The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-01-01
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rough under the shock of her next
thought. who are you, anyway" she
brought out. =.
Mrs. Cary turned on Joyce a long
steady look. She said very quietly. "You
know me now, don't you, dear?"
Joyce nodded.
Eyes. I know you," she said. For a
moment they were silent. Then Joyce
broke out again. IT begin to see that
this aaSt is oe exactly sYS, what didn you co% mould 70 a9sl 4
to see me after Aunt Praiseever's death.
You waited till you could ruin the only
good time I've ever had in my life. Then
you appeared. masquerading under an
assumed name, and knowing I wouldn't
recognize you: You wormed yourself
into my confidence"
wait, my dear. You're very cruel,
but that's because you're very young.
Answer just one question. Would you
have seen me If I had come to Mel
ville?"
Joyce was silent. Her mother went on.
"You know you wouldn't. Would you
have talked to mt if I had come to you
openly sSG. in New York;"
OF course you wouldn't. So you see,
I had to masquerade, as you call It.
What else could I do? Can't you real
lie that I've been as wretched as you
have? I had to find some way OF get
ting to you'll"
"Joyce, stop and think a minute"
she begged. isn't it time there was
peace between us? I know Eve been
you-the last thing I meant to do. i
planned that we should meet naturally
and simply, as two strangers, as we did,
and see q lot of each other and learn
to like each other before you knew who
I was. But-well, I couldn't wait any
longer! I suppose I've ruined every
thing" -" "a.
you have certainly ruined my won
Il don't want to be cruel. I'm just tell
ing you the truth. You have ruined
everything. You deserted me when I
was a helpless baby. Why do you come
back to torture me now?" "
Her mother rose and stood for a
moment looking down at her. =.
"That doesn't leave me much to say"
she brought out with an effort, "but
alone that made you happy this week,
Joyce. It wasn't New York, or the ex-
citement or new clothes, or the holi-
days, or all of them together. It was
because you were with me, my darling.
It was because you were with someone
you sub-consciously loved, someone you
sub-consciously knew loved you. I saw
It in your eyes. Your soul knew me IN
the first minute we met. You love for
me isn't dead. 1t never will be dead,
however you may deny it. And my love
for you is the intense living thing 1t
has always been. Oh, Joyce, most of
our lives are before us, and it's the
season of love and peace on earth. I
counted on that to help us. Let's give
each other a chance for happiness to-
gether."
Joyce had risen, too, ~unsteadily. Her
eyes turned away from her mother.
IT can't" she gasped. II don't love
you. I DON'T don't! Please don't come
with mel"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES J..
Joyce rode back to her hotel ing
taxicab. In the morning she wuultt
come uncomfortable. So had life. All
night long, lying awake in the dark
ness, she told herself this, over and
over.
But in the morning Jennie had a
surprise for her.
you'll miss Mrs. Cary, Miss" she
began sympathetically,, as she poured
Joyce,s coffee. Then the words died
on her lips. Joyce had looked at her:
hotel guests. This one wanted no con-
v%ersation this morning.
Joyce went through the motions Of
life like one in a dream. She was
tobsessed by the memory of her mother.
She was haunted day and night by that
last choked cry in the hotel corridor,
Joyce, darling, waltz"
Christmas Eve came. Her mother
would be IN the ship now, about to sail.
Joyce's association with Jennie had
resumed its informal course They chat
ted at breakfast and dinner time-but
impersonally. Jennie had learned her
lesson. However, On Christmas Eve, as
she served Joyce's soup, the sympathy
in Jennie's heart found sudden vent.
She dropped a comment accidentally,
as if it had been a dinner roll.
Miss?" she asked Joyce. "Havin' to
spend her Christmas in the hospital,
when we all hoped she'd be well enough
to come back here Christmas Day?"
1t took Joyce five minutes to get the
facts. The heart attack in the corridor
of the hotel. The removal of the uncon-
scious lady to the hospital. The dis
covery of her identity and the hasten
ing of MIR. Hammond to her rescue. Mr..
Mrs. Cary every day. But she might of
died, Jennie added bleakly. of that
heart attack in the hotel corridor, for
there wasn't no one with her to help
her when she was took.
mo one with her!" The lump in
Joyce's throat was choking her. No one
but her daughter to hear that gasping.
strangled appeal. "Joyce, darling. wait!"
And her daughter had ignored it!
Joyce pushed back her chair and rose.
D you know what hospital she's
in?" she asked Jennie.
Jennie did, and mentioned it.
I'm going there" Joyce threw over
her shoulder, as she started for the
dining room door.
I'm going to the hospital" she told
young Hammond, who Intercepted her
in the lobby. I'm going to see my
mother"