Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-24

he asked. as they stood in the narrow car a''e'
"How did you know"
"Your mother phoned me ana nc" "
take the train."
Mother phoned you ="
"Sure. Why not? -.
mo reason except why need you nave
Gomez" ..,a ,,,
1t seemed ungracious yet Catherine couio nv
feel glad for his company. She had been rish.
AlreadJ her mother was planning for her mar
rage with Harry She resented being forceo "
accent his care and attention, resented MS ooih-
nant SNUG attitude his feeling that ne was
doing much for her.
Its too bad about your father, ne was say
ing. .but of course those things have to nap
pen One expects them. Too bad for your motiie'
that his losses were SO heavy, but. of course
you'll be all right. Your mother has agreed 10
our marriage as as 1t is decenly pos-
sible which makes me very happy
AS though she had opened the book OF nef
fathers fe Catherine saw the cunning man
agement of his existence by her motner sd"
how she had commanded, regardless OF her
fathers desires.
st can't marry you Harry" she said bluntly.
II feel that you should know it.
you're ill, dear, and tired" he said not un-
kindly.
"I am neither i'll nor tired she said calmly,
"but I am not going to humor Motner any
longer. She ruined fathers life and she is not
going to ruin mine"
"I suppose you want to marry Jonn ana 20
to Texas and live among the poor OF his state.
What would you do without your comforts!
You're spoiled. Catherine.
.rFiE train was moving again and Catherine
and Harry moved toward her compartment
Their path led through couple of tourist
coaches with passengers stretched in chairs Tor
the night Looking down the aisle, she saw
Ii III 0l4 fn md
kiss her lightly and pat her hair The girl half
awakened and smiled as she reached for his
hand and put her head on his shoulder. There
was such love and devotion between them that
Catherine almost stopped to watch
Harry said sarcastically: "Oh, Lord, love In
q tourist coach; and Catherine cringed
I'D rather-have love-in tourist coach, s
tears came at last, "than the loneliness Dad
knew all his life in a private train
She made her way to her own end of the
train fighting back the tears. How close she
had come to making her fathers mistake!
Perhaps life would not be easy with John,
but there would never be that heart-hunger
her father had known. Together they could ex-
plore the world, laugh together, as the ragged
end of gypsy moon slipped out from under
cloud walk in the rain together! They could see
far countries on tourist ships-or hitch hike in
southern climes They would have romance and
love!
hers, Harry sat down with great show of
tolerance
"I can understand, Catherine, that you are
upset But would remind you that love doesn't
feed children or pay hospital bills. You're a
smart, good-looiing girl and we'd make good
team. What do you know of John--except that
he likes to wax philosophical?"
"At least he might have devoted parents in
Texas which is more than ever had"
IT don't know anything about Texas; neither
do you. He is probably as poor as Jobs turkey. I"
Catherine saw the futility of explaining her
devotion to John. saw that those who know
not love can never understand. She cared not
whether Johns people were "as poor as Jobs
turkey" or not
"Where is John now?" asked Harry
"Ie went home last week; said his father
was going away and wanted to tell him good
bye"
More emetionalsm. Only poor people have
that sort of sentimentality, Catherine
Just before midnight the train pulled into
GATHERINGS home town. and she stopped by the
telegraph station to wire John. She had decided
her fate, wanted to secure it by promises before
she looked upon her fathers bier
The girl in the telegraph station had known
Catherine in high school. and spoke pleasantly
When she read the message she said:
did you read about his father in the paper.
tonight?"
Catherine shook her head and the girl pointed
to the newsstand where headline read:
TEXAS OIL MAGNATE REPORTS
NEW FIND IN SOUTH AMERICA
The deck beneath the head said:
John Neaoman, Mnltimillionaire on
Man, Strikes Neao Fortune!
Harry looked at the paper and held out hi
hand.
Congratulations! But don't tell me you didn'
know it all the time!
, FIVE STAR WEEKLY
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Acited manuscripts submitted TO them,
although all due Preea"fio" ~H be
taken that they VW not be lost