The Wilmington morning star., 1947-11-19

FNFFJ NV . SO'
She tugged at Edna's hand.
Edna said, "Let me speak
with Alison a few moments,
darling" She smiled. q
haven't a single fear. Teresa is
going to sell her business. you
know, but the management Of
the house and the servants will
require all of her executive
ability. She'll probably do h G
house over and that will take
years. It's a big job and I glad.
ly relinquish it to her. She'll be
superb at it. When she left she
looked well, what do you
think? How did she look?"
"Grateful."
Edna nodded. eyes. That's
exactly how she looked. Crate.
full. You think Philip was mag.
unanimous? My dear, his love
was greater. Suzy will have his
name legally. And now I have
little girl of my own"
Lets CO." Suzy said.
Edna took her hand. She
turned to Alison again. "Tim
and Nicola went to Georgia to
be married. She sent you a mes
sage: Inc water will flow
peacefully when the dam is
down. Her language makes
mine so plain. 1t couldn't be
palmer when I ask you what
you are going to do"
"Teresa left me her car. I'm
going to Sam"
'sOf course. That's as il
should be. I'm sentimental and
I'm religious, Alison. My senti.
mentality makes me hope wei
all be together next Christmas
Sam and Teresa included; my
religion will make me pray fol
it to be so"
Alison went to the window
and saw Edna leading Suzy by
the hand into the large blscl
car. She saw the chauffeur pu
in Suzy's smart luggage. Edna
waved. Suzy threw a kiss. They
turned their bright faces for
ward as the car moved away
You won't glance backward
suzy. Your past is So brief i
will not cling to you. Iou1
thoughts are all on tomorrow
a puppy, pony, new room
a new father and Edna's adora
ton
She turned away from tn.
window. She could think Of San
now. At last. There were a hun
dred miles between them-ant
the car was in the garage.
At the farm she put Teresa
car in the garage and closet
the door. She then wake;
around the stone path to tn
kitchen door and Viola adnitte
her. The farmhouse kitchen wa
the same-huge, untidy and full
of the odors of good cookir g
The wood stove glowed red an,
there was a pie in the oven
Sam would be coming hom
soon to dinner.
"I'll set another place at tn
table," Viola said. "For you.
Alison wandered through tn
shabby, dusty rooms. She woul
have embraced them if sh
could. She had come home
From France to Vermont t
Washington and now t
Virginia. Life is the journey Q
a pilgrim. But if she wandere'
again she would always retur:
to this house. The path 10 thi
house ran to it, not away from
it. Had Kitty known? Retrospect
lively her mother had becom
wiser. What is wisdom bu
knowing and loving?
She looked at herself in tn
mirror. A girl in a dark ret
tweed suit with flowing ash
blonde hair and scarle
mouth. Accept me, she thought
I want this house to accept m
and may my love and care adj
more mellowness to the dign:
fled old walls.
At the sound of the truste
motor she went outside an
stood on the porch. The TO-
floated past almost obscurin
her. Mist rising from the turn
ing, thawing earth. Soon the sal
would rise. Then soon it woul'
be spring. Rebirth. Beginning.
Sam parked his car outsid
the picket fence. Preoccupied
he walked up the path, hatless
his short army coat broadening
his wide shoulders.
When he saw her, they came
together.
I "I love you desperately