Evening star., 1935-10-13

the board would have considered ad-
visable or proper. But there were
many things the child would have to
learn for herself that no one could
tell her.
For one thing, the old spinster
knew enough about men, If not from
experience, to realize that Sugar was
a girl who would attract men of all
ages. And that women would resent
her. She had that full. ripe. old
fashioned beauty that would have
made her the toast of the town in
Sophia's day.
In spite of her cloistered life, the
old maid knew that curves like
Sugars would never go out of fashion
as far as the male eye was con-
cerned-that the fat. boyished- figured
woman was only a fad.
Sugar was saved from being toe
plump by only slim margin. But
with her red, wildly waving hair
short and curving to her aristocratic
little head in an aureole of beauty
and her odd brown-yellow eyes, she
had the look of a curious small child
a little girl playing at being dressed
up in her mothers clothes, but with
a plumpness which made her look
like a grown-up lady.
A cloud passed over Sophias face
when she remembered the times, in
spite of Sugars conventional life in
the orphanage. when she had been
annoyed because of Sugars appealing
beauty. That time the superintendent
of the institutions school had kept
Sugar after the others left.
Miss Friddle had walked into the
school room to find the little l5-year-
old girl struggling with the old man.
He lost his job the next day. but
there were still some of the board
who thought Sugar had probably led
him on.
Sophia had always thought it would
be better for her charges to go to
the public school, But the people
of the town objected, and that made
1t necessary for the institution to
maintain its own school system. 1t
meant that the children had abso-
lutely no outside contacts with the
world until they we're thrust out into
it. in all strangeness. at II years of
age.
For more than an hour Mother
Friddle and Sugar talked of Sugar
new life. The matron was tempted
to disillusion the girl several times
when she realized her dreams of good
times, pretty clothes and wonderful
friends were unlikely to come true
for long time. But she decided
it might do more harm than good.
Things, she had found, had a habit
of taking care of themselves.
II wonder" Sugar suddenly sounded
troubled, what Johnny will find to
do. He'll have to 60, too, won't hep"
Mother nodded.
"Yes. I can't keep him any longer
either. I've racked my brain for a
place to put Johnny. He'll be little
difficult"
Sugar was a little chagrined that
she could have forgotten so COM
pletely about Johnny, and what was
to become of him without her
Johnny De Vile. who believed he was
going to be a great artist some day,
and make lots of money, so he could
buy her everything in the world her
heart desired.
Since the tragic day, II years be-
fore, when both of Johnny's young
French parents had been burned to
death in their log cabin in the hills
and the 6-year-old lad had been
brought to the Lorien Orphanage. no
other boy had existed for Sugar.
Even then Johnny could draw; she
was his model. When he was IA
Mother Friddle had managed to find
a patron to keep him in paints and
canvas. His work showed promise,
several people had said.
Sophia knew from Sugars silence
that she was thinking of Johnny and
worrying about him. And she knew
Sugar would want him to be the first
to know of her good luck. She de-
cided, in a sudden burst of under
to break strict rule, hoping
no one would find her out.
"Wait for me-" Miss Friddle got
up suddenly and hustled into the
building.
in her chair, drinking the perfume
from the June flowers, and the sweet
Summer breeze that swept Orphanage
Hill. It was home. The only home
she had ever known. And she must
leave it.
She heard a step and looked up,
to see Mother. But it was
Johnny.
Mother Friddle told me-" he said
huskily. You're going away. She
says we may have an hour out here
alone" He knelt by her chair.
It was the first time Sugar and
Johnny had ever been permitted to
be together, except in the day.
time in the yard. or the sitting room,
with other people coming and going.
In the soft light from the moon Sugar
could see the boys troubled face.
Suddenly she gathered the dear
black, wavy head to her breast. His
arms frightened around her and she
felt his trembling.
Dear Johnny" Her lips touched
his hair and she held him close.
CTo be continued.