Evening star., 1941-10-05


on. "and that I tell you he will be
engaged until dinner. Mrs. Tarring-
ton is ILL.,"
Mrs. Harrington IS here, AmeS.
Felicity looked up to the woman
coming slowly down the stairway
Elaine! Hilary! I am so glad you
have come" The frail woman
stopped to the children and put her
arms around their stiff shoulders
Everything is strange. isn't it.
dears? Well, you'll soon feel at
home"
She raised up and stepped toward
Felicity who stood waiting behind
the children. Dear Felicity" she
murmured as she took the girl S
hands. Il am so glad you have
come. So glad"
I'VE are glad to have come, too
But you look ILL You didn't write
that you were i'll"
Shirley Harrington smiled, trying
to recapture the old glow. For a
minute the piquanCy returned to heI
face and then was gone, to be re-
placed by the wan suffering and
determination.
1T amounts to so little. Ames
take our guests to their rooms. Have
Williams carry their trunks up
When you've rested, Felicity, come
down to the morning room. We've
so much to talk about"
The Harrington house was Spaciou!
and modern. The rooms set aside
for the English guests took up th'
entire south wing Of the house
Elaine'S room overlooked the river
Hilary's, across the short hall, over
| looked the drive, and Felicity'S, a
| the end of the wing, the garden
Baths connected the three room
with each other.
Longs for Daddy.
Its much newer than home, Mis-
Felicity" Hilary decided. And
think I'm going to like it."
That's right, Hilary; I'm sur
we'll all like it"
Il just wish daddy were here will
U.S." Elaine said wiStfully from tn
window seat where she had curlet
, her long legs under her. Ever sine
mother died he's come into tn
nursery and played with us unit
dinner"
"Oh, but your daddy's not hom
now, Elaine. Even if We were ther
your father wouldn't be there. He
with the navy, you know, flghtinI
the war"
Yes. I know" Elaine said with
sigh where longing and resignation
mingled.
In her own room while the chill
dren read some of their books whicl
she had packed with their overnigh
clothes, Felicity hung up the thing
from her own small bag and wen
into the shining bathroom to dray
a tub of water for herself. She stoot
before the mirror and daubed cream
over her slender pointed face AM
around her eyes.
Dressed and refreshed. she locke
| in on the absorbed children befor
| she went down to Mrs. Harrington
She found her in a small room
CHEEKY with glowing lights and ga
chintzes Shirley smiled at Felicit
and motioned her to a chair nea
| the fire
Children all right?"
quite. A bit lonesome, but they'll
~,
about their meals and things"
II have arranged for them to havt
their dinner in the breakfast room
at first. Perhaps later they can joir
us. You are guest here, Felicity
and are to be treated as such.
expect that you will join us as /;
rule at dinner. And, of course, dur
ing the day We will be much to
gether."
Shirley Harrington gazed into tn
fire and Felicity studied her again
The delicate pink house coat sh
wore heightened the color of he
skin, but she was pale, nevertheless
A Prophesy Come True.
an the house besides the usua
servants there are our housekeepel
Mrs Fowler, and Mr.. Harrington
secretary. Jane Trowbridge."
Again she paused. L don't knoy
just how to put this, Felicity, but
want you to be prepared. Mr.. Tar
rlngton did not approve of my hav
ing you come with the children. H
can be very ungracious."
There was silence in the room, an,
Felicity wondered about this man /
whom Shirley had been married les
than three years Much older thai
Shirley, she knew he was unbendini
| and tyrannical. She recalled tn
cables that had cut short Shirley
visit to her brothers home two sum
mers before.
Il want you to know that in cas-,
anything happens to me, in case o
my death. you are provided for
Felicity"
Cold chills ran down Felicity
spine. So that was it: somethin,
was happening to Shirley Tarring
ton, something sinister, enervatin,
and irrevocable.
Before she could reply, she hearc
voice behind her, oily, insinuatine
I told you We should meet again
Miss Newgate. You see, am 4,
prophet to be reckoned with"
StrasSon came into the room AM
bowed over Felcity's hand. Shirle,
seemed to shrink from contact witt
his fingers when he turned to her
How the devil do you two know
each other, Strasson?" a harsh yoic,
asked.
Felicity turned to meet Henry Tar.
rlngton. His face was grim and Sc
with fine lines running down from
thin, hard mouth. Dark eve,
probed her and a heavy, coarse hanc
grlpped her fingers momentarilv
No, Felicity decided, she did not lik,
Henry Harrington. The command.
ing presence that emanated from
his tall, muscular body did not bell,
the domineering line of his law
Strangely, Toms last words in tn,
customs house came back to her
You have my address in the citv
Felicity. If there's trouble. or vo,
need me, the Office will know where
l am
(Cooyrirht 1p41 chi,oro D.,,- ~