The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-22

/ er answered carelessly. She fitted
the bracelet carefully back in it's
case; replaced the wooden box, the
cardboard box, and yawned.
Don't you like him, Mother?"
"Who? Ferd Manners?"
rs that his name? 1t doesn't
sound very Spanish"
It's Ferdinand de Something
Manners. believe his mother was
an Argentine heiress. He's lived
there a great deal"
You might know he was Span
ish." Victoria said brightly, or ne
wouldn't think he could send a mar
ried lady jewelry!"
True for you, Miss Herrendeen!"
her mother agreed, going into the
bedroom with the box. Until she
could return it, she would hide it,
Victoria knew. Dad must know
nothing of this.
The afternoon dragged After a
while Victoria put on her old white
serge skirt and a white thin sweat
er, pulled a small white hat over
her bobbed head, and went to the
library to get new book. When
she came back at five, her mother
was entertaining a caller. 1t was
a square, dark skinned man.
sprawled in a low chair, a glass Of
champagne between his big brown
hands.
This is my little girl, Mr.. Man
nerS."
Come, it was to be Ferdinand"
the man said his voice and accent
instantly betraying the Latin.
1T was not" Magda countered
simply, smiling. She was in some
thing soft and cool and pale blue;
she had had time to dress. time to
draw shades and set the flowers
about advantageously.
Are you going up to Helen's?"
he was presently asking. He paid
no attention to Victoria. Magda
shook her head. You're not?" the
man demanded surprised.
MY little spare tire" Victoria's
mother said. her arm about her.
But good gracious, take herl
Comics girl must be about her
age"
NO" Magda said, gently shak-
ing her had. Not just now, any
way. But it must be lovely up
there! I've never been there. you
know. Phyllis was telling me Of
some place-the Braverman place
right on the water"
But that's just the place l am
going to buy!" Ferdinand Manners
exclaimed. When Magda presently
went out of the room to bring him
her Spanish shawl, he asked Vic
toria if she knew that she had
very beautiful mother. He bent his
russet head over the shawl. Yes.
that is a fine shawl" he said. What
does the man offer your"
Victoria was shocked. Was Moth
er going to sell the famous old
shawl? She saw that her mother
hadn't wanted her to know.
He offers me three hundred
Marsh. It's to be edged with fur
for a wrap. They'll take all this
off," Magda ran her fine thin hand
through creamy silk fringes so stiff
that they looked like cotton.
Just week later Victoria brought
in a great box just delivered from
Marsh's; the shawl was inside. 1t
had been changed into sumptuous
evening wrap with a border all the
way about it of soft white fur. And
this gift her mother did not return.
She put it away in the great trunk
that always stood in her room; there
was small closet space in the apart
ment.
That same week, on another
sticky sultry night, Keith Herren-
deem came in looking tired and pale
at six o clock, apparently more than
ordinarily wearied by the burden
and heat of the day. He sank into
a chair in the sitting room that was
also the dining room, where Victoria
was already setting the table.
Il brought you little present,
Magda." he said. his face suddenly
bright with smile. ITS not much,
my dear"
1t vas an Emporium box; white
linen jacket, unlined, with smart
dark blue stripe about the collar
and cuffs. The tag was still on
it; he explained that she was free
to exchange it if she liked. Vic
toria sent a quick apprehensive
glance toward her mother. The
bracelet that had cost thousands
had been sent back. but the re-
mains of the great crate of flowers,
and fresh flowers, were everywhere.
and deep in her mothers trunk was
the beautiful shawl with its new
border of pure white ermine.
Mrs. Herrendeen stood lingering
the linen jacket. The staring 1885"
on a tag was in her hand, as the
fringe of the shawl had besn a few
dayS ago