Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-11
Continued from Page 12)

1dShlc was saying L III gong
to take them back to her right
straight away"
Up came the fearful face. CT
knew" thought Linnie, It'd be
even lovelier."..." 20 no, Jackie.
You can't. You mustn't. That
would be. g. all wrong"
Linnie spoke with authority.
You must both of you, please,
leave this to Ralph and me. Go
and get dressed. Jackie. It's al
most lunch time"
Just a second" Lucy cried. II
meant TO warn you. They're ter
ribly valuable. The insurance peo-
pie wanted Aunt Judith to put
them into the bank and wear an
imitation string. For years Aunt
Lu tried to persuade her to do it.
She never would. II was awfully
rash of her to give them to you
the way she did. i mean, all my
Again the too piteous sharpen
ing Of the edges of those lips ..
heard. and the servants know
and | shouldn't wonder if it got
into the papers. Everyone will
wonder what I've done to. to
deserve it"
Yes, dear" Linnie was ju-
dicial and grave We must think
OF all that. / must work it out
-"
Alone, she planned what she
would say TO Ralph. She would
be quiet and reasonable. pleading
Lucy's case. because Ralph, mas
culine and casual, easily generous
TO her and hers. would say, go,
let her keep the thing. Lucy has
a little fortune of her own. She
can buy her own pearls. If Aunt
Judith wanted to give them TO
Jackie why stir up a fuss ?"
This Linnie would counter with
plea for justice. with a demon
stration of the natural sensitivity
of a stepmother. anxious to show
every possible consideration for
this other woman's child Yes,
Ralph must be, If necessary, CO.
creed. OF course it was for him
TO make the final decision.
IT was not possible, however, to
start the coercion as early as
she had planned First there mas-
lunch and then a motor expedi-
ton proposed by Ralph. ending
IN a picnic far away along the
river. and a moonlit drive back
TO Highover. the girls singing
with Ralph who enjoyed his own
pleasant baritone. Everyone was
gay 1t WAS no time TO introduce
a note of discord
There was no opportunity until
they were alone in their own
bedroom barred with moon: Lin
ME in the window seat and in
Ralph's arms She loved 10 re-
cline there. supported by his
strength. There had been so
many years Of loneliness, respon-
sibility and fear. No man had
ever known, she thought, the
utter rapture of this melting into
the strength of love. this return
to childhood's worshipping Sc
curity and happy confidence.
Sometimes she wanted to cry
for the forlorn necessity of Man.
as the Head of the House. the
Market and the Nation. having
To seem forever strong. resolute.
mature. And she was glad. too.
Of the sweet, peariy light. Of her
own delicate grace and softness.
of what she knew to be The pref
tiness of her tiptilted face.
Here, In his arms, in this shell
tered and perfumed dfmness. she
was young, beautiful. beloved.
Some instinct cautioned her not
TO spoil this moment some vague
memory perhaps Of women who
had not been able 10 refrain from
uttering the nagging problem of
a woman's day into the silver
peace of a marriage night. But
Linnie spoke.
I've been trying all day to
get you TO myself. I'm worried
sick"
Worried" Ralph's voice was
lazy and dreaming. his cheek was
laid against her head. You have
the softest hair in the world. Lin.
It's like dandelion silk"
I'm worried about your Aunt
Judith and Jackie and the
pearls"
The pearls? ?" Ralph's lips still
moved against her brow but his
grasp had lost a little of its
steady tenderness. The arms we're
no longer so conscious of her
suppleness and her surrender.
And about Lucy"
Lucy. What about Lucy