The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-07
THREE

tain Essex, or gentle and lovable,
as in some other aged persons
know. But Miss Althea had not
grown old gracefully.
Tall, lean and angular-angles
seemed to run in the Essex family
rather than curves-with white
hair-she was far grayer than her
father-and face seemingly COM
pounded of wrinkles etched by bad
temper and s~pitefulness, She pre-
sented a veritable Walt Disney
witch depletion. To her father her
opposition to his treasured p a n
might seem to be prompted by sem
ility, but to me there was keen in
telligence in those malicious black
eyes.
She stepped forward from an an
gle near by, as I went down the
hall, and laid a OBTAINING hand on
my arm.
"I've been waiting for you" she
began. You needn't unpack those
traps they've carted in there" she
gestured toward my room, you're
going back where you came
FRONT"
All my life I have hated to see
rudeness shown to an elderly per-
son, but my nerves weren't shock
proof against the snarling tones
which issued from lips drawn back
in a hideous grimace showing dis
colored fanglike teeth. I shook her
restraining grasp from my arm
and stepped away.
Il am sorry to seem discourte-
GUS, Miss Althea," I couldn't quite
steady my voice, but it is only
fair to tell you that Mr.. Essex.
with his grandfather's approval,
hired me, and I shall stay here
until they tell me to CO." There
was no use pussyfooting with her.
I might as well make my position
plain in the beginning.
"Grandfather-Mr. ESSEX" she
sneered. 1.-The old fool has l S t
what sense he did have, and Cary
never had any to lose. Afraid Of
the sea, the simpleton, when all
the men of our family have been
seamen for generations! Too bad
he didn't go down with his father,
the last heman Of the line. Takes
his moilycoddle ways from h i S
mother! Oh, why didn't Cary pick
a real woman to be the mother of
his son? But that's neither here
o there. I'm talking too much.
You," she thrust her hideous face
so close to mine that I shrank back
in dismay, keep your mouth shut
on anything you hear me say and
get out of here. It'll be the worse
TOR you if you don't, do you hear
ne? Get out of here!"
Il have made my position plain,
Miss Althea," I returned, trying to
control my SILVER of repulsion at
ace, voice and words. Deter
ninedly, 1 started down the hall.
out again her hand fell on my
arm. This time her voice held a
plaintive whine.
IF it's money you want, I'll give
It to you," she said, in a piercing
whisper. 1--WE plenty. Plenty! Ha,
ma, ha." Her cracking laughter
rang through the hall. And
wouldn't they like to get it-from
the old one down! But they won't.
They'll never see a cent of it. It's
going to Irene and Proctor; that's
part of the bargain"
I pricked up my ears at that,
I'd not heard one word of an Irene
or Proctor. How did they fit into
the family?
She was going on:
I'll pay you well. Come now,
will you go? Now? Tonight"
I shook my head in emphatic ne
cation. Her descent to barefaced
bribery sickened me I wished
someone, anyone, would appear. |
hated to use violence against a
woman who might well, as far as
years go, be my grandmother, but
I'd have to, because her hand was
clamped like a wise on my arm.
"You won't go when 1 tell you
it's not safe for you here nor for
money? What do you want, them"
She shook me, savagely.
"Ho, no, maybe it's one of our
boys you're after. Why didn't l
think of that before?" Her fingers
dug viciously into my flesh. you
won't get them, I tell you. Cary,
because he's not man enough to
know what he wants, and lark
wouldn't look at the" Her out
pouring ceased as another voice
whats going on here?"
My prayer was answered. From.
the same turn of the hall where
Miss Althea had lurked, Mark
Gould appeared, with easy saun.
tering steps which changed to a
rapid sprint to my side.
Let her alone! What do you
think you're doing?"
There was nothing gentle in the
way he gripped her hand, pried her
fingers from my q~uivering arm.
eff l know of, your bothering her
again, I'll do more than order you
to your room. Granddad's too easy
with"
but MISS Althea was gone. She
scuttled away down the hall as
swiftly as her old legs would carry
her. 1t was evident that she had a
wholesome respect for the hand
some boy at my side.
1.-The old hag!" he muttered, as
he steadied my ~faltering steps.
What was she saying to your
I could only silently shake my
head: l had no intention then or
ever of repeating her words. I'm
not naturally any more cowardly
than most girls, but there was
Snmethino about Miss Altha,