Evening star., 1952-03-23

into his arms
eSoni' She burst into tears
Jim kissed her, saying IT'S good to be home, Mother.
Here's Lisa
Jms mother saightened her big soft gentle face working
to control itself Her bming eyes magned by the
thick lenses of her spectacs they wide and Watchu
Lisa took her hand but the gea lay limp in her grasp She
smiled: Il have wanted 50 long to meet you"
The watery blue eyes grew bigger You speak English?
didn't realize.
jim was squatting down. crushing his to him. his voice
breaking: Jimmy boy. -.
LISA waited her smile was beginning to hurt There was
look the older womans eyes that she did not understand
jim released his at last and pointed Now cay hello to
your new mother"
Lisa held out her arms and nstncyely the boy fell hack
STEP and looked up questioningy at his grandmother:
Cram She nodded and as though he had been coached
in school play he bowed and said parrot fashion: Bon Jour-
madame"
Bon jour, cher Lisa cried sweeping the little boy into
the air and huggng him. He did not respond; his body
sened, and he cast frightened glance his shoulder
Gram said quickly Jimmy. you'll.get the ladys pretty
dress all mud and snatched him out of Lisas Every
things muddy; we've had nothing but rain here lately
she explained nervousy IT'S let up little today but the
papers say She had way Of letting her sentences trail
The townspeople pressing around Jm sapping him
the back They shook sas hand politely but their eyes
appaising and wary She shvered little she climbed
into the waiting car.
'Of course it's just little country town. Gram apoogzed
the rolled stcy across the muddy square, II suppose
it must very dull to you after sunny France No night
clubs or cabarets or !"
Jimmy was cuddled on his grandmothers lap: his eve
caught the eweed brooch Las dress and he reached up
to grab it Lisa smiled. and leaned hopefully toward him.
Gram gave warning clck like mother hem
Just look DEAR" she said. Don't touch It belongs to
the countess. !.
Now there was no mistaking the fear in her eyes,
@AaAk A. -
svely why do you not like me? Why do you disus me?"
But the friendly smile would freeze her lips There was no
breaking through Grams deep dstrust
The wide blue eyes would follow her warIy wherever she
went, though Lisa intruder Gram was always
gentle always solictous She would dream Of letting Lisa
lift finger You sit where it's COOL and I'll get dinner
Now, don't you bother about making that bed Her
apprehension revealed itself only when Lisa came too near
little Jimmy. frightened cluck, riing Of feathers
fash of her thick glasses she inserted herself deity between
them Maybe if he just sat here in Grams lap 8" She
would rock back and FORTH huggng the boy possessyely
i guess spoil him. with apoogetic smile at Lisa but
he's all have, poor little lamb I. he and Jim.
There one in town to whom Lisa could talk When
she entered the post Office the buzz of small talk ceased
abruptly The people proud the way little town is
proud and they resented her because they felt that she was
being patronzng Their remarks were formal impersona
The woens bright eyes would dart over her Paris clothes
their heads bobbng envousy. That's pretty pin YOU
got on.
She would finger the brooch her dress eager to begin
conversation 1T gift to family from Louis XIV
L sos it means The Sun King You see he created our
title. De Ia RoceSoH Over the gateway to chateau
buT 1t vas the wrong thing to their lips would tighten