The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-05
CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAP ER IHlk
Angela answered the door. She
was surprised to see the stranger
VINO confronted her. recognizing
as the children looking out Of the
windows had that she did not be-
long here. Angela's first impress
sion was that of a richly dressed
Young girl. then she saw that the
face beneath the rakish felt nat
was older than Mollys.
The blue eyes peered out from
heavily beaded lashes, the enam-
eled skin was fair and smooth, but
the painted mouth twitched nerv-
ously as she cried, oh, Angela
You don't know me. It's your
mother. darling
Tears rolled down her checks,
smearing the mascara into sooty
rivulets as Angela stared. unable
10 speak. Her mother this mid
idle-aged. artificial looking woman :?
For one instant she cluns to
her beloved ideal before she tossed
il away for the reality During
which time the door was closed
and Angela found herself EMBODIED
in a fragrant embrace.
Convulsively, then, her own arms
frightened as she hid her cheek
against the softness of her moth
ers breast.
II was Rosemary who recovered
first. murmurlng, Where is my
powder puff? I must look like a
wreck.
Angela lifted her head, smiling
through tears. Trying desperately
to follow Mollys advice not to
think about the scar Act as If 1t
wasn't there But before she
could speak Rosemary shrieked,
f"Oh, your poor face
Angela WINGED.
How did you know where !
was ."
Rosemary finished powderine
her still lovely nose and produced
the torn pieces of letter from
her bag. One of the letters An
eela had written to her father and
destroyed.
Someone sent this with a note
giving this address but il wash
signed"
Molly. of course, No wonder
she hadn't appeared. She dion
dare
Sit down Rosemary urged
Here beside me, Angela You
see. its a long story. darling Be-
ginning way down in South Amer
lea -
Like two films blending into
each other. Angela began TO see
traces now of the Rosemary II
the miniature. Remnants Of the
dazzling smile.
While the low pitched voice
which described her suffering ano
longing for the child she had de-
serted with such dramatic intens'
Iity might have been Angela's own
u never wanted to leave you
darling. II was only because
wanted to be fair. Your father
loved you so terribly. l was afraic
It would kill him to lose US botf
You understand now that you
are grown? had to 60 ..
was so miserable
How is Daddy ~ Angela fall
tered. swallowing the tears which
choked her throat.
He is an old man" Rosemary
declared "Of course. he was al
ways older than l was. But
couldn't believe that anyone coulo
have changed So
He doesn't seem old 10 me,
Angela said defenslvely.
You must remember he has
teen through a lot since you saw
him." her mother reminded her
But let me begin at the begin
ming. Finally. l made up my mine
to see you again in spite Of every
thing. but then l discovered there
were all sorts of obstacles in the
way
Your father had moved from
the town where We used TO live
! had to hire a detective to find out
where he was. Then.l was atralc
10 let anyone know I was coming
for fear ne might not let me see
you. So I Just walked II on'
night about dinner time r.. Nat
urany II was a shock. l was sorry
about that. but II seemed the only
way 7 could DO it.
Poor Daddy and poor Aun'
Anna, How they must have felt
Milton Heath has never stopped
loving me" Rosemary stated viii
the superb self-confidence Angela
had once shared. He loved me-
too much. II got on my nerves
On, darling, you 90 under
stand :"
Angela nodded. Yes, I've fell
that way sometimes
I've mad everything / wanted
since 7 left home. And I've nevei
regretted II except for you y
, finally jim. that's my husband
. darling. said. Rosie, he Away
, calls me Rosie-"the only thing I
do IS find your baby and bring ne
, home with YOU You can imagln
/, how I felt after going TO all ina
> trouble and expense 70 hear ina
YOU had disappeared. No one Ia
: heard anything from you since yo
; rad checked out Of your note
three weeks ago