The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-04-03
Miss
SOMEBODY

CARHARI whom she considers AsAt
70 her father KARL the handsonest
man she has ever seen MisCHLA a
hotel porter Vho accompanies Hiloa
houe 70 the hotel each evening 81
karis request tells him Of keith
interes; In Hilds She asks her
fathers permission 20 date Keith and
lie threatens 10 call the library and
resign her Job unless she promises
. never go cut with the young man
After closing hours the following
night the library staff has dough
nut and coffee party with dancing.
HildR invites Keith. After the dance
Hilds tells Keith that Mischls =
waiting % take her home and must
not see him Keith says he is going
er her father likes 1t or not Karl
home with her the next night wheth-
agrees 70 meet Keith ana 5 favorahlv
impressed with him When Keith =
assured Hilda will receive an inherit
sncs In the near future. he decides
marriage With her Is desirable.
CHAPTER SEVEN
On Friday evening Hilds and
Keith planned to go TO movie
after the library closed Kari APP
peared shortly before nine and ac-
companied them. To Hilda the ar
rangement was highly satisfactory.
To have Keith beside her. to know
that he cared. it was ecstacy.
And she adored her father. True.
the love she had for him seemed
a puny thing compared with the
feeling she had for Keith. but II
was nice to have him near.
Keith chafed under the casual
politeness he must show toward
Hilda Now that he had plotted
his course he was eager to pursue
IL. Bitterly he resented the subtle
parental interference After the
show he was left standing on the
street corner. feeling cheated and
pushed aside Karl merely said
there was no need for him to make
the long trip north.
The next day was Saturday.
Hilda's free afternoon Keith also
left the office at noon. They had
decided on hinge. at least Keith
laughingly called it a hinge.
They'd lunch together. see a pic
ture, dance in one of the cool cock
tail lounges and perhaps swim or
take long bus ride The itinerary
thrilled Hilda until she was al
most speechless.
At breakfast Karl noticed that
she wore new frock. cool green
linen with huge white linen flow
er on the shoulder She had put
on her hat before leaving her
room. It was a big rough straw
of green. Its brim had delight
full sweep over one eye. On her
topaz colored head it was little
short of stunning. Her shoes We're
white. New white gloves lay with
her purse on a chair.
Are we not festive this morn
ing ?" Karl asked admiringly.
I'm having lunch with Keith
she told him shyly. The JOY of it
shone in her eyes.
Does it make you so happy,
Hilda - almost sorrowfully.
Happiness
"Oh, yes. she breathed. I've
never known what happiness was.
If anything should happen now
She dropped her forehead against
a clenched fist and closed her eyes.
Unthinkable that anything should
come between her and Keith.
Karl reached across the table
and took her hand. He held it
between both his.
My dear" he said hesitatingly.
Il would much rather you didn't
go out with the young man alone.
See him here"
Her eyes opened wide, fright and
gathering anger in their depths.
Please, Karl" she said. cant
you understand? Won't YOU tryo
Every girl has a right to fall in
love. she has right to choose her
husband"
Has it come to that, Hilda?
Do you love Keith Carhart ?"
Yes" not taking her eyes from
And does he love you ?"
Yes"
Has he said so ,"
In every way that counts, yes
karl's mouth was grim. He
should have come to me"
Hilda laughed. a provoked little
sound. You are so old-fashioned.
Karl. Tell me, did you go to my
mothers father and ask for her
hand in marriage ?"
of course.
'But-hut that was years ago
times have changed" bit con-
fused by his direct affirmative.
Not so long ago. Let me ex-
plain 1t to you. dear" He leaned
forward, arms folded on the table.
his earnest eyes regarding her
tenderly. To me you are the
most precious thing in the world.
have watcher you grow from a
tiny baby into a beautiful woman.
my every thought has been for
your happiness. Is it surprising
that ! hesitate to hand over that
responsibility to the first young
man who takes your fancy"
Life
No" she said honestly. but it's
IRE, mari All girls leave their
fathers. You wouldn't want me to
be a spinster,' trying to tighten
the seriousness of his mood.
No, | wouldn't have you miss
the greatest adventure in life. But
it's this way, dear one. We know
of Keith Carhart. he's a
stranger to both OF US
Not to me, Karl" she broke in.
I've known him always I've been
waiting for him"
He disregarded the interruption.
I've sent a wire 10 my friend and
countryman, Jan Thorwald, who
ives in Los Angeles. asked him
to send me information concerning
Keith Carhart. Until that infor-
nation comes"
Hilda had risen sngrily from
her chair. 1t isn't fsir-to spv
on Keith-ss If you doubted his
word I think It cruel and-and
unfaid"
Kar1 .I,r r~-. ~. 80