The Coolidge examiner., 1934-06-29
CHAPTER vII-con,iaued

It's a committee meeting"
when do we have lunchT-
We don't Rachel Is IN bed
with neuritis~
Celia moved resiiessly around the
room. iow shabby Il looked, No
one had busted The flowers were
dropping. Clmpsed through the
rain-splattered windows the square
was dismal and forlorn- How could
jamie Dc contcntcd. reading beside
The hearth
Peter Bruce 'phoned you" JAMIE
said.
"Whai did he wnnig-
I don't know
Celia didn't care. Peter Bruce
wiih bis thick rel hands Was this
% BE- her ufe7 she drooped ike =
willing flower into the chair be.
side the hearth. II only Carter
had come
Hugh came IN presently. Celia
frightened q little. They had a
picnic lunch In front of the FIRE
scraps of chicken. buttercd toast.
cocoa and cakes
Hugh talked 20 Celia and
watched the shine Of the freight
on her honey-coiored hair. Lovely.
be thought. the curve of her throat.
her delicate oval face. She would
always he lovely. Her bones were
beautifully formed
JAMIE lay on the hearth rng and
looked az Hu-h. Celia would make
him miserable. she thought Hugh
was sincere and honest and nne.
lie would worship Celia and Celia
would take advantage. jamie didn't
want Hugh TO be hurt Il was mis-.
erable. being hurt. Don't fan In
love witt her. Hugh. on. darling
laughing Hnghr~
The do1r-hell rang. Celia slipped
away 20 answer a. \ tail young
man In n belied coat stood on the
spiashed STEPS.
rs this Doctor Ballarfs resi-.
denceT A southern accent.
Yes The rain was falling on
his wavy dark hair. Ills face was
dark even whsn he smiled His
teeth were very white.
Il Miss Ballard az honey
Celia answered In person.
why. Carter Shelby :" The sll.
yer harp strings were iamiiy drawn.
She advanced TO meet him. both
hands extended In a pretty gesture
of greeting.
Ny car broke down" Young Mr..
shelby was explaining. smiling
down al Celia. holding both Of her
han-is- Il left Il and came on the
train"
Gala led him Into the living
room. She chnttered brightly. She
intr 'duced him 10 jamie and TO
Hugh.
lie onght 70 wear costumes.
jamie thought A brocade vest. a
coat with velvet lapels. Strange
that rs face was dark even when
Re smiled
Women Ike n suggestion % uys-
tery. Hugh thought. He doubted Y
even In the very far South they
spoke with such an exaggerated
drawl He thought OF the gambler
IN "Show Boat Ravenal-that was
HIS name. Celia seemed nervous.
He wished he could help her some
how
Have you had lunchT' Celia
asked when Hugh had taken his
coat and jamie had pushed the arm
chair close 20 the FIRE.
well. no. As matter of fact
He accepted n cigarette and bent
TO the lighter Hugh snapped.
Lunchl Celia thought OF Rachel
In bed with neuritis. She thought
of what was left In the icebox. she
thought OF Mother lunchlng with
Mrs Leland. She felt very badly
used.
JAMIE was sorry for Celia. She
couldn't bear II. somehow. TO see
her shaken and nervous She
wished she had busted this morn
INK and rearranged the flowers.
~our maid Is IN" she explained
20 Carter Shelby, ''and Mother
Isn't at home. Last night we killed
the fatted calf" She smiled her
wide gay smile. There's nothing
left but the bones"
Hugh laughed. Why win she say
esch things1 Celia Inwardly fumed-
Carter Shelby smiled.
The prodigal son." he said, "did
not depend on a motor Null
berry Squarei You described 1t so
beautifully, Celia"
Celia's lips trembled- jamie thought
very quickly.
why don't you 20 out 10 Aunt
Lucy'sY' she suggested
IN call her" Celia felt almost
grateful TO jamie.
They heard her talking at the tel
ephone In the hall IF IL
wouldn't be too much trouble" The
silver harp strings were singing.
Thank you. Aunt Lueyl That's
simply darling Of you :"
She was smiling when she re-