The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-19
CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV
 Miss Baldwin returned his smile "Theres a bus which passes the door," she suggested. "Or if you would prefer, can call a taxi fol you"
 Philip beamed. T would appre- ciate that, indeed. Will have to wait long?"
 Five minutes at the most. I'll tell him to hurry"
 Thank you very much. May I sit down here while waltz"
 Certainly"
 Five minutes, he thought, isn't very long to get acquainted, but this shouldn't be difficult
 On Tuesday evening, Bob had din- ner with MT. Hendry in Green Hills Old Abraham tried to outdo, if pos sible, his previous excellent efforts There was roast guinea-hen with oyster dressing, candied sweet pota- toes, fresh green asparagus, and to top it off, tempting old-fashioned strawberry shortcake made with ripe red lucious berries.
 'MarS Hendry done tell me you's gittin' married" he ex- plained to Bob, "an' An made this-heah a mos special bachelor dinner
 "I'll say you have, Abraham!' Bob enthused. Good Lord, if you feed MT. Hendry this way every night, I don't see how he hasn't outgrown himself"
 They all laughed, and Abra- hams smile widened as he saw them do justice to the food. His greatest joy was cooking, and all he asked in return was an appre- ciative appetite.
 After dinner, they went into the living room. and there in front of the fire, they talked.
 "I suppose I might ask you what you'd ike for wedding present" MT. Hendry suggested, eventually.
 Bob looked perplexed. That's nice of you, J. H. he said, a trif1e shy, but I can't think of anything. Perhaps if you asked Jean"
 Hendry puffed on his cigar quietly for a moment, before say ing: q did something else for Joan today, though I'd rather she didn't know it. Might as well tell you, however. I changed my Will"
 Bob looked at him in amaze merlt. What's that, sir?"
 T made new will. Left a third to Joan.'
 Bob searched for words appro- priate to answer this surprising an- nouncement.
 "But, MT. Hendry," he said finally, that's a pretty big thing to do. It seems too much, some how. You know how I'm fixed. You've done enough for me so thatI can always take care of her. Amply, think"
 Hendry nodded.
 l hllOW JOu Cd1l, 10OD, AlC agreed. But it gives me cer- tain pleasure to do this"
 Its fine Of you, of course ."
 The older man looked into the fire for a moment, recalling past dreams When he spoke, there was a tender sadness in his words:
 T loved girl once" he told Bob. And every time I look at your Joan, see my Nancy in her. Thirty years ago brought her to this house she didn't live very long afterward. There were many things I might have given her, but we had very little money in those days. Sybil and Philip are well provided for as it is; they'll have more when I'm gone. But if Nancy had lived, we might have had daughter like Joan. That's why I'd like to do some thing for her. It's no reflection on you, my boy"
 T understand, sir" Bob replied quietly, and his voice was husky with emotion.
 There's one thing more. I'd like Joan to have this house. Oh, know you have your heart set on 8 fine place upon your hilltop. You can have that, too. But this place is very dear to me. It's it's sort of shrine, I guess you might say, to Nancy. I don't want it to go to Sybil or Phil. They don't understand how I feel about it. Why. Sybil would scrap it for junk. But Joan will under stand. I'd like her to keep it for me, if you don't mind. AS long as Abraham is alive, it is to be his home. After that, well, let her rent it out to some young couple who would appreciate it-not for