Evening star., 1941-10-06

Iicity smiled at the tall, dour woman.
Its just a toy. And ne ooesh
play with it often
Mrs. Harrington wishes to see
Won Miss" Mrs. Fowler announced
with her resentful eyes on Felicity.
It was as if she found the girls
warm blond coloring and her gayety
a personal reproach. Felicity smiled;
she was determined to win over TINS
cold. repressed automaton.
Felicity needed an ally. she knew.
Mrs. Harrington had hinted as much
to her the first night after the
drearv dinner at which only Felicity
and Strasson had tried to keep up
CHEEKY note. The inertness OF Shlr-
lev. so apparent the moment Henry
Harrington had stepped into the
room. grew during dinner. Shirley
had hardly touched her meal.
A Friendly Greeting.
As Felicity went across the wide
entrance hall to the room on the
other side OF the front door she
met the secretary. Jane TTowbrldge
was a small girl with enormous,
flexible hands. She came down the
stairs as Felicity passed through
the hall and the two young women
stopped to say good morning. .Fe-
licitv smiled up a. Jane, dark and
vinsome, on the bottom step.
Good morning, Felicity Jane
said in her musical voice. Il do
hope we're going to be friends. This
is rather a somber house, and I, Tor
one, am glad to see some other
young face here"
Felicity returned her friendly
greeting and went on TO the morn
ing room. It struck her as odd that
Shirley should be classed by infer
ence as old. Felicity knew that
Shirley was at least 20 years young
er than her husband, but as she
came to Shirley, seated at a writing
desk in the diamond-paned bay WIN
dow she knew why Jane had spoken
so. There was an aged, gray look on
Shirley's face.
Mrs. Fowler said you wanted me,
Mrs. harrington"
Shirley nodded sit down, Felic-
ity, but first close the door. Sit close,
so we won't be overheard"
Felicity drew a small chair up to
the corner of the desk, and Shirley
Harrington turned in her chair so
she could watch the door.
TT is awful to feel you're being
spied upon in your own home,
Felicity" She toyed with the desk
pen nervously.
who is spying on you. Mrs. Tar
rington?" Felicity was at loss to
know what to say further than that.
She wondered feetingly if Shirley
were losing her mind.
Jane: the servants. perhaps
A Tangled Situation.
"T could imagine Mrs Fowler lis
tening at a keyhole, but not Jane"
Shirley smiled WanIy.
whats wrong, Mrs. Harrington?
You're so unlike yourself; it Wor-
ries me-" Felicity's low voice was
earnest and warm.
You don't know what your COM
ing means to me. Felicity: At last
there's some one in the house can
trust completely" She was silent
moment, twisting the pen back and
forth between her nervous fingers.
Felicity" she went on in a low
rush of words. I'm being poisoned!
I'm sure of it, Felicity. I've been
sick after meals so often. but Henry's
doctor just laughs at me and pre-
scribes sedatives." Felicity remem-
bered the untouched salad at din
ner.
why don't you leave here?"
i've almost no money left that is
entirely my own Her voice was
coated with bitterness as she went
on. After we were married I tied
UP all my property with Henry. AS
things stand now I can't sell any
thing without his consent. or
course. he can't sell without my con-
sent, either. That is, as long as I'm
alive
Felicity Shirley's voice went on,
pleadingly. IF anything happens
TO me you'll stay with the children,
won't you? Henry won't molest
them, I'm sure. He may neglect
them. but they'll be safe here, and
when this awful war is over you can
all 60 home to England" Her voice
broke.
Felicity put her hand on Shirley's
arm. Yes. I'll stay. But nothing
must be allowed to happen to you.
We must prevent it somehow. Sure
ly, there's some way, some friend
who can help" She thought Of Tom
and his offer.
Edith and Larry Blackjack might