The Washington times., 1938-03-10


been up to for the last two weeks.
You didn't tell me the man you
had met was Rodney Callman. I
don't think that was quite nice Of
you, Gloria, not to tell me-"
I'm sorry," Gloria answered,
evenly. But after all, you weren't
in town and you didn't write"
Gloria had changed the subject,
quickly. How" she had asked,
did you find Aunt Bessie? Busy
as ever with her fall canning?"
Isabel ignored the subject Of
Aunt Bessie and her two weeks
visit to Midvale. She said evenly:
Gloria, you don't think you have
chance in the world of marry.
ing Rodney Callmann, do you?
Because I don't, no matter what
sort Of a line he has strung you.
It would take cleverer girl than
you, far more sophisticated, to
land him. Can't you see that
Rodney Callman and Marcella
Drake and all Of that Kenwood
crowd are part Of a world which
doesn't even exist for people like
us? We don't live on the right
side of the tracks. Now, don't
look at me like that. I'm older
than you are and love you and
I'm Just trying to save you from
getting a scar that would be quite
difficult to heal"
Gloria said softly: do you
mind awfully, Isabel, If we don't
talk. I have IA headache"
And she had thought: Isabel
can do anything with any man
she likes-if she likes-except
really love him. And she's think
ing now that I'm not clever or
sophisticated enough for Rodney
and that she is"
Isabel had shrugged her grace
full shoulders. "Of all the crazy
things. Going off the deep end
like this. Don't say ! didn't warn
you, Gloria"
Gloria was just climbing into
bed when Mrs. Lee opened the
door, softly, and came into the
room. Their mother was a pretty
little woman, quietly aristocratic,
with gray hair tucked back neatly
and blue eye, always little tired.
She was smiling as usual and that
course, that in Richmond they
eyes and the lines Of fatigue about
her mouth.
Because Mrs. Lee talked so little
Of her past, neither Tommy nor
Gloria nor Isabel thought much
about that proud Virginia girl who
had eloped with the towns car
penter and had, because Of her
family's fury, never seen her
home again. They all knew, Of
course, that in Richmond they
had cousins who made debutS,
were in the social register and
worked enthusiastically for the
Junior League: that there were
naughty aunts who gave balls
and hunt dinners.
But for the most part these
relatives were hardly more than
attractive phantoms; only her
fathers family-Aunt Bessie, in
her little cottage at Midvale, and
Aunt Clara, who ran a boarding
house near the Navy Yard in
WaShington-Were real.
Mother said: I'm glad you
girls are going to get a good
nights rest for a change"
She tucked in Gloria, kissed her
soft cheek and then crossed the
room to Isabel. She smiled gently
at her first born and laid tender
hand on the shining black hair.
Beauty" said Mrs. Lee, ais dan
geEous, Isabel, unless it is used
correctly. A beautiful woman can
inspire great things-or destroy
everything she touches. Remember
that-alwayS."
Then their mother was gone, as
lightly as she had come. And
Gloria knew that her mother
would not sleep; that she would
lie awake for hours, blue eyes
wide in the dark-stricken and
lonely in the bed she had shared
so happily with big, clustering
John Lee for IS years.
Gloria lay there on her own bed,
cold and frightened. There was
something ominouS in the way
Isabel went on humming so gayly;
the way she stood before the mir
ror and Stroked her black hair
with a green brush and patted
cold cream on her straight, lovely
throat.
Ito Be COntinued)