The Washington times., 1936-01-23

1lOOO OF memories SWcPI ONcI
her, washing her heart clean Of
the last fostering resentment
against Aunt Nettie and the girls.
After all, she had had dad all
those years that she was growing
up. Nothing could rob her of
that. She'd had companionShip
and love and ecstasy, and if she'd
also had heartbreak and made
mistakes, that, too, was in the
past. She was still young and
strong and alive. She'd show
them. show everyone. Make a
career for herself do things. .
be famous. . found hospital for
children and name it after dad.
CHAPTER XVIII
The graSS-Scented wind from
the hills swept through her hair,
her hat lay forgotten in her lap.
Christie had forgotten where she
was and why she had come. She
was so filled with hope and the
loneliness Of life.
It all seemed so simple. She
went back to the house all aglow
with eager pride.
But as she opened the front
door and stepped into the hall
she knew that something had hap
pened. Something about the
look in the maids face, the
closed doors, the unnatural quiet.
For a moment it oppressed her.
But only for moment. She was
bursting with her news. Not
stopping to powder her nose,
smooth her hair first, as she had
been taught to do, she rushed to
the upstairs sitting room, where
Nettie and the girls were usually
to be found in the late afternoon.
The door was partly open. They
were all there. Aunt Nettie in
pale lavender tea gown, Adele in
powder blue. Isabelle in black
and scarlet pajamas. The tea
things were still on the table by
Aunt Nettie'S side. Empty cups,
bits Of crumpled cake, an I'M
touched platter of bread and but
ter sandwiches. 3
well, I've done it! I've got
myself a job. I'm going to train
to be a nurse. In st. Johns Hos
p1tal. was so lucky. The class
is just" m
Isabelle unfolded her long black
silk legs, half rose in her chair,
"You What?"
Aunt Nettie turned, too. Her
cheek looked yellow as old silk
That has been washed too much
and not ironed very well. The
line of her throat was old and
somehow defeated, but even in
that half-averted face you could
see the cold, Steely glitter in her
eyes.
Oh, dear, she'd burst into q
family fight! And there was
Adele, crying again.
She began again, less joyously:
i've signed up to train at St.
Johns. Tomorrow I'm going for
an examination and Friday I'll
get my uniform. OF course. I
won't get paid while I'm in train
ing, but can live there, so II
won't have any board to pay. nor
laundry, and when I finish the
course III have a profession and
4...Wel, I'll be independents"
she finished a little lamely.
Tney were all staring at her.
Aunt Nettie's eyes were dark
and angry in the crumpled ivory
OF her broad, flat faca Isabelle's
were incredulous. Adele lust
looked stupidity out of her red.
swollen eyelidS and then buried
her face on the back of the vel.
low satin loVe-Seat again.
BE just a little careful. dear
I'm afraid-the satin will stain, l."
Aunt Nettie murmured, and then
turned back again to ~stare at
Christie.
Isabelle laughed, Mother, you're
precious! You do think of the
furniture in moments of stress.
Here's Adele. with her heart
broken, and"
But Aunt Nettie turned on her.
her usually placid face distorted,
her quiet voice raised to throat
ing shrek!
BE quiet, you silly girl! What
are you talking about? Heart
broken Her heart isn't any
more broken than mine. Keep
quiet, tell you, Isabelle! And
TAHI too, Adele, stop sniveling.