The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-14

Lex opened the door with the
delicate fanlight above it and stood
aside for Sherry to enter. A small,
tawny body catapulted itself
through the opening. Kippy, her
spaniel, all flying ears and scamp
ering feet and welcoming red
tongue, fell upon her with little
yips OF utter delight. And Sherry
stopped to hug him and lay her
cool cheek against his silken head
in affectionate greeting.
Aunt Pen spoke delightedly from
the shadowy hall. Land sakes'
child! You did come after ALL"
She put a plump arm around
Sherry's shoulders and Sherry's
lips brushed her cheek. No typical
old maid, Aunt Pen. She was a
big, motherly-looking woman, we'll
cushioned with solid flesh. Her
white hair, cut short. curled ma
turally about her lively, high-col-
lored face. She had a warm, rich
laugh, a firm handclasp, a bound
less capacity for affection.
Her cheerful words of welcome
we're like a tidal wave. breaking
ever Sherry, engulfing her
in pleasant warmth, leaving no in
terval for response. "Steve1l be
so glad to see you! He's been like
a grumpy bear eve since your
mother called. Lex. where'd you
find her? Steve's gone over to
Hemingway's on some errand or
other. He'll be back any minute,
though. Here, Sherry, let me take
your things. ;"
As she ratified on, Aunt Pen took
Sherry's wraps and hung them in
the hall closet. Lex slipped off his
leather jacket and hung it away,
too. Kippy stood wagging ecstati-
cslly at Sherry's feet. There were
thick, soft-toned old hooked rugs
or the hall floor. A white banis-
tered stairway curved UP grace
fully. Sherry wondered whether
Lex Morell, too, felt the honey
friendliress Of this house. whether
his heart lifted in response as hers
did. with a special quiet pleasure.
Sherry explained to Aunt Pen
during a momentary lull in the
cider woman's chatter, Il wanted
to come, so 1 came, whether
Mother and Val could make it or
not. It's been so long"
"Too long" Aunt Pen agreed
heartily. Lex, take her into the
parlor. It's warmer in there and
you must both be chilled through.
The winds bitter tonight, Steve'n
be home any minute. I've just got
to 60 out and see to my chicken"
She confided to Sherry, "The girl
I have helping me is a willing lit
tie thing, but I can't trust her to
boil water. I'll be right back"
She hustled off kitchenward and
Lex followed Sherry into the big
room to the right of the hallway.
The lamps were unlit as yet, but
a log fire in the Wide-mouthed fire
place painted the room with a
Pickering radiance. Beyond it's
reach the tall windows were OBJ
longs of intense blue. Sherry
touched a switch and the lamps
lowered into brightness. bringing
into sharper focus the substantial
shapes of old furniture. Most of
the things in the house, Sherry
knew, had been in use since
Steve's grandfather's time. Fabian
Jeffery had sat in these chairs,
walked upon these carpets.
The bronze statuettes of horses
that cleaned from cabinets and
table tops had been executed at
his order. For him had Rosa Bon
heur made the painting of a Per-
cheron that hung between the win
dows. There was a sense of time
iessness in this room, this house,
a feeling Of generations linked to-
gether, a permanence greater than
that of mere wood and fabric. It
had to do with the people who had
lived here, who had moved and
loved and died within these walls.
Sherry wondered whether Lex felt
that, too. Then she dismissed the
notion as absurd. Why should he?
This house could not mean to him
what it meant to her.
She crossed the hearth and
spread her cold fingers to the
heartening blaze.
"Fee1s good"
Lex came over and warmed his
too. eyes, it does"
Kippy, who had come padding
into the room behind them, pro-
ceeded to 60 around and around
at Sherry's feet. Finally he cur1ed
up in a bright ball. his ears out
spread, and relaxed with a little
grunt of complete satisfaction.
He seems very fond of you,"
Lex said.
He ought to-" Sherry told him.
Hes mine" She added then, by
way of explanation. "Steve gave
him to me a year ago, for Christ
mas, because I'd always wanted a
dog of my own. But can you i'm
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