The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-05
JILL ...:::. ::.: :! !: ::.:::, <: ::::: t.

Jill scarcely breathed. "Then?" her eager voice prompted.
 Allan went the educational way. had to drop out. Family for tunes, you know. He studied. He must have been accumulating a vast amount of knowledge, besides indulging himself in the study of art"
 "Oh tell me about that Jill urged.
 She could feel his questioning eyes.
 "The Jeffrys all go in for poli- tics.' he answered. Parliament is a tradition. Lord Jeffry-"
 Lord" broke in Jill faintly.
 "Yes. Didn't you know? He has always been staunch conserva- tive. But he is growing old, and he wanted the mantle to fall upon Alan. It must have been a great blow to the old man when Alan would have none of politics. They quarreled. l believe he told Alan that if he could prove he could support himself with his painting as an Englishman gentleman should be supported, he could fol- low his bent. Otherwise, he must return to the fold and follow his father"
 "oh," exclaimed Jill. Did he agree?"
 "Yes. He's a family loving chap at heart. Loved the old home, an ancestral place called Temple ogue', which in the Gaelic means dear abiding place."
 He paused. Am boring you?"
 "No! Please go on."
 "There's not much more to tell. The Jeffrys have lived in, their home with their fine old crested silver and beautiful banquet serv- ice, and the hospitable motto The ornaments of a home are the friends who have visited it. Gen. erations of Jeffrys. It would take terrific urge, you see, to start one of the family on a different trend. Alan evidently reverted back to some artist ancestor"
 Jill sat with a lump in her throat, her eyes misted over with tears. How many humiliations must have come to Alan in the course of his testing period. One of them - the hardest to bear --- her own careless plan to pave his rock way with gold.
 Thank you for telling me the story" she said in a low tone.
 I'm sorry I can't wait to meet him. Ainsley said. "He is one of the finest chaps I know. But I'm taking Q train out tonight, on my way south to visit friends. Hello -" he was glancing at his watch. I'm running late. I must look up your mother and father and thank them for a delightful evening""
 Don't stop for that Jill said. You might miss your train. I'll tell them for you"
 After he had gone, Jill crossed to @ window and stood staring out. She felt faint and confused. Lord ! Jeffry! Alan was of the English | nobility. Some day he would be an | English lord. They would live in | that splendid old home and carry | on its fine traditions.
 She turned from the window. This must be Milo's dance. How angry he would be, having to search for her. Her gaze focused suddenly on a dim ray of light com ing from under the door that open ed into one of her fathers two study rooms.
 Suddenly, Jill remembered Per kins. Her fathers white face. He must be in the larger study, with 1 the door open. That explained the dim light under the door.
 Something had happened to worry him. On an impulse, Jill crossed to the door, opening 1t quietly. Then she stepped inside and closed 1t behind her.
 Her father sat at a table. His face was evidently toward some visitor. Jill caught her breath. She had never seen her father with an expression like that on his face.
 It was haggard, fearfully lined, gray WlSh some inner anguish.
 She could not see his visitor. But suddenly a voice she recog- nized grated harshly in the silence.
 You fail to understand that a man might get tired of carrying heavy load like this, and getting not enough out of 1t to pay for such @ risk"
 But, Montanne, you've never lost a dollar through me. You never will" The agonized note in her fathers voice tore at Jill's heart.
 She felt suffocated. Terrible en- had come. MT. Mon tame, with the fury of parent who had seen his son cast, aside, had decided to come to the party