The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-06-11
~ AGTE HA YES
uuustroted b. Henrietta McCaig Starrett

And IL wasn't lovely Venice II was
,,a.,,an r;tf,o,,f. Henri ri---inoonlight that
hurt the painfully small Swish o. wafer
scair,st i pondola, the poignant singing
L ronflolier. the great heart breaking
ache OF beauty unshared by one wfaose
lover has died
E.ven an the lovely Conde liner bound
for hon,e and gliding like great white
oalace over an ocean blue as sapphirs
and smooth as ice. June walked tfae
deck alone. tragic depth IN her lovely
eves. a Madonna sadness on her deli
cate features. she was wholly unaware
that men were arranging elaborate COM
cidences In which 10 meet her that
older women looking at her youth and
bearing sighed, and that at least Two
youths from, New England's best families
would 90 home with slim golden Ideal
fiyed In their minds, which would haunt
tl.ern until they were old men.
rT WASN'T until she was on the last lap
L of her iourney--on the little local
which ran up to Marysdale--tlat June
forced herself out of her reyerie. The
small fields rolling away from the train
were familiar now. She was coming home.
soon she would adjust herself TO the
dear familiar things mothers boarding
house, inefficient Myra, who helped IN
the kitchen and waited tables; OLD JED.
who shaved twice a week and did odd
jobs about the yard and house, even
the horror Ut changing boarders, and the
kindergarten classes starting next week
They were all old and friendly. No one
would know she had been fool. Surely
she could bear secretly the torment OF
moonlit nights alonei
Old Jed met her at the train. Fae
was so glad to see her, he wiped .
gnarled hand on his baggy trousers and
pumped her arm warmly.
1t was sundown and Marysdale was st
supper. All the prim New England cot
tages she had known since bahyhood
were hushed for the evening meal, yards
abandoned. Life here was routine, COM
Portable, unromantic. She bit her Lips In
effort to say the usual things cheerfully
TO Jed.
For she realized. with slow heavy
fear, that Henri had changed Marysdaae
from q dear friendly village to lonely.
empty foreign place.
Tho cfarysanthemunas sure looks swell.
even yet, Miss june" JED was saying
proudly There was more gray In the
stubble on his face than she had renem-
hered. Them chrysanthemurns Is big
Ger
aHows mother7a abs interrupted.
"Final Finel Same as always. Got
two new boarders"
In another minute she was In her
mothers arms and little Mrs. Harring-
toms face was shining with welcome.
"Jast Ia time for supper, JtineI" she
smiled.
And sn1ns ss1ielled the fragrance Of q
clean kitchen and New England elam
eiloWder.
"Ons cd the hoarders IL still eating. =
Mother whispered Importantly, bllstling
her into ths house. HES awfilly nice.
Some foreign aristocrat. they say---ttink
of it! Found 1t out from his passports.
Why an important man like hind come
to Marysdale-" Mrs Harrington put
her arm around her daughter fondly and
led her to the dining room where the one
boarder still ate. MIR. Ecoinard, this Is
my daughter, June"
Mr.. Ecomard stood his full six feet
and bowed. his napkin Ia his left
hand and his right hand slightly ex-
tended. Miss Harrington" he acknowl-
edged. his dark eyes searching her face
anxiously and quiazical smile lighting
his face.
"Henril. June breatfed, her lips parted
slightly, her eyes deep pools Of amaze
r.ent.
And Mother Harrington, whose years
of anxiety TO see her guests well filled
superseded her power OF observation
bustled gayly to the kitchen, hurryina
Myra back with chowder for June snd
pie for the foreign gentleman.
So over golden-faked apple pie -
Junes own small home, their eyes feasfed
on each other hungrily.
LyTNALLY when Myra had leftS ane
: Mothers voice could be heard diAect'
Ing Jed outside. Henri spoke quickly mi
7 went back to explain the next morix
ing--When we could be alone. / couldn't
tell you In front of the Conltesse
And you were gonel" He paused with /
sharp intake Of breath, his lips suddenl,
close to her hair '.T-he chatelaine gavi
me your address
.Darlingl" June murmured.
II came to ask you" he hurried on
docs it matter very much whether m.
family are aristocrats2"
And June, looking into his serious hand
some face. knew that nothing mattered
Nothing but Henri.
His hand inclosed hers. "But you Sc
they are, am the only son Of the Mar
auis de Ecomard."
Then you weren't policeman
"Rut. of course! am connected wit
the Secret Service. Even aristocratsi
they have sense--work. cheri."
June, remembering little nook In th
garden, forgot to touch her food.
They were alone IN the tiny garden =
the first evening star twinkled on th
horizon. And they faced each othe
holding hands. eyes eloquent.
"Junei'' he breathed tensely. .sCoul