Evening star., 1940-03-13

sees tnem IN each others arms she
SINGER 'niasdS Gain. sorsse. sfs 'neisss
but Eric goes home Jane is happy
hen m ana sf sns ssys asks ss he, vii 0 msrTy msTy
rics mother tD Telentinr sn no ON her @ aa death.
bed, asks him to marry Elaine.
CHAPTER XVII.
Eric was never to forget the
grief that overwhelmed him as he
knelt beside the bed in the darkened
room and stared down at the face
Of the woman who had been his
mother. Nor would he ever forget
the radiant smile upon her lips, the
smile of a woman who had been
given, in death, the greatest happi-
ness she had ever known. In that
moment Eric forgave her all the
torment and cruelty she had in
1licted upon him.
Unable to convert his thoughts
into words, unable to deliver one
coherent prayer on her behalf, Eric
was grateful to the minister who
presided over his mothers funeral
service several days later in the
ite-shingled chapel his father had
erected for the community Is years
ago. Grateful was he, too, to the
townspeople who. forgetting their
trials and tribulations, had gathered
In this small house of God to pay
their last respects to a woman who,
though cynical. unfriendly, snob-
bish, had seen her duty toward the
poor and performed it generously.
The burial itself was anticlimax
The day was dark and dreary and
q dismal rain fell, soaking to the
skin those real friends who had
gathered about Mrs. Reardon's
flnal resting place. Eric was con-
scious of complete exhaustion when
he turned from the grave and got
into the limousine. In the days
since his mothers death there had
been many things to do. Now-now
all was done.
For several days following the
burial service Eric wandered like
. lost soul through the great house,
finding in the darkened rooms q
haunting memory of the woman
who had frequented them for so
many years. For a time he dwelt
In a half world of memory and grief,
eating little, seeing no one, talking
seldom, and 1t was not until Helen
Wortorski delivered Betty's telegram
that he made sincere effort to
throw off his lethargy.
Eric Receives Blow.
"1'm sorry to bother you, Mr..
Reardon," Helen said respectfully
rs she entered the room. But this
telegram has come for you from
New York and thought 1t might
be about something urgent"
From New York! From Elaine?
Hopefully Eric ripped open the enve-
lope, but his face fell as he read
Betty's tersely worded message. He
stared down duly at the words.
Elaine to be married? To whom?
When? Why? But she couldn't
do that-she was engaged to marry
him. No, she couldn't marry any
one else!
"Oh, I hope it isn't serious!"
Helen exclaimed, laying q hand on
his arm, all solicitude. Her baby
blue eyes were wide and warm.
you've had so much grief lately.
Mr.. Reardon"
Eric brushed her hand impatiently
from his arm. His eyes became
steely as he scrutinized Helen's face
and his lips drew into a fiat line.
mo, nothing is wrong, Miss Wortor-
ski" he said curtly. But while
you are here we might just as well
get one thing Strengthened out. You
know, of course, that since my
mothers death there is no longer
any need Of your services as a
secretary"
Helen's cheeks crimsoned and her
eyes became hard. II get it, Eric.
Elaine has poisoned your mind
against me-"
"You will gain nothing by adopt
ing that attitude or that tone of
voice." Eric told her sharply. Elaine
has never said anything about you
that wasn't true. She harbors no
Ill feeling toward you because she
realizes it was my mother who sent
you to New York. AS far as your
Job is concerned, I cannot use you as
q secretary. But-would you care
to consider position as house.
keeper with me?"
Accepts Housekeeper Job.
His generous action surprised
Helen. "Of-of course would" she
stammered eagerly. ''And I'm sorry
about New York, Mr.. Reardon."
you'll be sorrier," Eric said
grimly If you try any more tricks
with either of us again. Now, call
up the airport and arrange for a
ticket back to New York. I want
10 leave at once.
He smiled as Helen hasened to
obey his command. He was glad
suddenly that he had not followed
his first IMPULSE and discharged her.
Elaine too would be glad that he
hadn't. The sweet lovable, sympa-
thetic thing, she would have hated
10 have him turn Helen out on the
street when jobs were so difficult
10 find. And II Helen were
deserving of punishment, the knowl-
edge that she was serving under
. woman who knew her as she
really was would be bad enough.
Yes, he had disposed Of Helen
nicely.
But what about Elaine? He
wished he had let her know his
reason for returning to California.
But things had happened too swiftly.
The night he was supposed to meet
her at the restaurant he had been
compelled to work overtime In the
store, and since that day he had
not had q chance to see her. What
q fool he had been! He should
have told her about his mother. But
no. he had done the right thing.