Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-18
CHAPTER IL

OAA IL w C1csOC AlO1 ONO1y C1AuC
! was abroad! But Etienne had no
relatives that 1 ever knew of! And
when / went to the Chateau de Fleu-
ry, it had passed into other hands. He
was dead, then. And I could get no
information about-his daughter"
A pause. Tears trickled down Lau-
rel's cheeks. She wiped them away.
"She told you, I suppose" Laurel
went on, ''that the French courts
gave her father complete custody of
herr"
eyes"
Laurel sighed: "He was so unfor-
giving! So hard! Even though I ador-
ed your father, darling, believe me,
I suffered"
Jean commiserated: cit must have
been an awful wrench, giving up your
baby, mother!" ri
"Dear Lord, it was! Had I known
that 1 would never see her all these
years 1 doubt if I could ever have
brought myself to leave Etienne."
"But = you found happiness with
my father?"
eyes. But for such little while,
Jean! He was on active service. And
then-he was killed! If it hadn't
been for you coming, wouldn't have
gone on living!"
Darling, don't cry. I understand"
81 did the very best I knew for
you, Jean. It was such a struggle.
And them met Rupert. He was so
good, so kind. It was just as though
fate. that had robbed me so cruelty,
were trying to make amends to me
for all I'd gone through-giving me
giving us-Rupert!" With that swift
change of mood that was peculiarly
hers, Laurel had already frightened.
"And you didn't tell him."
"Oh, Jean, I was afraid! Afraid he
wouldn't marry me if he knew! He
was so-bigoted - on the divorce
question! And then he'd never under
stand how l came to leave my baby!
He expressed himself so strongly
about women who give up their chill
dren-though of course never meant
to- thought the courts would give
me Gabrielle!"
Jean couldn't help comparing her
mother to child who wants to have
it's cake and eat it too, and cries
when it cannot -.
r,0xxy c1o xxYo1,+ IN 0hOxxy ooD
I tell him who Gabrielle is, after
you have introduced her into this
house as your friend? Rupert wouldn't
forgive you for the deception, either,
Jean! He'd turn against both of us!'
This logic was just like Laurel!Jean
thought. AS though two wrongs could
ever ankle a right. It wasn't straight
thinking.
A tap on the bedroom door. Mother
and daughter exchanged swift glances.
Could it be Gaby? Would Gaby have
the effrontery to come here uninvite-
ed?
"Jean! If it is Gabrielle, do not let
her in now! Tell her 1 am indisposed!
Laurel whispered. 81 am not ready
to see her yet Not fit for it! I will
send for her presently, and I shall
meet her alone!"
eyes, mother"
"And quick, pass me my bag be-
fore you go to the door! Thereon
the dressing table,"
Jean did so. 1t was just like Laurel
to think of her looks at crisis!
She opened-to Rupert.
He grinned: 81 bet you two girls
were having a grand pow-wow!"
If he but knew what it had been
about thought Jean ironically.
Of course, Dad! Mothers prinking,
all set to see you! She's had rather
poor night"
"I'm sorry about that. I shall
have to put my foot down on the
gallivanting. Beautiful wife comes
home wreck"
"Wreck nothing!" Laurel gaily
called from the bed. Already, to jeans
establishment, she had managed to
get the rouge and powder on her
pretty face, and, smiling like that, she
looked a different person from the
wan creature of few minutes ago.
He stopped and kissed her affec-
tionately.
"I've had news already of you,
through Toinette. The servants do
adore you, Laurel! I think you've a
little of the witch about you'll"
She laughed. It had ripping,
girlish sound. Only jeans ears de-
tected the artificial note in it. Laurel,
she thought, might have made her
mark on the stage.