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I I Thursday, January 7, 1932 McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA PAGE NUMBER THR1 KATtlARINt Nt^VLIN BUfiT © KWI caowEu. » publish i»«a COM PAH V SECOND INSTALMENT Fresh from a French convent, Jocelyn Harlowe returns to New York to her socially-elect mother, a religious, ambitious woman. The gleammi girl is hurried into an engagement ger ^ tna with the wealthy Felix Kent. Her father, Nick Sandal, surreptiously enters the girl’s home one night. He tells her he used to call her Lynda Sandal. The girl is torn by her desire to see life in the raw and to become part of her mo ther’s societv. Her father studies her surroundings. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY “U-hum. I suppose so. Will you get his picture for me?” “Felix Kent’s?” x • “Sure thing. Your young man’s.” She laughed. The whole experi ence begun to be an astonishing adventure. This father had a way with him that opened a door in her heart. He was so casual, so* hard, so vibrant. There had been nothing like him in her life. She hurried to her room to get the picture. She was very quick, being really afraid that he might just vanish forever if she left him. So, com ing back light-footed she found him returning to his place from some swift furtive investigation of- the room. She noticed this, but in her confused excitement it made on her at the time no particular impression. Later she was driven to remembering it. ' Her father stood up to go, catch ing his cane, smothering a cry at the pain all sudden movements cost nim. “I mustn’t see you again. But— here’s my address.” He pushed a folded scrap of paper into her hand and bent her fingers over it. “I v/ant you to have that for two rea sons. If you ever need me you can send for me or come to me. a golliwog. She went to her mo ther’s room and examined the like ness she had so achieved: a girl with a slim high-colored face, a firm rich mouth, a pair of tilted eyes: a girl with a swag- o __ was made charming by, supply. its lines of race ^nd breeding. “Oh, Lynda Sandal,” said Jocelyn ‘I am going to like you. Maybe it will be wonderful!” more open and ardent of the two. Her eyes had burned upon Nick, his home, his life, his friends with a golden flame of interest, of sympa thy, of the will to understand. It was the gift which Marcella had re fused and Felix Kent had not even desired to evoke. One evening Felix questioned her. Heretofore Jocelyn had been the questioner. “Why,” he asked her, “dd you look so conventual tonight?” “Oh,” said Jocelyn realizing that in Lr° f - 1S »* j t Tvn she mu st answer. “You used to say “You wm. And I surrender. Lyn- , _ , . . da Sandal, I hereby take you as my I didn t look as I ought ,to; con- child for better or for worse and Ventual, that is.” promise to show yqu all the reality “Tonisht vou do ” and the adventure. I can decently , 0 ' And if this madness be “That’s funny the "death of Jocelyn Harlowe I do, Felix laughed a 4ry little laugh hereby promise to aid, succor and secret meaning, support Miss Lynda Sandal to the best of my very poor ability. In Wi V 7 dirty steps of an old-fashioned brownstone building on a street But I advise you unless it’s a veryi which mi^t once have been lined HiifiincvQa t.n fnrcrpt mp and With SOb6r dWGlllTlgS. A JcipcUlCSG serious business, to forget me and my whereabbuts. The other rea son . .,. well, I won’t bother you with that. May I kiss you ” She lifted her face. She was in tears / She followed him into the small back room, her own bedroom. It startled her to think that he had climbed in at her own little dark window. Now Sandal got himself painfully cut ^across its sill and Jocelyn watched him climb dowm Jocelyn the fire escape, swiftly and quietly in spite of his pain and his twist ed body. Jocelyn shut the window, went back to the lighted front room. This was her father, she thought. One day Felix offered to take her to her office. “Oh,' Felix, will you? I’d love to see your office. I’ve never been inside an American office. Will you show me everything? Will you ex plain everything?” In Kent s inner sanctuary she was introduced to Miss Rebecca Deal, a little ruddy sturdy woman with bright eyeglasses and a wide mouth. Jocelyn was amused by this new manifestation of womanhood. When Felix left to interview some one in the outef office she sat down in his revolving chair before his great neat handsome desk and looking at Miss Deal with all her eager eyes began to question her: “You work here with him every day?” ; Half the time he’s off. Miss Harlowe. in Chicago or the South- west. He’s interested, as of course you know, in all these mines.” “It seems so queer to me,” said Jocelyn with her slow wistful smile, “that all this side of his life just means nothing to me. How much better you know him than I do!” Rebecca blushed and laughed. “I wish I were as clever as you are and had your exoerience. I would so love . . Here Felix entered and the girl came toward him, speaking ear nestly. A new Jocelyn seemed to meet him at every turn he made. “Felix, can’t I learn how to do these things for you? I mean, if Miss Deal could teach me, I’d love to work with you, to understand. Nick laboriously crawled over the window sill. 1 There, in the little bedroom, its door locked, coiling a trunk rope around her arm she switched off her light and swung her leg across the window sill. She drove to the address her fa ther had given her. She got out, order to seal our compact and to show my sincerity,” he stood up, lifted his hand in a great gesture and raised his voice, “Lynda, I want you to meet some of my friends.” At the changed timbre of his paid the driver and climbed up the j voice, the four card players turned. ~ ‘ J “Boys, I want to present to you my daughter. Miss Lyrida Sandal. Mr. James Drury, Mr. Saul Morris- boy answered her ring. “Does a Mr. Sandal live here?” “Yes’m. T’ree flight up.” Jocelyn paused before she took the last few steps of her ascent of the three flights of stairs. Across the room, Nick Sandal crouched on a battered sofa against the wall. He was twisted up pain fully among some tattered cush ions and smoked a pipe with deep eager sucking noises, cuddling its bowl on one of his swollen and dis torted hands. His bright eyes watched a group of four men play- ine cards at a table. She came rapidly up the last few stens and stood in the doorway. ■\ Nick Sandal, brushing away the smoke of his pipe, made*a queer gasping exclamation,) then put up his hand as though to prevent an insult and struggled to his feet. "Boys, this is my daughter,” he cried out sharply. There was a strained silence in the room. It was Jocelyn herself who broke the silence. “Go on with your game, please,” she said. “I came to talk to niy father.” The men obeyed with alacrity. They returned to their cards and to their smokiner. ignoring Nick and his visitor. But one of them, with a wirik and a twist of his whole face, got up and shut the door. Jocelyn sat down beside the cripple on his battered lounge and put her wand uncertainly upon his free one. He took it up as though it had been something more perish able than his own and peered up into her face. They spoke in low voices, trying to create for them selves an illusion of privacy. “I wanted to see you. Father. I got out the wav you, showed me. Mother doesn’t know I’m here. “Nothing wrong then?” “No. I felt that I must see you. There’s something in me that be- lones to. you. And I am really very lonely.” “Lonely? With a fiance and a mother and a crowd of friends?” “Felix is still a stranger. I have no friends.” Nick put an arm roughly about her. “All right, Lvnda. I’ll be your “You shall know whatever you friend. I don’t mind loting you. want to know, sweetheart.” I’™ not the most creditable parent • In the limousine, on their way to in the world. And I don’t want to lunch, Felix spoke tenderly , *et you into trouble with your fu- “I do wajcit you to be in my con- ture husband and with the reput- fidence bgBl never thought you’d able side of the house.” be interest in this sort of thing.” j ‘Til never let them know.” “But thJjsort of thing is just “I say, Lynda, take it easy. Let’s part of all I must know. Felix. I talk it over sort of quietly. That’s have been so put away and shut up better,” as she let her bodv relax . . . like one of these unlucky against the seat. “I’ll tell you on and Mr. Gustave Lowe; Jock Ayleward, my protege and my pro tector.” Jock rose and bowed. The other ling, to be rid of me men sat where they were and shook Even lower his voice dropped “I wonder whether it isn’t v§ry funny.” He went over to her, sat on the arm of her chair and bent above her, capturing her in one strong arm. “Look, child, I have to be away from you for a fortnight presently.” Her heart went plunging, wheth er for joy or sorrow she could not for the life of her have told. “When I come back don’t you think we could shorten this engagement of ours a little? I’m getting weary of convent airs. I want—” and sud denly his face was dyed in deep hot color, “I want a wife.” Marcella spoke as though she were reciting from her volume. “I can see no reason for keeping you waiting much longer, Felix. I did say a four months’ engage ment but it seems to me that you have tested each other’s affec tions now sufficiently, have had time to draw close to each other.” The girl looked from one to the other with sacred golden eyes. “You mean you’ll both go’away? You’ll leave me alone here for all those days before , . . before Her heart beat visibly under the ivory silk across her breast. Felix bent to her lips. Before his own fell upon them he said in a low key,; “Much safer for you, my dar- just now.” “I i'&y He tossed a handful of paper money Lynda. m air before he noticed Lynda’s hand with cordiality, star- _ Q „, + _ TQ . f , A , ing and grinning hard grins up in- can ^ wait - 1 can t wait. And to her face. Jock Ayleward did not the kiss she dreaded fell upon her stare. He looked at her once keen ly and looked away. “Don’t stop playing. May I watch the game?” “We’re quitting, Miss Sandal. So long. Old Nick. See you later at the hunting grounds, Ayleward.” They went, slipping into tight nftat coats, slapping on their hats at rakish angles, smiling at Lynda last with probing looks. After the men had finally taken with the anguish of a blow. But she endured it, withdrawing into some fastness, anesthetizing her soul. All her body, however, drew itself up and back into the chair as though it suffered pain. 0 She listened while Felix and Marcella discussed details. She breathed deeply, her heart at bit- their leave Jocelyn questioned* her j ter, at defiant labor. She was to ^■'What is the hunting grounds?”, ^ *«“/*»**» *«r ignorance of “A gambling place/’ life. And then she was to be giv- “Is that how you make your liv- en to this man. “Oh, no,” said ln He I he!d r out his crippled hands'^ Sandal speaking desperately with a gesture and a look which ^ er °wn heart, we shall see clearly meant, “How could I? No. first. There will be a fortnight at J* if° n least of libert y and of experience, to me, does all of that,’’ he told her. - _ After a long and troubled silence P €rba P s m y mother is wrong. Per- she asked him, “When may I come haps this Felix does not understand ag ‘^Whenever wu’please' my dear l me ' p / rhaps thls one correct and or can make it convenient. I ani mos ^ indulgent gentleman is not nearly always at home. Most of i the only doorway into life and love. the time on this old sofa Every i have a chance to learn the truth, day I find it harder to get about ” J “Oh,‘Father, can’t something be a brie t ma d chance, and if done?” i during this fortnight I discover He shook his head. that my anger and my shame and Jock has done what he could for ... „ me. He takes care of me now, you terror under the embrace of a must know. It’s fair enough. There future husband do not mean, what took care of my mother assures me that they mean,” her chest lifted, a wind I can see was a time when I him.” “He loves you, FjCtJher. J ^ , , that when he smiles.” I seemed to blow across her mind, “He’s not a bad scout but don’t “then I will never marry him, so get romantic about himf Lynda, heln mp ondi not pvpti tn'p«par»p He’s not the man your Felix is, for ? eip me ? ° , P s a noor outlnnk from • • • her!” To the terrible es- instance. He has a poor outlook in life and a character which might be called unstable.” “He’s loyal to you.” “Uh-hum. Emotionally I should with charm and with masculine re- hastily over his crooked shoulder, bellion, “get out, get away from me. j “I never said you had to be afraid, I won’t be mothered by you. Go on | did I? That’s just exactly the one thing you mustn’t be, my girl. If Mr. Felix Kent really scares you in any profound sense of the word, quit him cold .... It is Jock!” The door was opened with a sort of quiet violence and Ayleward, faultlessly attired in evening dress, his hair as sleek as a screen lover’s, came in, shut the door and flung a fierce arm about Sandal’s should ers. . i “There, you old belly-acher, what do you say? Next time will trust a born card-handler.” As he spoke he was pulling from his pockets great handfuls of paper and rummage through my posses sions, Eve. You may indulge your feminine curosity at my expense but I’m blasted if I’ll be the victim of your softness. Lynda, don’t you fall in'love with me, understand?” “I must love you,” said Lynda softly. “I must love you. You are me. I feel you in me.” “Above his papers he stared blankly for an instant. Then, “Thanks, Lynda,” he said simply. “I like to be a part of your loveli ness, if only for a little while. Go on now. I really have , to finish this. When you come back we’ll talk.” money which he shook before. The bedroom, which contained Nick’s eyes and then tossed up in one full-sized bed and one narrow the^air so that they fell about the cot against the wall, was the most room like dead leav^^Jattiis mom-, untidy and unattractive Lynda had ent of some triu^Riniysterioi ever been allowed to center. On Nick’s dressing table there were no photographs, no knick- knacks; there were .no pictures on his walls. On top of a tall chest of drawers, however, a set of cle4n, cheap toilet articles had been neat ly arranged and there was a great picture of a dog, one of those mag nificent canine heads which, loyal, brave, unselfconscious, have a no bility greater than humanity’s. “Tell me about your dog, Father,” was the girl’s first question when after a very brief inspection she came back into the outer room. “He’s such a beauty.” “It isn# my dog. It’s Jock Ayle ward’s.' The animal’s dead now, I imagine. He was Jock’s beast before Jock met with other beasts less beautiful. Jock keeps a sort of cor ner here with me.” “It’s not his home, then?” “Bless the child! Home?” He clicked his tongue, his eyes laugh ing at her. “No. This is not his home. Look like a home to you? Jock is what you might call a bird of passage.” » * “A salesman?” suggested Lynda, proud of her wordly wisdom in be ing able to guess a business occupa tion for a man. - * Nick chuckled. He seemed de lighted with her suggestion. “Well, yes. You might have him call it that. He’s a sort of hunter too. To night he’s after big game—against my express advice. Dangerous hunting. If I’m touchy tonight, j “You’re dressed, for Lynda, that’s the reason. I’m not taking you to, oh a^^^Sjrtiis vmpn mys_ to Lynda he had dropped the mask from his mobile and wild winged face. Lynda saw that he was young, ten years younger than Felix Kent, young enough to Sandal’s son.' “Jock, you fool. Here’s hyndal The mask snapped into pi Ayleward turned it upon Nick’s vis itor in startled grim fixation, bowed and began to collect- earnings; for surely they must, thought Lynda, same sort of ings from his salesmanship! he had them bundled togethe added to them what was left clothing and put the whole mass into a drawer which he ed. Then he turned to go. “Take her home, wjll you, Ji said Nick. “I’m done and she to be getting back to where seems to belong.” But it was nearly morning he came back to furious pro Nick. Z. Ayleward came in at the di then, humming a dance air wi strange dazed wistful look on young face. On the way to get a taxi, L; gripped Jock by the arm. “I must talk to you. Yoii must tell me about Nick.” “All right. I’ll take you some where.” “Do you like to dance?” asked Ayleward. “Yes. But I’m not dressed for a restaurant and my moth—”, m ■* trangement of this pronoun, had Marcella driven her. Events shaped themselves rapid- say he was a sort of bulldog. But ly to make her quest of the truth b«n 5 coddildtky P by h lX h/Lows P °f ible ' Co " s ? n ^ ca f“ e ' “ the value of the few people that i woman with an ear trumpet, care for him.” (very active and very lame, ..who “Who eke beside you Father?” gadded about the city all day with The bright-eyed cripple laughed / . . ^ , in a, low and taunting key. “About a P asslon ate enthusiasm for shop- a dozen women, roughly speaking.” ping, and went to bed at night ex hausted by her own nervous activ ity. ' S ■ r So, after Felix had been gone days—and Jocelyn rather frankly. I have no feeling of ob ligation toward your mother or your young man. I like you. I like your running off by wav of the fire escape to visit me. It’s the way I began, running away nights princesses in towers. It is horrid to be a medieval infant in a world of grown-up moderns. I must know. I must learn. If I had friends here who could teach me . > . young people ...” Felix con-, I _ _ _ _ trolled a wincing motion, “but by a back window. But I don’t want without them how shall I ever to hurt your life or spoil your learn unless you will teach me? chances any. What do you want?” Do you think I could take a busi- ' “J w^nt.” jno.elyn soeakinr ness course, perhaps, after we are low and rapidly. , “I want to kne^ married?” |wh«t ufo looks ^ke when it—coir® 3 ‘You may take any course you round from behind and you THIRD INSTALMENT Lynda visits her father in his dingy quarters. She finds four men four ^ ^ playing cards when she arrives, anxiously recognized that she miss- Sthe? telb*Rr/“Hk/l l S!'/tohllS ied him ±. there came a nlght ' Mar y’ s but warns the girl he is trifler. night when Jocelyn v drew from NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY be It silenced Lynda on that theme. an ; He chuckled wickedly at her heightening color and the lift of 4 I her ^hin. ink tlfce pleated skirt j,ll dark jacket and the ;r and ran her fingers like, beloved. But you musn’t hate, see its face: I want to know pr°: j the house wit our beautiful innocence. It is just ole. all kinds of neoole. differ 6 ^ I e iry and play. “And hat’s that/*''be said de- :igntedly. He put tibr himself into a taxi cab, escorting her>-down througl s rumors of rev-i e found Her father om^ of his lodging, | of a patient disposition. Are you?” Lynda considered this. “I don’t quite know. I think I must be. I’ve done nothings all my life so far but wait.” “When will you be married?] “Tell me, shall I like being ried, Father?” > “I wish you’d call me Nick.” “Oh, wouldn’t that be disrespectful? ■ “The last things daughter of mine pect.” j “Then—Nick . . . answer me qul coming up the Nick listened,’ “Father, ]NIc] Jock Ayleward I like being mi “No. Of courj Simpleton, It’s ordained by G< thing so uni happi as my a bit stagey.’ At the adc driver he They stairs wi doubled looked so ql [er his pt iting a because you are sp exquisitely dif- sorts of people. I want to ki*ow ferent that I love you/’ l how cood it is to be bad, and r° ^ Tn her own room shp zinwn bad it may be to be good. 1 wr^i on her bed and thought. After a adventure, risks, dangers; I w; while she pulled out a big leather ~ ^ „ , i, lty valise from her closet and rum- 1 J You want too much. You’re of 1 / She dressed herself W^rl and what’s worse, vou’re a short plaid skirt, a 3¥«ng lady! Laugh that off if y? u lersey, lona-sleeved. can. Miss Jocelyn Harlowe.” f ' roat, a little jacket on* he*- hand across his lif w tam-o’-shanter. this on fier hi?ad Sa b«md. nruly mop of laugh* maged there. In a pleated black tight high in the and in a big Before she she ran her through her til it was tl J Not here. Here I’m Lj >ulled down his head it palnfi She fancied that from behind on^ of the closed doors of the grount floor she heard Jock Ayleward',., voice, cold, angry and excited: It brought back upon her oddly that) light shiver of fear, of unhappi ness and of regret. the beginning there was tl especial difference between Lj Sandal and Jocelyn Harlot Lynda was without question