Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-04-04

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former personality as Nance Belden.
Lanny had heard Doctor Burt discuss
such rare cases and she glowed with
pride In the knowledge that at least
he had secured a perfect specimen.
Il decided we wouldn't have broiled
lamb chops, Lanny." the girl went on
brightly. 80 I've made a ragout."
You mean, In good old Americanese.
you've concocted an Irish stew"
You're so amusing, larry A ,tew.
of couv,e. 'fhe difference between a
stew and a ragout Is entirely geo.
g,aphic. A ragout in France, an Irish
stew in the United States"
'Ilave you lived in France?"
Eight years, Lanny. Went to school
in Switzerland and learned French
there"
Are your people French?'
Il think | was there alone" The
girl appeared puzzled. ~ don't re-
member my mother, but I had a ia
Their. He was such a dear, but he's
dead"
"Were you happy there?"
mo. | was perfectly miserable"
"Why?"
because my father wasn't with me-.
We'd been such pals"
"But you must have lived with some
body"
There was Laurette, the cook, and
Babette. the maid"
ibid you graduate?'
mo, | left school when father died,
route to Europe. I've always had a
feeling he was coming over to see his
Penelope. lie loved me very much,
l.anny. He was adorable. He used to
tell me that | was all that made his
life bearable. Somebody-I forgot
who-told me he wasn't my real fa-
ther. that ! was a founding he adopt
ed. | wouldn't believe that at first,
but when / read his will ! knew it
was So"
what sort of woman was his wife
or did he. have one?"
81 haven't the slightest idea, but |
remember the will stated very positive
ly that be had settled with her, that
she had accepted the settlement In full
satisfaction of her dover rights. and
he made my income from the trust
Just sufficient to support me decently
until | should come of age. He said
l., III. .fIf A., - ia 4lt- -. T..
cause of any lack of affection for me.
but because If he made me an excess
sive allowance. his divorced wife
would have control of It during my
minority. He must have despised her"
We'll. If she could have control of
your income during your minority. she
must have been your adopted mother"
/ the practical Lanny reasoned. And
you must have lived with her following
the divorce. That's why you didn't see
your father In Europe. You must have
been there with your foster mother.
Laurette. the cook, and Rahette. the
maid. argue an establishment. DO you
remember everything that has hap
pened to you since that day Dan Me-
Namara brought you to Doctor Burt's
officer"
Perfectly"
Ever have funny thoughts about IT."
The girl stared at her shrewdly.
How strange that you should ask that
question, I.anny. | do have funny
thoughts. Sometimes I'm Mortified nj
the memory and could die of shame:
al other times 1t seems perfectly all
right, but those are the times when
I've been nervous and sleeplcss: some
times ! think there's something wrong
with me-. because people often refer
to me as Nance Belden and to things
I've done and which know very well
! haven't done. And yet II seems to
me sometimes as If had-just a
wrath of memory. like Rn old dream.
But still I'm strong and healthy"
"But a little given to spells Of
nervousness?"
I'm moody" The girl seemed in
ierested In herself to an unusual de
gree. "Some days ! like to do things
that are perfectly intolerahle TO me
on other days, Some days I'm 81 dem
0cratic | could 20 Ouf to dinner with
a garbage man-other times can't
bear to be with anybody but nice
people She sighed and turned to
inspect her sav0ry ragout ~ wish
! knew what wanted in life and |
wish | knew somebody that wanted
me. OF course | car pay my way
through life. hut it's terrible to be
lonely. I.anny."
She faced I.anny again. "Now.
when decided to east M. self on your
hospitality. I.anliy, 1t seemed to me the
most natural thing In the world to do.
But today I'm covered wirh confusion.
I've deliberately imposed myself upon
our peace and privacy"
Listen here. Penny. my GEAR. You
aren't the only lonely w0mnL In this
world. Believe II or not. the first
spring buttercGp isn't a bit more wei
come In old lady Ianning's house thar
you are"
The lost one beamed upon her. Il
believe that I.anny. Oh. I.anny. when
I'm happy I'm so happy and when I'm
wretched I'm so wrefched."
'fon think too much about that nose
of yours. my poor child"
The girls hand flew 10 that organ.
automatically. L,unny fhought) as n