Hungry Horse news., 1948-04-23
CHAPTER 1

QOWu AOiII Tie Hills UPON I1lC tWAl
: king lights of Los Angeles, that tn
e story Of Elsa Chatfeld should b.
l written. Elsa. we thought. typifiet
r something eternal in the spirit O
! American youth-something so fas
. cinating to us older individuals tha'
1t should be set down as a part Of
i. the permanent record of the Ameri.
can scene.
There was a difference Of opin-
ion, however. as to where the story
should begin. Dwight Nichols was
for emitting all mention of Aunt
Kitty and starting in boldly with
the baby.
| Babies are always good to open
with. New life, you know. Every
| thing before them. The world and
the devil. OF course, I'm not a
writer. Barry. as you are; I'm only
a sportsman"
Hmtoon Rogers has since denied
that he foresaw even the smallest
part of the story which began that
night in the hills overlooking the
vast metropolitan area OF Los An
geles and had its end far down the
West Coast of Mexico. And, Of
course, Dwight Nichols and / were
merely talking in the air when we
agreed that the story Of Elsa Chat
field should be written, for the story |
then was only about to begin
''You know, Barry" Dwight said, |
looking off over the vast meadow OF |
twinkling lights below US, 81
thought once that I understood
women But that was when I was
younger. 1 could have done justice
to Elsa then"
Margaret Nichols at this moment
came out and joined US, sitting on
the top step with her cigarette
which she smoked lazily. II was
one Of those rare nights in Cali
lornia when one could sit out of
ioors comfortably. and her bare
arms and throat seemed to smolder
Whitley in the half light which
hone from the living room WIN
lows. There was a quality Of ex-
Iuisiteness about Margaret that ex-
lained Dwight; he had a passion
Or the exquisite, and Margaret
owed him devotedly. Margaret now 4
esired our company.
IT don't like the piano and the
inging. Not now, anyhow" she
aid. Nobody can sing these hor-J {
ible modern songs, if they really 5
an be called songs. Did / inter-
lpt you. darlings? Forgive me and :
} right on talking"
I'VE were just talking, dear.
about woman" said :
wight, lighting a fresh cigarette.
We mentioned Elsa Chatfeld and
en- came to rest upon Aunt Kitty"
Lovely old cat" said Margaret.
Did you know her. Hunt"
mo, Margaret" replied Rogers.
"A plump, sleek tabby who sat
lifetime on silk cushions over in
lsadena, then at the end sank
+ claws in Elsa and died. She
ght to have had a love affair
d a baby!" :.
Dwight blew a cloud Of ghostly ui'
Joke into the shadows and said wy
at Elsa's aunt had been in love
ce. Margaret was incredulous.
you didn't know Sam Chatfeld su
Elsa's father-did you, Hunt?"
ked Margaret turning to Rogers. ca
lntoon Rogers said that he had .c,
t. II was right in thinking that
u came into our circle after Sam =.
d. He was small, round, red. "a
ii man who quite remarkably
d no egotism- Dwight, l think, n't
little taller than Sam. Any
~. he bounced ike a rubber ball
len he walked, and be was some w.
ng in bank N Pasadena.
Sam Chatfeld Eat behind huge y.
ahogany desk al DAP and said
. That's al a1tg-tY hard sor. Ct -
>. don't you aaa-ss" zap. sid &C. -.
'usly- 70. .zEs E--s gius me-, -
ming with ambition ss-c. hopes. o. -
desperate E1csl-s z.l,a.ss a-s.S- -
ances and 1s,ss15s-;s money. z-rs
wing 70 say 10 30 1-,s-... 1.py s.s- a.
Mt person work. .ssl u s.,sas-
ly- Ard. Ct -a-sss. Sam I'D. D..
use be Was > 1sesnn sssr, roy
ow. Ee ff-ysy .sss.cs,ss.see Ssecs.,r,y 3.
himself wE1a az the passion 81 . -
rec new love o. csorrss, 50 make ~
for it. Sam mad 30 say ses -
len he was away t,ta- Gas hank. a.,
d so he neve. Ss8o no 80 anything o.,
1t concerned Elsa os a,r-gssa. CO.,.
mt Kitty was beyond MS qes aus ~,
because she WE wealthy. o.,
Then one day be .s5. ana Eaey
that he'd said YES anS ~,
no to himself TOO often. 4,,ut %
tty quoted the loss al the bank ha
tn her own money. because there do
S family pride. you know. BIN wa
j can imagine what that meant ~,
Elsa. Her mother was dead. %,
.her Elsa didn't like Mexico or lot
m thought it best for her 10 be ~,
here-she did visit him, though mi
,asionally. Anyway, Elsa had 70 ~,
we in with Aunt Kitty and 90 On or,
.ening to Aunt Kitty talking, talk. dr
!, talking. Poor Elsa! She was lin
Give then, and managed in a year cor
two to escape to school in the bo,
st. And after that-wen, there .
S the baby. She was seventeen ash
that time" =.
But VINO is mere who could pos the