Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 3, DeMotte, Jasper County, 5 December 1940 — TRAILER GIRL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRAILER GIRL

© Ledger

By VERA BROWN

WNU Service

CHAPTER XXl—Continued —l4 “You look so solemn. Know why I adore you? You’re the most honest and sincere person I’ve ever known. There’s not an ounce of guilt in you, Lynn.” Lynn gave a little gasp; “Oh, Wild, I love you so! Will you always remember that, no matter what happens?” He took her into his arms then promising: “I’ll always remember that, my sweet! That’s all I want to know.” But he came back again to that difficult subject: “What about Rene?” Lynn, desperate, turned in his arms. “He’s going to Rome to study, Wild. Marty says he’s going to win the Foundation Prize. Give me just a little time, darling. Just a little time!” “I won’t rush you, Lynn.’ 1 He held her close. “We’ve our whole lives together. But when I see this damned apartment it drives.me crazy. We should be off fdr all the marvelous places of the world, Lynn. Not wasting our time here.” He took her hand and kissed each finger-tip. “We can visit Rene in Rome—there’s nothing we can’t do!” Lynn was desperate. Rene must find some way to straighten this thing out! She could not say baldly; “I’m Rene’s wife!” The words would stick in her throat. She thought of showing him the marriage license, but only thought. Later, he said: “I’m going to give you your ring for Christmas, Lynn, an emerald. I know just what it should be,” he said looking at hes ringless hands which seemed made for fine jewels. “We’re going to be so happy, Lynn!” CHAPTER XXII November came down with a rush A bitter weather on America’s greatest city. Wild wanted to send his chauffeur for Lynn each day at noon to Rene’s studio, but she would not permit it. Consequently, he came himself whenever he could get away from the few hours he spent now at his father’s office. For Wild was reformed. He was showing interest in his father’s great business and that delighted Austin, Sr., while it terrified his mother. She realized what it meant. The second week of the month Rene had to enter his picture for the Guggenheim Foundation Prize. Lynn had not yet seen it, nor had Wild. It was Marty who called this to the attention of Rene. “They ought to see it before it’s entered. It will be reproduced in the papers whether you win or not.” Rene nodded. “Have some people in Saturday night, make it casual and ask the kids,” Marty suggested. “Might just as well get it over.” “I don’t want anybody to see it. I painted it for myself!” Rene was sullen about it all. “If you’re going to enter it, you might just as well begin to get used to the idea.” Marty was practical. “If you don’t want to make a fuss, just don’t say why you’re inviting people. We’ll hang the picture and they can take it or leave ijt.” Rene reluctantly agreed. He knew Marty was right. That is how it happened Lynn and Wild were bound for Rene’s apartment the following Saturday evening. When they climbed the stairs to the studio, they could hear the party going, full blast. W’ild had his arm about the girl as they climbed higher and higher. “One kiss, then in we go.” Their entrance was greeted with shouts of welcome. The studio whs brightly lighted, and over on the far wall hung the picture. Rene came to meet them. “We thought you’d got lojst.” Wild, standing there in the doorway, saw the portrait firstj. “Lvnn Look!” *He took her arm and led her over to it, and they stood' there before it in silence. Hanging in its dull, gold frame, it seemed to dominate the room. It was not a large canvas, but th,ere was a depth and soberness about it which was arresting and a little terrifying. . i. “Rene, it’s superb!” Wild turned to the painter, his face glowing. In the excitement of that first glimpse he hardly seemed to realize the girl In the picture was Lynn. Lynn was silent. It fascinated, yet repelled her. Was she really like that? Rene was watching her. “What do you call it, Rene?” Wild was asking. “Manhattan Idyl.” “Why that?” “Because idyls have a way of ending here in this town.” Wild, startled, turned back to the picture. “Are you ever really like that, Lynn?” There was a note of laughter in his voice. “Rene, you’re hardly fair.” Rene .shook his head. “Of ceurse, she’s not like that,” Wild continued. He could not leave the painting. “I suppose you have potentialities for suffering,” he speculated. “You’re a wise man to see it, Rene.” Wild shook his head and talked over to get refreshments with Lynn and Marty. He was frankly puzzled. As for Lynn, her heart was

beating madly. It was not fair of Rene! : The party broke up early. It was somehow impossible to continue a gay evening in the presence of that somber girl in the pale gold frame. Wild and Lynn were among the first to go. “May I drop in and call on you some day soon?” Wild asked. “I want to talk to you about that other picture of Lynn.” Rene nodded: “Any time.” I Lynn’s eyes were pleading, Rene’s commanding, as she said good-night to him. That next week, on an afternoon before Wild was to meet Lynn, he went to Rene’s studio. Rene was working, but he stopped when Wild came. - “Where’s the picture?” “Gone. Went off yesterday. We’ll soon know the worst.” Wild stared at the wall where it had hung the previous Saturday night. “I can still see it, Rene. It’s an unpleasant picture! But a great one.” “You’re wrong about it being unpleasant. You’re reading things into it.” 4 Wild thought a little. “Did you ever see Lynn like that?” “I’ve seen her unhappy and troubled, if that’s what you mean. I’ve

known her better than you have, through a lot of trouble.” “She’s always seemed so -young to me.” ? “She is, but we’ve seen some bad times together. I remember her face through a haze when I was so sick last Spring. I suppose at lot of that went into the painting. There wasn’t always enough to eat.” Wild put that idea from him as unbearable. He resented Rene knowing Lynn as he did not. Later he spoke of that other portrait. “I want to buy it. That’s the way I like to think of her, moonswept. It’s a good canvas. I want it to show our grandchildren. I like it.” 1 ' .{r : ' Rene laughed shortly: ‘‘Then, it will be your wedding present, Wild.” The idea seemed to amuse him. ' “I won’t let you do that,” “You can’t help yourself, I'd like to think you owned it. I have a fondness for it myself. If I’m going away, Lord knows when I’ll be back. Take it; it’s yours.” Later when Wild told Lynn about their first wedding gift she wate furious. Her anger amazed Wild. “We can do things for Reng, and we will,” he said placatinglyj. “It would have hurt him if I hadn’t taken it, Lynn.” But her fury left her sperjt and terrified. How could Rene! lie had done it deliberately. And Lynn, with a heaving sigh, knew that latejr Wild would hate that picture. i- . Christinas was only tw'o weeks away now. Wild had made! great plans and Lynn planned to put up a tall Christmas tree in Rene’s studio. They were to have a Christmas Eve party for a few of the artists in Rene's building, and Wild had promised to come for a little while; Rene hated the fuss of Christmas, found it all shallow and boring, he said. But it was Rene who helped Lynn out with a suggestion for a Christmas gift for Wild. “Why not gather up some of my sketches of you and have a portfolio of them fixed for Wild?” “Won’t you take them with you, the best ones, I mean, when you go?” “No.” Rene’s voice was sharp, and he picked up his brushes and went to work again. When he left he wanted to take nothing which would remind him of Lynn. CHAPTER XXIII Three days before Christmas an announcement of the Guggenheim Award was made. It was Marty who came pounding into Rene’s studio breathless one morning as Rene and Lynn were at work on a Spring cover picture. “You’ve won! You did it!” Marty pumped Rene’s hand, kissed Lynn and danced her about the place. Rene went back to his easel as

though he were accustomed to such honors every day. “My God, man, aren’t you glad?” “Yes, I suppose I am.” He began painting again at Lynn’s diaphanous green frock. Rene finally sent Marty on, for he said he wanted to finish that March cover that day. But when Marty had gone Rene seemed to have no heart for his paint brushes. He threw them down, went over to the couch and threw* himself upon it. “Well, this is the end, Lynn.” “End, Rene?” Lynn turned toward him mystified. “It is the beginning, the beginning of really great things for you!” “Great pictures, maybe. I don’t know.” He sat up and faced Lynn. “You are glad I’m going. I know you are!” “Rene, I’m glad for you, delighted, happy . . everything! It means your whole career.” “I’ll miss you, Lynn.” “I’ll miss you, Rene.” “No, you won’t. You’ll feel free.” He got up and went over to his desk and began hunting through one of the drawers. He took out a pile of crumpled bills. “Here it is. I’ve got it together. You can go to Reno and get a divorce when I’m gone. I promised you I’d help you.” Lynn stood looking at the bills on the table. Tears were running down her cheeks now. “It’s no use, Rene. I can’t do that now*. It’s too late.” “Too late for a lot of things!” Rene cursed himself for the fool he was. If he'd only realized before how much he loved her. He could have tried to win her. She depended on him, turned to him. Lynn picked up the money and went over and put it back into Rene’s desk. "You’ve been a real friend, Rene. 1 !’ “Without you, Lynn, I couldn’t have worked as I have. I don’t know what I can do when I go on alone.” “I know! You will be a great artist, Rene!” To Lynn, Rene was a beloved brother, a friend with a God-given talent. . *. “Nothing c&n stop you now. Nothing!” “What about you when I am gone?” Lynn choked back her sobs. “I’ll be all right. I know what you are thinking, Rene. I’ll tell him. Right after Christmas, I’ll tell him. I can’t spoil things for him, now.” Rene watched her face carefully: “You’re sure you love him?” “I’ll always love him, Rene, no matter what happens.” Then the newspaper men came. Wild heard the news, read it in the morning paper at breakfast, and came to see Rene as soon as possible. “Will Miss Morrow go to Rome with you, Mr. Bouchier?” asked one of the reporters. “No, I lost my model.” “She’s staying with me, boys,” Wild interrupted with a laugh. “Tell them, Lynn, now’s as good a time as any.” “No, please!” Lynn turned frantically to Rene, beseeching him. But it-was too late. That added a nice touch to the romantic story of Rene Bouchier’s rise. So, across the pages of the afternoon newspapers were spread pictures o.f Lynn and Wild, and Rene’s triumph was secondary to the announcement of the engagement of the city’s most eligible bachelor, the inveterate “woman hater.”

Christmas Eve was a happy time for Lynn. Rejrip, Lynn and Wild all had supper at the studio and Lynn cooked it herself. Later, when she came into her room and snapped on the light, she gave a gasp of astonishment. A little tree stood on the table. Around it were many packages, all shapes and sizes. She rushed to the lovely little tree and touched its silvered leaves tenderly. How like Wild! Then she began to open packages. There were bottles of perfume, a jeweled compact, boxes of hose and handkerchiefs. There was a big, square purple box of orchids, a box of candy. It was overwhelming. Wild came in the morning, just as she was making a pot of coffee. When he came in the door, bringing in the breath of the fresh Winter day, he swept her into his arms. “Merry Christmas! You don’t look very festive, sweet! Didn’t you get any sleep?” He held her close, looking down into her face. “Like the tree?” Then still holding her, he pulled her down into his arms. Then he slipped onto her slender finger the gorgeous emerald. “Emeralds suit you, Lynn. You’re like them, cool and blazing and clean!” “I can’t take it, Wild!” “Nonsense! It’s your engagement ring! It’s the first thing I’ve ever given you!” He held her close in his arms, kissed the tip of her ear. “I want to do everything in the world for you, Lynn! You were made to have beautiful things!” He kissed her again before she could protest any more. “We’re going to be so happy!” Then the coffee pot boiled over and Lynn had to rescue it from thp little electric plate. (TO m: CO\TI\L EUj

Wild walked over to get refreshments with Lynn and Marty.