Henderson daily dispatch., 1935-09-06
CHAPTER l


THE HANDS that held the pearls
were waxen and trembled with ague.
Their touch sent a chill through
Carol Kennedy as she half turned
and leaned forward to have them
elasped about her slim white throat,
Straig she touched them
briefly as though to feel their beauty.
The touch of their cool st1oothness
on her tingertips brought a light for
an instant to her eyes.
Aunt Helen beoar. to speak. Gym
khia dropped her hand to har lap.
"Matilde's pearls. Howard. how
generous of you to give them to
Carol. Quite a gift. my deaI. for a
girl on her twenty fourth birthday.
What have you to say to your Uncle
Howard, my dear"
Suppose l stand w and tel him
what / think of all ~ you ard his
,Nearls," Carol thought ,yriTnly. "Or.
<erhaps. I'm expected h' make lit
tie courtesy and kiss him on his yell
low old brow"
For a moment she couldn't speak.
Her hands crept toward her throat,
The pearls seemed to be coile6 about
IL. More gifts. more bonds forging
her to The Family! Slowly she
looked at each of them in turn. The
aunts and cousins sitting around the
lavish table in the great dining room
of the old house where even the
candle-lights dared not dance IN
shadows on the walls.
So this was her birthday dinner.
was it? Well. she knew they had
come not to do her honor but to lay
down the rules of her life for another
year. They'd done it now ever since
her mother had died However. this
was the important year! Her vast
fortune becomes entirely hers with
this birthday. What would they
have to say about that. she won
dered. Plenty!
Uncle Howard was waiting to be
thanked for the pearls! Or was ne?
Carol smiled at him dutifully and
saw no answer in the sardonic grin |
on his parched face. What enjoy
ment did he get out Of giving her the |
pearls that belonged on the throat |
of a woman as soft and beautiful as |
Matilde had been? Carol was neither |
soft nor beautiful. She was a plain |
girl and suddenly the truth Of it |
Ntabbed through her heart.
"Well, Carol, has the cat got your |
tongue|" Uncle Fred tried a light |
touch.
"Oh! Oh. no, of course not.
mean well, mean. hadn't |
expected such a beautiful gift.
Thank you, Uncle Howard"-and
turning to the rest:
"And thank you all for this birth
day party"
Its nearly over, Cousin Carol.
know you won't mind if Owen and I
leave. We've promised to show up
at the Meacham's party tonight"
Carol felt disappointment sweep |
over her like a child when told that
the party is over. She said:
"Of course not. Kathy. 1t was aw-
fully nice Of you to come and thank
you for your gift and thank you.
DR.. Craig. for the flowers"
For a moment Carols eyes fixed
on the stern dark face of her cousins
fiance lit now with kindness as he
bowed over her hand.
'"The pearls are very becoming to
you, Carol. They add to the air of
regality about you tonight with your
hair coiled in braids like a crown.
hope this year will bring you many
happy things" he said with deep
resonance that brought a flush Of
pleasure to her plain face.
Don't be afraid to use that little
lipstick, dear. You1l find it will help
enormously" Kathy said, gathering
cigaret case. vanity and gold-mesh
bag together creating a little furry
IN the midst of the family that ad
mired but did not approve Of her,
Soon she was gone and what little
sparkle had lighted that dull dinner
party left with her vivid red-clad fig
ure.
''Now, I'm in for it." Carol thought
and sat back in the shadows of her
chair.
Uncle George cleared his throat