theitWlns."
"But darling, don't you think she
sounded as though they were not
very well off might be : burden:
Poor Arthur was never successful"
"She asked you. And you won't
be burden-only you mustn't over
work yourself. You haven't seen
her for . long while, have you?
She's probably as crazy to see you
as you are to see her. And it's your
old home, too."
''Not the old home," Alva cor
rected her. "My father lost that
long before he died."
''ft's your home town, then. And
it isn't too far for me to drive you
there and get back over week enc"
"You could do that, i the weather
was good" Mrs. Rutledge agreed,
Frightening perceptibly. II do wish
Fern hadn't been too proud to let us
help them when We were in posi-
tion to do It. ] always meant to do
something for Jack and Jill-give.
them IN education at least. Now
the poor little darlings have no
prospects ct all." }"