The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-18
CHAPTER III

SHAf1Eh HI
A plum colored twilight lay
over "Meadowbrook." Thunder
heads were massed in the west blot
ting out the sunset. Streaks Of
saffron edged the churning pillows
of clouds; Thunder rumbled at in
tervals.
Jim, accompanied by the dog,
walked about the grounds at the
rear Of the house. "Meadowbrook"
had an ordered appearance, he
thought. observing details with in
terest. The barn and garage, the
low scattered out buildings were
freshly painted, incredibly white in
the purple twilight. In the yard of
a tenant house beyond the barn
child swung back and forth on
cross-barred gate. An older boy in
blue dungarees followed the cows up
the lane from the pasture.
| The place was not pretentious. 1t
was glorified farm rather than an
estate. The flower gardens at either
side of the house were planted with
simple sturdy things, larkspur and
phlox, calendulas and poppies.
| There was, as far as Jim could
see. only one small greenhouse.
Macpherson must have put his
pride in his pocket when he ac-
cepted the position here. He had,
obviously, little opportunity to use
his skill as a gardener. Jim re-
called the greenhouses at white
| hail." the masses of roses and car
nations, the orchids and gardenias
tended as carefully as infants.
Jim's eyes clouded thoughtfully
1t seemed so short a time since he
had wandered through the green
houses at WHITEHALL" learning
from Macpherson the names of the
flowers and plants, learning geogra-
ply, too, and the customs of other
countries, cutting bouquet of her
favorite Russian violets for Aunt
Emily. dark red carnation for Un-
| Gle James to tuck in his coat lapel.
So short time. The crash, Uncle
James illness, was like a dream.
Or perhaps "Whitehan'' had been
| a dream.
Jim's thoughts turned to the
Vaughns. He had a message for
Tommy. And he had promised to
mend the fishing-rod. He would be
obliged to confide in Macpherson,
ask him for varnish and twine.
The Vaughns' handy-man! Jim
left the graveled path, walked along
the edge of rose garden bordered
with box and across the lawn at the
foot of the terrace, his brief glimpse
into the private life of the Vaughns
gave him a rather clear idea Of
what he'd have been in for if he
had followed Mrs. Macs sugges-
ton. He'd have needed the tact of
a master diplomat, the strategy of
a Sherlock Holmes, the disciplin-
ary tactics of the United States ma
rines. 1t seemed great deal to ex-
pect for SIS week.
And yet, it might be amusing to
stay
What had inspired that idea?
Amazement brought Jim to a mo-
nentary standstill. He discovered,
surprisingly, that under his sur
face preoccupations the thought had
remained in his mind. At least it
would be change He was so
everlastingly tired of his present
existence. Impulse and instinct were
in favor of the experiment. But he
was through with impulse. He was
going back to Long Island He was
going to marry Lenore
The reluctance he felt alarmed
him. Was no emotion permanent?
He'd been so terribly in love with
Lenore. How he had suffered when
she told him that she was going to
marry Frederic Ames! Kay had
been a bridesmaid. She had given
him an agonizing account of the
wedding he had refused to attend.
He had suffered in brooding silence
His noble grief had set him apart
from commonplace mortals. Iris
tam and Isolde, Romeo and Juliet.
Jim and Lenore
He had thought that Lenore was
the love Of his life. What a state
he'd been in when he learned, two
years ago, that she was divorcing
Freddy Ames and returning to her
family in Roselyn. The sleepless
nights he'd spent then! Despair had
favored with wormwood and gall
his bright anticipations. He couldn't
ask her to marry him. He was no
longer his uncle's heir.
And then it hadn't mattered. The
| first time he saw Lenore again he
realized that he did not love her.
She hadn't changed disappointingly.
: She was as lovely looking as when
he had first known her. The trage-
. dy of an unhappy marriage had
given her a new wistful expression.
: He simply did not love her. He