HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1944-03-09, Page 7THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, »~M
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LETTER BQX j
Cpl. Vernp L. Christie writes an
interesting
land:
letter from Newfound-
by JOHN CAPITOE
C-A.P.Q. No, 4,
r.C.A.F., Newfoundland,
and Pad:—*
THE STORY THUS FAR:
The terms of Bette Varq’s aunt’s
Will stipulated that Bette must live
for two years as the ward of the
Parker family.- At the end of that
time both she and Mrs- Parker will
receive $200,000. If she marries
flefore that time is up/'both will
reecive the money immediately, Mr,
Parker’s business needs money, so
Bob proposes but she refuses him.
She has fallen in love with Michael
Kane, Clare Parker’s fiance. Her in
stinctive dislike of Clare is vindi
cated when she discovers Clare
kissing Verne Mallory, a young at
torney, She says nothing, fearing
to hurt Michael. Her friend, Stella
Brooks, is in love with Mallory,
CHAPTER VIII
“You should know more about it
than I,” she said. Her eyes clung
to his for a moment, fascinated,
drawn. And then she too was .look
ing into the fire, trying to control
her trembling lips. Her hands were
clenched tightly together, to still
their trembling. Had he read her
secret in her eyes?
“So you "think I should know
more about it than you, Bette?” he
said in that same toneless voice.
She nodded, and Michael looked
at her lovely profile, as if he had
never seen it before. It seemed to
him very necessary to know what
was going on behind those deep,
shining eyes. His face softened a
little.
“Tell me, Bette,” his voice was
insistent, “I want to/know if you
agree with Mrs. Parker.”
She said softly. “Yes, I think she
is right.”
His hand touched hers, and was
quickly withdrawn. Yet the brief
contact thrilled her, left her breath
less, filled with a sense of exalta
tion.
“Yes, Michael,” she whispered,
staring blindly into the fire, “love
is the greatest thing.”
They heard Clare’s voice in the
hallway, hard and plaintive. Mir
chael’s voice sounded suddenly, and
it was cold and harsh:
“Love is a trap, a snare for
fools!”
♦ Bette heard Michael get to his>
feet and felt an icy numbness touch
her heart. It seemed to her that
his emotions beat at her like fists,
and she bit her lip to hold back
her cry of protest.
How could he speak so harshly
of something that was beautiful, of
the white magic that made people
more than human, of this thing that
was like a song in her heart!
“No, Michael!” The cry came
from the depths of her heart. “You
didn’t mean that. I know you
didn’t mean it—!”
He was scowling blankly at the
floor; lines of bitterness showed in
his face.
“Sorry, Bette,” he said huskily.
“I did mean it, but—well, I can’t
explain. You wouldn’t understand.”
She heard voices and raised her
eyes to see Mr. Parker enter the
room, .accompanied by Bo.b.
Bob’s “Hi, Mike!” was as gay as
usual.
Mr. Parker’s greeting was less
boisterous, but no less hearty.
“Glad to see you, Michael.” His
voice was harshly genial. “Clare
will be here in a minute. She has
to put on an extra coating of pow
der when she learns you are here.”
He laughed noisily at his own hu
mor.
He and Bob seated themselves
before the fire, and Michael sank
down beside’ Bette again. She stole
a glance at him and saw that he
Was calm again,/ though his face
wad rather pale. He Was looking
at Mr. Parker,
“I’m opening my camp oh Lake
Weiralottg next Monday,” he said
arid his voice sounded strange to
Bette. “I want all of you to come
np there for the Week. It’s Warm
enough now for swimming.”
“Bounds swell to me!” Bob cried,
and Mr. (Parker nodded approving
ly.
Michael spoke further, but Bette’s
mind refused to interpret his words.
She was conscious only of what he
She was conscious only of What he
had said before the other came—
“Love is a trap, a snare for fools!”
She saw Clare swing into the
room, heard her “Helio, darling!”
directed at Michael, and the phrase
Was a fresh paiii in her hear. Mi
chael waS defininfely troubled, yet
he apd Glare, iBette realized,
Would certainly marry, There was
no escape for him-—for herself,,
Bob Was repeateing Michael’s in
vitation to Clare, and the girl look
ed bored.
'*1 really don't care much for the
country,” Clare said rather crossly.
She caught her father’s frowning1
glance and smiled langorousiy at
Michael, “However, I guess I can
Stand it for a week, darling.”
Bette didn’t know when Michael
left. She raised blank eyes pres
ently to find that she and Bob were
alone in the room. Bob was look
ing at her anxiously.
“You are awfully pale, Bette,
Shall I get you a drink?”
She shook her head. “It’s noth
ing, Bob,” she whispered. But knew
it was a lie. Thoughts shuttled
feverishly across her mind. She
seemed to see Mrs, Parker’s pale
face, now always ridden with a look
of anxious bewilderment. She
thought numbly, “I could make her
happy again, and yet I have re
fused to do so, Am I selfish? Is
love really the finest thing in the
world, or is there something greater
still—charity?”
She smiled faintly up into Bob’s
anxious face,
“Sit down, Bob,” she invited, pat
ting the sofa beside her, “I want
to ask you a peculiar question.”
He sank down beside her, his
questioning eyes on her face.
He said quietly, “I’m beginning
to believe that I don’t know the
answers to the simplest questions,
Bette, but I’ll do my best.”
“Are you opposed to divorce,
Bob?” she asked.
I-Iis astonished eyes probed her
face, and then he shrugged.
“Not on principle, Bette. Why
do you ask?”
“If I agree to marry you, Bob,”
she asked steadily, “will you agree
to give me a divoi’ce as soon as
your mother has received her
money?”
Bob took her hand in his, patting
it gently. He was silent for a long
moment, and then he nodded.
“That solves one problem, dear,”
he said huskily. He smiled wryly.
“But I’m afraid I'm not going to
enjoy our divorce, Bette.”
Sunday afternoon. They were all
in the drawing-room, the Parker
family and Bette. Bob had collected
them singly, looking very mysterious
and very pleased, for he had secret
ideas about that divorce.
Now he stood in the center of
thfi room, his gentle glance roving
>ver them.
“Come, 'Bob!" Mr. Parker said
impatiently. “You disturbed my nap,
and I want to know the reason—
instantly!”
Bob grinned at him, then looked
at Clare who maintained a sullen
silence in a chair by a window. Mrs.
Parker and Bette were seated on
the sofa, and Bette knew that her
face was burning. She hated this,
but apparently it was necessary.
“It gives me great pleasure," he
grinned broadly—“to announce the
engagement and impending mar
riage, of Miss Bette Vare of Archer,
South Carolina, and . . He paused
for a moment, obviously delighted
by their open-mouthed astonisn-
ment . . .“and Robert Edward Par
ker of Richville, Pennsylvania.” He
bowed. “Am I a lucky guy, or am
1 a lucky guy?”
Bette couldn't see very clearly
because of her misted eyes. Mrs.
Parker’s arm was about her. Bette
blinked rapidly, looked at the older
woman’s happy face, and was glad.
“I’m delighted, dear!” Mrs. Par
ker choked, and Bette felt a sudden
sense of guilt. What would Vera
Parker think, she wondered, if she
were told that the wedding was to
be followed within a year by a di
vorce?
She shook off the thought. Any
way, they would be relieved of
financial worries, and Ml’S. Parker
would be content because her be
loved family was safe and secure.
Mr. Parker was leaning over her/
patting her shoulder, his delight
showing plainly in his thin features.
“My dear child,” he sputtered,
and his voice for* once held no harsh
ness, "this is the best news' Fye
heard in ages!”
Clare was standing at his shoul
der. She regarded Bette with mail1
clous eyes.
“Congratulations, darling!” she
said coldly, “I had no idea you two
were carrying on a love affair under
oui\ blind eyes.’’
Her tone gave the words a vicious
meaning.
Bette’s eyes followed Glare as site
left tile rom, and realized that-
something fiiie ill her had died.
The Kane place oft Lake Wief-
aioiig was a camp in name only,
The lodge Was a rambling- one-
storied affair with wails of peeled
spruce. The combination living aftd
dining room was thirty feet lohg by
hfllf as wide. There Were enough
bedrooms to accommodate a dozen
guests. A dense woods pressed in on
tltjtoc c* iLw front
of it, the lake was a turquoise mir-,
ror, some two miles across: A dock
built on pilings extended fifty feet
cut; into the lake.
Seated in«frpnt of a dressing table
of brushed bronze and shining glass
in her room overlooking the Jake,
Bette was trying to listen to her
chattering roommate, Stella Brooks,
Both had been delighted when they
found that they were to share a
room during the week.
She saw Stella's race reflected in
the mirror above her ndrk eyes
shining, dark hair a rrame ior her
laughing face. She was touched by
pity for this girl who loved Verne
Mallory, who, in turn, loved Glare
Parker.
“I don’t belive you’ve heard a
word I said,” Stella laughed, She
placed her hands on Bette’s shoul
ders and shook her gently. Her face
sobered. “Sometimes I say things
that are awfully important, so you
should listen to me,”
Bette smiled at her, trying to
overcome her feeling of depression.
She had dreaded this week at the
Kane camp; had thought, indeed, of
refusing to go. But Mrs. Parker and
Bob had insisted, and, rather than
hurt them, she had consented to
fall in with their plans.
She dreaded seeing Micliael
again; it seemed to her at times
that she could not bear seeing him
every day for seven long days. She
wondered if he knew that she and
Bob were engaged.
She glanced at a tiny clock on
the dressing table, and got to her
feet. At thafe moment a go.ny
sounded in the front of the house.
“That gong means food,” Stella
anirounced happily; “and am I
starved!”
Seated between Bob and Mr.
Parker at the dining table in the
big-beamed living room, Bette felt
her gloomy forebodings melting
away. Everyone was so jolly it was
impossible to feel depressed.
(To Be Continued)
Try Our Classifieds—They Pay’
OBTAIN THEM
« AT YOUR
HYP RO S HOP
decorations and gifts. Also much
credit is due the mess staff, who
worked long hjard flours, to make
this meal and all Others sp good.
In less than half an hour approxi
mately ten girls -served 700-80 0
men and women( the officers car
ried it to the tables) the girls seiv
ve<j the food. Everyone admits the
chefs and their assistants do more
work than anybody in the Air Force.
Menu cards were prepared and
roast turkey, cranberry sauce, plum
pudding, etc., were all on, There is
nothing more they could have done
to make it more homey; in fact I
don’t think any other station—yes.
or restaurant—served any better
meal and had a more homey atmos
phere than ours had. Next to home
this would be my choice,
You should have received our
magazine, “The Gander,” by now.
'Well, the wires are slowing down
apd that means all the news for
now.
Lovingly,
Verne.
Corporal Christie, L. L.,
C.A.P.O. No. 4,
R.G.A.F., Newfoundland.
FAST ACTION
HELPS PREVENT
MANY COLDS
From Developing Right at Start
At the first sign.of a, .cold, put g few
drops of Va-fro-nol up each nostril.
Its stimulating action aids Nature's
defenses against colds..And remember—when a head cold
makes yog suffer, or transient conges
tion "fills up’’ nose, spoils sleep, 3-PUr-
pose Va-tro-nol gives valuable help as
it (I) shrinks swollen membranes, (2)
relieves irritation, ' (3) helps flush out jgk
nasal passages, S-W
clearing clogging VICKS^LA?
mucus. Enjoy the relief it brings. VA'TRGrllUL
Pear Mom
As. I start my sixth month here
J feel more at home in Newfoundland
and In fact I like it here although
I wouldn’t refuse a posting in Can
ada.
Last night I went to the show “I
pood It" and I never laughed -so
much in a show before; really Red
Skelton is a riot and clean cut jokes
too.
I
the
Ed.
quite well, Ed lives only a couple | way. I knew Eli had been drafted of miles from Mac’s home at Ripley'to H.M.C.S. Cornwallis, Deep Brook,
and knew him when he was going ;N.S,
to school, Ed. has gone home on
leave today.
In one of the articles in .my
Science News Letter there is is a
report on medicine research by Dr.
T. H. Seldon of Mayo—obviously)
Harry Seldon, 1-Ie is applying the
blood powder from red
salvaged from plasma
to speed wound healing
it in on the wound.
These Sunday nights I have been
taking in the Discussion Groups,
sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. here, for
they are very well conducted. F/L,
Griffiths is speaking on “The Free
Press." He is a former reporter for
a Toronto newspaper.
was surprised to find one of
boys I know here quite well,
Courtney, knew Rev. McTavish I
(
blood cells
production,
by dusting
Last week algo brought me
nearer to home on two occasions.
Saturday I met a youn,
was
also
who
A
ficer
class and I finally consented. There
were 33 enrolled the first night.
These are divided into two classes.
The beginners and those more ad
vanced.
I mentioned Doug was being post
ed, so now J am in charge of the of
fice. There are four in our office
who neither smoke nor drink. We
have a jolly bunch and have more
fun than any other section.
g man who
a former classmate at Shaw’s;
met Cpl. Currie, of London,
had married an Exeter girl,
week ago the Educational Of-
asked me to take a typing
There are now 150 Yorkshire
pigs being fed on the station here
■Fresh eggs and egg powder are im
possible to get from Canada now.
•Newfoundland is the thermometer
for any shortage. I guess the de
mand for eggs has multiplied since
rationing was instituted.
'One of the current headaches
with the pay office is the shortage
of silyer in Newfoundland. Last pay
parade they only gave paper money
as the bank could not supply change.
I don’t see why they couldn’t issue
shin-plasters, like they used to do
and put the silver to more vital
uses. Our pay office hag requested
everybody who has more than a
“dollar” in silver, to turn it in to
them in exchange for bills.
A corporal, who was going to a
nearby station, called on ine yester
day and told me he had been travel
ling companion with Eli from Mont
real to Moncton, N-.B. I sure had a
great surprise to hear from Eli that
I enjoyed the “Times” very much
and especially the column from No-
9; it must be one of the most ac
tive stations in Canada. Also was
much interested in Don Winer’s
letter from India.
Christinas
This is Christmas night and quite
a splash for the station. At noon to
day we had our dinner served in
typical air force style. The tables
wore all set in banquet style with
taplecloths, napkins, silverware, etc-
As soon as everyone was seated the
orchestra played the Doxology and
the padre said the blessing (for
which we stood). Then the Officers
served the different courses. As we
left they handed out oranges and as
sorted nuts.
The orchestra played all through
the meal. Many of the boys worked
all night decorating the mess hall
and completely camouflaged the in
terior with streamers, bells, wreaths
and a Christmas tree with lights,
KILLED OVERSEAS
Mrs. William Davidson, of Varna,
has received word that her nephew,
Pilot Officer Marshal Jones, 26
years of age has been killed in ac
tion overseas. He is the son of A,
E. Jones and the late Mrs, Jones,
of Moose Jaw, Sask. He was born in
Moose Jaw and enlisted there in
June, 1941. He trained at Trenton,
going overseas September, 1942.
His brother, Pilot Officer Maurice
Jones, was killed in a plane crash
in England in November, 1943,
when his plane collided with an
other plane. Their mother died in
August, 1943.
“So you have married the queen
of your heart?”
“Yes, and today she made the
first speech from the throne."
TUNE IN
Old Fashioned Revival Houk
CHARLES
P.O. Box 123
Zone 53,
7-8 p.m.,
E.D.S.T.
PILGRIMS'
Hour
S-3 p.m. E.D.S.T.
Mutual Network
SUNDAYS
Local Station
CKLW
WINDSOR
E. FULLER
— Los Angeles
California
«Itching, Burning,
. Eczema or Salt Rheum
Eczema, or salt rheum as it is commonly called,
is one of the most painful of all skin troubles.
* The intense burning, itching and smarting, espe
cially at night, or when the affected part is exposed to
heat, .or the hands placed in hot water are most un
bearable, and relief is gladly welcomed.
. The relief offered by Burdock Blood Bitters is based on the knowledge
that stlch. ailments as eczema, and other skin troubles, are caused by an
impure blood condition.
Bring about inner cleanliness by using B. B. B. to help cleanse the
blood of its impurities.
Ask at any drug counter for B. B. B. Price SI .00 a bottle.
The T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont.
This is your |
fl
vehicle stamp*
♦
1944 motor GET YOUR
1944 MOTOR VEHICLE
It renews
Your 1944 motor vehicle permit is now ready. Good
citizenship and good sense tell you to get it now.
Take good care of your 1943 plate. "Wartime re
strictions require that you use it for another year.
Your motor vehicle permit fee remains the same.
With your 1944 motor vehicle permit there will be
issued a windshield stamp such as that illustrated.
The display of this stamp will validate the use of
your 1943 plate.
1944 drivers’ licenses are now available and should
be secured at once.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Do you know that both your motor vehicle
permit and driver’s license will be automatic
cally suspended until you file proof of financial
responsibility if you are convicted of a violation
of the law following an accident? You may
find an insurance policy difficult to secure then.
It is better to drive safely and avoid accidents
than to find yourself unable to drive at all,
GEO. B DOUCETT,
Minister of Highways
•rm
1 v'
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