Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26
CHAPTER VIII.

&s& ~ A4AN4 1oG6OW - <A4ASS'
" YHAT would she have done
VA without Rob? Except for
wv that first moment when
aharlee's hysterical voice
had broken the news of her tragedy IN
so cruel q fashion, he had stood beside
her.
They had rushed to Westport, where
the doctor in whose office Luke was
lying told them it was matter OF
moments.
Those moments had stretched into
hours as Luke fought to live and
longed to die And then when the local
attorney whom he had demanded be
sent to him came from behind the
closed doors, Anne with Rob beside
her, went In to sit with dry eyes and
courageous smile as he passed on to
join Lucinda.
There had been the double funeral
and then the trying trip to Portland.
to the house which she had left with
them: and there had been Rob, beside
her, his firm arm about her shoulders.
or gripping her arm, or just by his
presence, assuring her of his under
standing.
Slowly the lash fringed barrier lifted,
and the dark eyes saw wide window
silvered with the slant Of rain. Silhou-
cited before this was a basket of
pussy-willows and the tight-budded
sprays of japonica, and clinging to the
stems were pale yellow butterflies,
poised as though for fight.
"Your bath, Miss Anne" prompted
Yvonne. and there is a telegram on
the night stand. Perhaps. Meestair
Croker comes back from Astoria, to-
day. The florist boy said thees was
the last order he have left"
Anne nodded. The three days Rob
had been away had seemed an eternity.
But then she was glad she had him
to depend upon to care for her in
terestS. She wished Luke might know
the valiant way he had stepped in and
shouldered her responsibilities; per-
haps then he would rest more easily.
Anne reached too slim hand with
its blazing solitaire for the yellow en-
velope, but took picture from the
stand. instead-Rob's photograph.
She looked at the high forehead
with its crown of hair so black and
sleek it seemed painted thereon, at
the eyes with their characteristic
narrowing when focused on anything
at the lips, straight, firm.
He'd be able to handle the trouble
at the cannery, all right. She didn't
know the nature of it because he had
said he didn't want her worried. Per-
haps the wire would give her news OF
conditions. down there. She hoped
Neuman wasn't involved.
Eyes still blurred by the determined
pressure of lids, Anne read the tele-
gram.
Anne. dear everything peaceful here
now win leave for home . early be with
one more month and we will never be
separated where go you will go will
some measure for your loss stop ali by
love Rob.
One more month. Anne read the
phrase over again. They would be
married then, not at the impressive
ceremony her mother had planned, but
quietly. And then they would move to
the cozier comfort of the new home
on the heights and Rob would take
charge of her interests in the can
neries.
She swung out Of bed, slipped into
the quilted robe Yvonne held, stretched
white feet for the quilted mules. and
let her maid pin the tawny braids high
on her head
What dress, Miss Anne?"
Instead of her heretofore listless
~anything," Anne studied a moment
Rob would be in town by noon at least
He must be tired of the black she had
worn for the past three weeks. She
would like to wear the canary yellow
wool her mother had bought just be-
fore they left on the trip. Lucinda
would want her to, but the relatives.
Anne shuddered.
Closed in her own suite of rooms
1t seemed that even there the horde
which had descended upon the house
after the funeral penetrated her
privacy.
Swathed in crepe, tiptoeing about
the rooms, whispering and condoling,
they seemed to revel in their grief
1.-THE dark gray wool, Yvonne," she
answered in compromise She could
pin spray of japonica on the pocket
lapel.
Miss Anne" Yvonne was standing
before her h1ark eveS shining with