Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-03-14
''Do you know what a sinner is?"

reason, Selwyn Marsh did. too.
"How is the book coming along,
Mr.. Marsh?" Thora asked.
washed up"
"Then you mean it is finished?"
eyes. Chucked it in the inciner-
ator"
"Oh! But why? And after all the
work you did on it {. :"
"It was no good" the author ex-
planned gloomily, his eyes fixed on
the immaculate table top. Il got
away to a fair start. and then i. {.
| things seemed to happen"
THAT is too bad"
IL guess it's no loss to posterity.
I've been slipping haven't been
able to get my mind on things, some
how. The place has been so damna
bly, upset. Everything has changed
have the feeling -. that it never
will be the same"
| Something in Marsh's tone caused
Thora to look at him closely. 1t
was not only the disconsolate note in
his voice it was somehow re-
fected in his appearance. He looked
baff1ed; his old air Of arrogance
seemed to have vanished. If any
one ever had told Thora Dahl that
she would feel sorry for Selwyn
Marsh. she would have dismissed the
idea as ridiculous. But she did. . {.
Perhaps he was worrying uncon-
sciously over Wilma How could he
help feeling uncertain about her flu
ture. even though he would try to
conceal it? After all. he was her
father and -.
Tt came to Thora like a fash.
What Gordon had said about Mrs
Steele's secret. If that were true,
Mr.. Marsh had good reason to feel
that life never would be quite the
same at Fair Acres. once. its. new
mistress was installed. Being a
woman. Thora could vision what
would happen. Perhaps Mr.. Marsh
was experiencing premonition. He
gave a little sigh. as he looked up
to say:
1T wanted to speak about some
thing, Miss Dahl. Mrs. Steele called
me on the phone last night :"
Thora's lips frightened. For some
reason. she expected that. That
woman had lowered over her like
cloud from the first day she had en-
tered the Marsh home. 1t seemed as
ANXIOUS TO have everything go well
There will be but six besides . the
family. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon ant
Sherm, of course -. and the other:
are all old friends and neighbors wht
!, have known Wilma since she was {
child. Selwyn wished it that way. 81
we are not having any of the young
err people. Except Sherm. I wan
!; them to spend the evening with u:
) informally. but it will not be neces
sary for you to remain after the din.
!. ner is served. I don't want to be E
bit more bother than can help" she
finished sweetly.
"Of course. And when would yor
like to have me come over to the
houSe?'
"Let me think -. About $3.50. Of
6. if you can arrange it. We will
have dinner at 8. That will give yor
plenty of time to see how I have ar.
ranged things and to talk with the
cook and Jim. And you can have
your dinner before the guests ar
rive"
! THANK you. will be there not
later than 6.
"You really don't know what g
load you have taken from my mind
I was almost distracted! This will
all be satisfactory to Mr.. Marsh
l.. told him that was going to
borrow you"
"He said it would be all right?'
Thora questioned. She could not help
asking. 1t had seemed a harmless
favor, the way he had mentioned it.
Now. she was fighting down the
temptation to refuse. But. after all.
that would be a small thing to. do.
She would see it through.
ooh. yes. he was perfectly willing.
OF course I wouldn't have asked you,
without speaking to him first"
II am glad you did"
zone thing I ran over for this
morning was to inquire about poor
Alex. Have you seen him?"
mo. I haven't"
Wasn't it the most unfortunate
thing! To think he had to get that
bump on his face just at this time!
IL was so worried when Wilma told
me. You know. men are so sensitive
labout things Of the sort. I was