Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 October 1936 — Page 26

indolent grandfather, Major Sam Meed, and two old Negro servants, Zeke and Athy. Kate is engaged to Morgan Prentiss, who neglects her for beautiful and wealthy Eve Elwell. Major Meed loses the farm to Jeff Howard, a bitter young mountaineer. Kate hates Jeff for taking their home. Morgan tells Kate they can be married if she will “ditch” her burdensome famfly. Kate finds herself torn between two loves. Morgan, meanwhile, sees Eve Elwell, whe frankly makes a play for him. Eve appeals to his ambition and makes him promise to withdraw his offer of marriage to Kate. Morgan and Eve declare their love for each other. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

A CHAPTER TWENTY

PTER kissing Morgan goodnight (it was a dazed, unresponsive kiss because of the conversation they had just had), Kate went into the house and upstairs to bed without waking any one. It ~ was almost 3 o'clock and she did not want to think. She forced herself to go to sleep, holding her problem in abeyance. But when she arose in the morning the problem came rolling toward her like a giant bowling ball She stood quite still and let it strike her, full force. Morgan wanted to marry her only on condition that she definitely rid herself of her grandfather and Caroline and the old Negro servants. Only on condition that her grandfather be put in an institution, that Caroline should become selfsupporting in some distant city, that Zeke and Althy and Rutherford should be discharged without sentiment, and soon. : Kate's belief in Morgan's wisdom still awed her. Her belief in his love and moral rectitude still was wrapped. about her like a royal cloak. Such thoughts were a habit, emotionally created.

= = =

T breakfast she could not look at Caroline. She tried, but the rising tears made her lower her eyes hastily to her plate. She thought of Caroline in some distant place, standing behind a counter, wrapping parcels. In some dingy office, typing all day. “But why not?” Kate asked herself angrily. “Why shouldn’t Caroline do such things? Other girls do them. Well, suppose Caroline is a timid little home-body! All the more reason for her to get out and meet the world. . . . Morgan said the farther from home she

box of a house?” | “I dare say,” replied the | old gentleman absently.. He was buttering his pancakes with happy expectancy. “We'd all be.” “We all aren't eligible,” Kate answered impatiently. “Only you. Would you consider applying for admission to such a place, Gran’dad?” “ “Bless my soul,” said Major Meed, peering sharply at her over his spectacles, “I wouldn't any more think of it than I'd try to go to Congress.” “Maybe in a year or two,” Kate suggested cautiously. “When you're older and need more attentipn—?"

# # 2

“y RECKON I get plenty of attention from those of my own household,” said the old man reprovingly. “If the time ever came | when I was sick and deserted, then {I'd not be stubborn and stiff- { necked. I'd go. But that’s not apt to happen to a man like me. Not | with two gran’daughters of my own and a pair of faithful servants right here under my own roof. Are you feelin’ gloomy this fine mornin’, honey?” | Kate managed to laugh as she turned and left him. After that - she plunged into work with feverish speed. She went to the garden and picked a half bushel of beans, prepared them and canned them before noon. She was silent for hours. When Caroline ventured to say approvingly, “Those jars look gorgeous, Kate!” she only shook her head impatiently. “Poor crop of beans, Caroline. The whole garden's a failure. That's the Meeds for you!” Caroline: and Althy exchanged startled glances.

2 ” ” T 5 o'clock Kate dressed, put

into a box all the things she had ever received from Morgan

and opened the door for her. Both he and Eve looked startled. “Eve dropped by to get a book.” : To Kate, they seemed remote and strange, like people viewed through the small end of opera Sates. Let Ros hear what she come say to Morgan. What matier? “Please take this box,” she said to him. “Your fraternity pin’s in it. And your letters and your picture. And the bracelet you gave me Christmas. I don’t ‘want you or anything that was ever yours.”

« 28 = »

SEE saw that they were staring at her strangely, in a vast - prise. She knew that she should go without another word, but her anger would not let her. She said between her teeth, “You're a little man, Morgan Prentiss. A mean, little man with a heart like a mustard seed. You've always been, I suppose, buf I never realized it until today.”

Eve's coql voice cut the silence.

“Morgan was going to tell you to- |

night, Kate, that he was through—" | “So this makes it just dandy,” Morgan added suavely. “I've no doubt you were,” Kate said to him in a calm voice. “But always remember I beat you to it, won’t you? It'll keep you humble when you get to the White House.” She went away then, and left them. Through her bruised heart a feeling of relief and escape was pulsing. She only wanted to get home to Gran’dad and Caroline and tell them how precious they were. She wanted to say to them, “We love each other so! We must stick together, whatever comes!” At a drug store she bought a sack of tobacco for Zeke and a framed picture of the Dionne babies for Althy. For Rutherford B. she bought a large chocolate bar. “The little fellow’s too skinny,” - she thought ruefully, “We must try to fatten him.” Then laughter came to her, deliciously.

(To Be Continued)

VALERIE COMES HOME

‘NEARLY JERKED MY ARM OUT ~'. TRYIN' TO BEA RACER ~ YOU

“We're playing divorce and this dren.”

: “What's Chuck taking your dolls for?"

\ A i

% oN F)

is his week for custody of the chil- | ! :

A. 29

—By Al Capp

GOLLY ”- THET CON- * TRAPTION HAS A

U COME. OVER TO DINNER-AND BRING A FRIEND?- THE ADDRESS 1S TWENTY ELM STREET?

SHO NUE? S57 nan Gg” (© F &N,

FRECKLES AND HI

WHOOPEE™A DATE ¥ -I'VE WITH PETER VAN PEW./-OF COURSE VE NEVER SEEN HIM - BUT-

HEARD HE'S EOUS.

A PERFECT GENTLEM AND A

[HOWDY LIL ABNER?! 7s =e SAVITHIS CONTRAPTION) LES

NOW! Tt fd CHANGE MAH FEETBALL CLOES?

”

goes, the better. . . . Louisville won't do. Morgan doesn’t want | her coming to spend week-ends | with us. .. . Why should Caroline come and spend week-ends with us? Plenty of other girls live in hall bedrooms over the week-ends.

(WELL WE'LL HAVE

(50 You WERE THE NO MORE SIGNAL

GUY WHO GAVE THE SIGNAL TO TRY AN END PLAY, WHEN I WANTED

SOMETHING ‘CAME OVER

By Margaret Williams Daily Short Story

“IPRUCE RAYMOND never loved me, grandmother,” flamed Val-

FELLOW/ BUT HOW COME YoU "SCRATCHED; INSTEAD OF

I DIDN'T WANNA GUM THINGS UP, COACH ..... HONEST I

were kids, but I thought you'd forget me, ,..”

Why shouldn't Caroline?” “You aren't eating, dear,” Caro"line said gently. “I am!” Kate contradicted, and ed her cofiee. ig came in with a plate of cornmeal batter cakes. She offered them to the girls with her usual affectionate interest in their appetites. “Teke two-three, honey,” she urged Kate. “You look kindy peaked dis mornin’.”

” # 2

ATE answered, “Just one, please. I'm not very hungry.” She could not look at Althy, either. A moment later she caught sight of Althy’s calico-clad back, going toward the kitchen, and tears blinded her. Kate could hear Zeke filling the coal box behind the stove. His legs would be bent a trifle from age and hard work, yet his face would be like a cheery old gnome’s as he sniffed the coffee and contemplated his breakfast. They hadn't much sense about wages, Althy and Zeke. They'd been working for practically nothing since gran'dad’s purse had been so flat. Well, get rid of them soon, Morgan says, Or you'll be caught with a dead weight on your “hands. Morgan knows about such things. Morgan’s = modern. I mustn't ever let him know I love Althy and Zeke. He'd think I was

ry ie asked, “Can't you eat “your fried apples, honey?” y “No,” Kate answered shortly. “I don’t think fried apples are necessary for breakfast. Theyre too Leavy. Althy and Zeke are a wasteful pair, if you ask me.” Caroline was puzzled. “We country people need a hearty breakfast,” she said. “If you work, you have to eat. Zeke and lng al. ways ‘pick up the wind-fall apples tc cook. I don't call that being ~ wasteful.” “Well,” Kate remarked sarcastically, “maybe Rutherford B. likes fried apples for breakfast. Mayb2 they're catering to his appetite. “Rutherford B. eats most anything he can get,” Caroline replied, mystified at the tum of the conversation. “He's not picky.” = = » “¥T'S ridiculous, our haying to keep that child,” Kate said, lowering her voice. “Just another mouth to feed. What good’s a 10-year-old colored boy, I ask you?” “Why, Kate!” Caroline protested. “Whatever's got into you

.! His stepfather almost beat him to death a couple of years ago. Don't you remember? Althy and Zeke were almost crazy from worry over him, so Gran'dad told them to bring him home with them.”

“I've been trying to forget that,”

.| estate adjoining The Pines.

erie Gray, tossing her red curls angrily. “He loved the million dollars Aunt Irma promised to settle on us if we married.” . “Oh, Val, child, don’t be so bitter,” protested her grandmother. “You're eighteen, and beautiful—" “I'm not really beautiful! The society reporters just said that because Aunt Irma was rich. Oh, I've been so miserable with her! I couldn't stand it any longer. . . .” “Darling, you are beautiful,” insisted her gentle grandmother. “Some young man will convince you—" “No one can convince me of that! Derek Forbes used to call me Funnyface when I was a kid and stayed here at The Pines with you and grandfather—"

# # 2

Th was six years ago, Val See what he thinks of you this evening. He and some other young people in the neighborhood are coming to welcome you back to The Pines. Remember Mabel Vinton? She's coming with Derek.” Mabel was crazy about Derek even when they had been kids together, reflected Valerie.. And Derek had always said that Mabel was beautiful, and she wasn’t. Perhaps Derek’s boyish teasing had convinced Valerie that no man would ever fall in love with her. ’

Every one had considered the orphaned Val very lucky when her rich Aunt Irma in New York had adopted her six years ago. But Val, longing for Virginia and The Pines; had been miserable in the stiff formality of her aunt's mansion. Then, a week ago, on her eighteenth birthday, her unhappiness had blazed into an open quarrel. Aunt Irma had wanted her to marry a stodgy middle-aged man whom she despised. So Val had run away and come back to The Pines and her grandmother who had lived alone, since her grandfather's death a few months before. Val would not be married for Aunt Irma’s money.

HE party was in full swing that evening when Mabel Vinton, a tall, platinum blond beauty, arrived, clinging possessivéely to Derek Forbes’ arm. But Derek, shaking her off, hurried up to Valerie. “Hello, Funny-face!” he greeted her. “But I guess I shouldnt call you that now you've grown into a beauty.” Valerie thrilled excitedly at Derek's words. He had always been honest. Suppose he— “They've taken the bands off your teeth,” went on Derek, teasingly, as he swept her into a dance. “And you've lost your freckles. I'm just surprised you bother with poor Virginia after New York—" “I hated it!” flared Valerie. “Tell me about yourself. Do you still live at Oaklands?” Oaklands was the

Derek nodded. “I own it now. Gramp gave it to me when he got too old to farm it. He died about

BR~3F, gpd basin:

| Derek knelt beside her, trying te

“And I've always loved you, too,” Valerie whispered ecstatically, as Derek took her in his arims. This was what she had always longed for, Derek’s love and nearness. # z » . OW foolish she had been to think no one would love her, when all the time Derek had been | here, waiting, loving her! Derek said she was beautiful, and she believed in Derek. She believed in love—then Mabel Vinton appeared at the open window. “Valerie, your grandmother wants you—".she halted abruptly. “Tell her Val’s engaged,” laughed Derek, and Mabel, her eyes gleaming jealously, stepped out onto the porchs iT “I must say you haven’t lost much time, Derek. Isn't it lucky Val’s accepted you? Does she.know that your grandfather’s will said you'd never inherit a cent of his money if you didn’t marry Val within a year?” Val’s heart withered within her. She tore herself from Derek’s clasp and faced him, quivering. “Is this true, Derek?” “Val, you know our grandfathers both dreamed of our marriage—" “Did he threaten to cut you off if you didn’t marry me?” “Yes, he did! But listen—" “Then I never want to see you again! Never!” ” ” 2 i URIOUSLY she rushed away. She had trusted Derek, believed in him, and he had wanted to marry her fer money! Money! It was always money that came between her and love. Life wa$ bitter and disillusioning. Sobbing, wretched, she flung herself into a chair in.granddad’s shabby old library, her childhood retreat in hours of distress. There Derek found her. “Val, I thought I'd find you here.”

make her look at him. (Val, darling, you must believe I love you—" “I believe you want your grandfather's money!” spat Val viciously. “I told you not to speak to me

“But, darling, I must. Gramp’s will has just been probated, and sweetness, the old boy died broke! He didn’t know it, but by the-time we've met the claims against his estate there won't be a cent left. So you see, dear, whether I marry you or not, I won't have anything except what I earn by farming Oaklands. Can you face a life like that with me, Valerie? Do you love me enough...” “I love you too much not to.” Val's ex» were starry with happiness as he kissed her.. This was the love she had dreamed of—love without money!

THE END ¢ ht. 193 Un Copyrigl 8, by Hi Feature

The characlers in this story are fictitious. > ee ——.

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‘CROSSWORD PUZZLE

HORIZONTAL

Answer to Previous Puzzle ’

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