The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-28

| hand tightening slowly about the
arm of her chair.
| II seemed 10 be very brief. She
read it again and yet again. Then
/ she rose. and glancing briefly at
! Linda, went slowly out of the
room and upstairs.
All through breakfast next
morning old Miranda was strange
IN silent. From time to time she
glanced at Linda rs if she were
about TO speak, but uncertain
how to phrase something she had
to say-as if that something
might be unpleasant.
perhaps" Linda thought,
she's getting ready to tell me
she doesn't want me here any
more. . How am to tell her
about-Barry and me. if she feels
| like that? But | promised Barry.
So she vacillatcd all day, dcbat-
ing, drcading. She had almost
summoned her strength for the
ordeal that evening after dinner
when old Miranda said, Judge
Baldwin'S death has been a shock
to me why | do not know; for
nc has been i'll for years. He was
one of my oldest friends
Judge Baldwin," echoed Linda
| blankly. Il hadn't
He died this afternoon. Miss
Chatham phoncd me-"
Il was at this moment that JEFF
ferson appeared TO announce Mrs.
Rita blanchard Before old Mi
randa could speak, Rita was on
the threshold behind him. For q
moment she poised there, one
/ hand resting against the door
/ frame. the other against her
throat. as if to control an over
! whclming emotion.
Then she cried, "Oh, poor dear
Mrs. Trent"
With swift rush she crossed
the room, and sinking to the low
stool by the older wOman'S chair,
she caught one of her hands IN
both of her own and pressed 1t
against her check.
IL had TO come" she burst out
when old Miranda did not speak,
but continued TO sit, motionlcss,
looking at her fixcdly. IL thought
perhaps can't we comfort each
other? IL can hardly realize
yet that we have lost him. q.
| Oh. but you-you don't know
yet. do you? You must not
blame Barry. He wanted to tell
YOU before he went. He beg
gcd me to marry him last night.
If | could have guessed"
Then old Miranda moved and
broke her silence.
"My dear Rita" she said, a
mirthleSS amusement in her old
eyes. you must forgive me if |
seem unrcSponSivc. But there
seems TO be an epidemic of this
sort of thing. Is it possible that
you have not read the morning
news? If not, this will doubtless
interest you"
Reaching behind her, she pick
ed up the morning paper and
spread it before Mrs. Blanchard'S
startled eyes.
Old Miranda had been right.
The paper had made a noble dis
play of Magda Shirley'S story.
Headlines blazoncd:
Magda Shirley Says Engaged
to Wed Lost Navy Flyer
and just opposite:
Grandmother Of Captain Trent
Denies Pilot Planned to
Marry Screen Siren
There were pictures of Barry
and Magda-that of Barry caught
as he stood by his plane that last
night; that Of Magda in one Of
her most inSinuating poses.
When Rita had gone. Barry'S
grandmother said dryly, "Shc
really made a magnificent en-
trance. The Shirley. herself could
not have been more convincing.
Too bad / had to spoil the
act. Well, we'll, wonder
who will be the next"
"NOt l." thought Linda. "Not
|"
For after all, what proof had
she that either Magda Shirley or
Rita Blanchard had lacked. She
had no papers. Barry was gone.
Judge Baldwin was dead The
only witness to that hasty ccre-
mony had been that chance WISH
tor. already. no doubt. Stcaming
toward England.
No. Linda thought, promise or
not, she could never tell old Mi
randa now.
All that long evening as she
and Barry's grandmother sat
SpcechleSS for the most part-in
that silent empty house, she made
plans in the back of her mind
incoherent, stupid plans, born Of
a numbed, despairing mind. All
evening she was aware that old
Miranda was watching her under
yelled lids, baffled. speculative
look in her tired, shrewd old eyes.
And all about them was the
fresh, spicey odor of balSam from
the tree that stood, stark and
bare in the front parlor. To-
night. Barry was to have been
here to trim the Christmas tree.
TO be continued)
CatastrOphieS in b c kitchen