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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-12-23, Page 13WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES PAGE EIVE . ' ............................... ... ..... ................- told you I’d look after the party, .and cried briefly, and was silent. Chloe here I am, Now where do we begin?”, switched off the ignition and left the Scott was silent for a moment while ' she opened the notebook, poised her freshly sharpened pencil and waited, ' watching him, “The recreation director is not much good, lie’s wrapped up heart and soul in hig Boys’ Club and men’s baseball club,” he said after a mom­ ent, “But he’ll do whateve'r you ask hint to do. J expect your best, assist­ ant and most dependable worker will be Sara Jenkins. She work's in the office. Beenan employee of Sargent Mills for thirty years. Knows every man, _ woman and child in or about the village. Has a caustic tongue and a sharp disgust for life, but when you really know her, she’s a peach. Then, to plan gifts for the children and to ____ ____ ____w get the women to help you’d better and almost entirely without interest, ' Mrs. Barwell, She doesn’t work ' the mill, though her husband and . ”fpur sons do. She runs a sort of un- official day nursery where the mill women can leave their small children while, they are working.” J saxe, wny umnt you say sor sne ue- What do you mean, unofficial?” manded, unlatching the screen door demanded Chloe, puzzled, ... ............................... “I mean she makes no charge for her-services, and that she keeps the children because she. is fond of them. ' A grand woman! YoU may not like her, but you’ll stirely have to admire her,” said Scott firmly. Chloe asked, “How do I find her?” “Drive down Main Street in the village and the neatest, cleanest house with the best garden and the most noise will be Miss Jennie’s, said Scott promptly. “Now to get the co-operation of the young men and unmarried girls, you’d better contact. Callie Johnson,” he went on without waiting for her 'comment. “Callie’s sort of the ring­ leader of the young crowd. If she ■ takes to you, she can swing the whole’ . crowd your way and the party will be a success. If she doesn’t—-well, then it will be a party without the young people.” . , Chloe’s cheeks flushed and her blue '. eyes snapped. “You talk exactly as if they would be doing me some profound favor in permitting me to arrange a Christmas party for them, instead of it being the other way around,” she said hotly.. - “At that, maybe they will,” Scott said quietly. “They will be showing you a brand new world, Princess. A world in which people do things be­ cause they have to, because they can’t escape their destiny, but yet who manage to find time to do little warm-hearted, kindly things for other . people. A world of service to human­ ity, rather than of selfish gratifica­ tion of one’s own desires.” There was a tinge of scorn in his voice that made,the words sting. For a moment Chloe was sorely tempted to snap the book shut and fling it in­ to his mocking face. But in time she remembered that it was her fault, not his, that he was here, helpless and in "WjMn. And so she controlled her tern-. \®k:r and said: “I think that I’ve en- TOUgh material to work on for the next day or two. I’ll see Mrs. Barwell, Miss Jenkins and Miss Johnson, and report to you.” "Thank you,” said Scott politely, and she left, barely restraining her impulse to slam the door behind her . . as she went out. car. The gate in the picket fence swung Open with a well oiled smoothness and the lock clicked smartly behind her, There was no door bell and so she rapped at the screen door. Through the hall Chloe saw a com­ fortably middle-aged, comfortably stout woman in a neat percale dress and-a spotless gingham apron. As she saw Chloe she said swiftly, “No, No, I don’t know what it is you are sell­ ing, but I don’t want any of it. I’m busy now, Run,along,” “But. I'm not selling anything, Are you Mrs. Barwell? I’m Chloe Sarg­ ent,”’ said Chloe haughtily. ' , Mrs. BarWell surveyed her placidly. ‘“Are you, now?” she asked politely ■Chloe drew a hard breath and said, “Dr. Kelvin asked me to see you—” , Mrs. Barwell’s face lit with swift and eager interest. “Dr. Kelvin, is it? Then, for pity’s sake, why didn't you say so?” she de- and ushering a slightly bewildered Chloe into a spotlessly neat house, “And how is the poor boy? It was the .worst thing that happed to the village in many a day, when spoiled brat ran over him—■” Chloe. Mr?. Barwell looked at her with the first hint of warmth she had dis­ played, "It would that, but it would be a sight of trouble,’ ■ ’she warned, “I don’t mind," said Chloe reck­ lessly. “Could we find out what each oTie wants, so there wouldn’t be any ' danger of disappointment?’’ “Sure — of course. I'll attend to that. I’ll get you a list and see. to it there ain’t a kid in the village ov­ erlooked,” promised Mrs. Barwell, and now her eyes were Warm and friendly, There was a little clumping sound and Chide turned as a little, girl of perhaps four or five came on the porch from the yard. The clumping sound had been made by the heavy steel brace that she wore on one thin, wasted leg. Her small face was em­ aciated and pale, making her dark eyes look enormous by contrast, “Susie May, tell the pretty lady what you, want Santy to bring you for Christmas,” suggested Mrs. Bar­ well. “Who’s Santy?” demanded Susie May uncompromisingly. . “You poor child,” said Chloe invol­ untarily. “Santa Claus, Susie May, is a nice old gentleman who comes to your house on Christmas and brings ly. “You just tell me what you want done and I’ll do it” A steady line of employees was pass ing, each one receiving a dressed utrkey. fat, well- CHAPTER IX Outside in the bright, sharp after­ noon light, Chloe stepped into her roadster and told herself that she might as well get to work with this absurd plan. The sooner she started, the sooner She would be finished. She looked down at her list. Scott had said that when she found the neatest house, the prettiest flowers and heard .. • the most noise she would have found Mrs. Barwell. Interested in spite of her feeling . of impatience with Scott Kelvin and everything even remotely connected , with him, she put the roadster into motion and drove away from the hos­ pital into the village. Chloe drove slowly down Main St. and suddenly brought her car to a halt. In front of her there was a white house of perhaps six or seven rooms, large than those surrounding it. (Its small yard enclosed by the in- • , evitablq picket fence Was massed with marigolds and zinnias and dahlias and chrysanthemums, There were immac- (! ulate r-uffled curtains at the windows; the porch shone glossily with fre­ quent scrubbing; the railing Of the porch held flower boxes in which bloomed petunias and coleus and ver­ bena; there were pots of bolssoming cactus and ferns. The place had a * gay-, cheerful air about it as it it laughed with sheer cleanliness, and wjcll-being. From the back Jitouse there came the hig ■Sjiices of playing children. beha; there were pots of bolssoming cactus and ferns. The place had a * gay-, cheerful air about it as it it ' ‘ ... ... ... ..... .. , , ,„J< of the __ ____ ____ .... high treble Aces of playing children. A baby “I regret the accident far more than you or any of Dr.‘. Kelvin’s friends could do,” Chloe said iciliy. “I would not have had it happen for the world—” Mrs. Barwell* said quietly, “That’s right, it was the boss’ daughter that ran over him, wasn’t it?’,’ She made no apology whatever for that “spoiled brat” speech but'she led the way to a screen pore!', where half a dozen babies at the crawl­ ing stage were amusing themselves; several clothes baskets had been turn­ ed into bassinets to hold the smaller babies; the back yard held a sand pile that occupied the attention of a doz­ en or more children from two to five years of age. Mrs. Barwell picked up one of the whimpering infants from a makeshift bassinet and sat down with it in her arms, giving it a bottle which it ac­ cepted with little animal-like grunts of approval. “And now what was it you wanted to see me about?" suggested Mrs. Barwell, pleasantly enough. “Dr. Kelvin had planned a Christ­ mas party for the village and now he is hurt he will be unable to carry it through. So I have agreed to Under­ take it and do the best I can with it. He suggested that if I asked you to help me I’d have a much better chance of success.” “Did he, now? And what was you planning for the party, Miss Sargent? “Dr. Kelvin thought a tree with presents for all.the children, arid some Sort of entertainment would’be nice,” she answered, and Mrs. Barwell nod­ ded. “That ought to be simple enough. I’ll give you a list of the children and how many of ’em is girls and how many of ’e mis boys and you can or­ der so many dolls and so many drums all ready to be hung on the tree,” she suggested dryly. “But wouldn’t it k be nicer, Mrs. Barwell, if each child received not just a doll of a drum, but the.thing that child wanted most?” suggested you'presents. What do you want him to bring you?” “Ain’t no sich feller,” said Susie May firriily. “I-Iow’d you like him to bring you a doll, Susie May? A great big doll?” .suggested Chloe a trifle desperately. Susie May’s eyes widened A little. “With sleepy eyes an’ a w’itc dress?” she asked incredulous, but willing to be convinced. “Sleepy eyes and a white dress, be­ yond a doubt!” said Chloe firmly, “Dood Dod!” breathed Susie May, saucer-eyed and all but breathless. Chloe gasped and Mrs; Barwell said swiftly, “Susie May, how many times have I told you that nice little girls don’t say such things? If I hear you say that again, I’ll wash your - mouth out. with soap and water. You mind me, now — and scoot!” Susie May, with one final wide- eyed glance at this amazing creature- from another world who had promis­ ed her an Jncredible gift, “scooted.” Mrs. Barwell looked apologetically at Chloe and said swiftly: “Geet I'm sorry you had to heat­ her say that, Miss Sargent, but the poor mite! She don’t have no idea • what she’s sayin’, o’ course. Her maw jest come, .here to work a week or two ago and there ain’t no knowing what she and r the baby's been through. Near’s I can find out, the kid ain’t got no daddy and her maw’s got a hard time ttyin’ to make a liv­ in’ for the two kids. This here is Su­ sie May’s little brother, William. Ain’t he a fine little feller?” “He’s he’s — beautiful,” Chloe stammered feebly. “Nonsense. He’s as homely as sin. All new babies are. He alnT more'fi three months old, but he’s fine and healthy,” said Mrs. Barwell briskly. She looked at Chloe and the two smed at each other in sincere and sudden liking. Chloe said eagerly, “Mrs. Barwell, you will help me, won’t you?” “O’ course I will. I meant to all along,” answered Mrs, Burwell quick­ CHAPTER X The following morning, anxious to have as' much as possible to report to Dr. Kelvin when she made her af­ ternoon call at the hospital, Chloe de­ termined to see Sara Jenkinsn and en­ list her aid. When she faced her fa­ ther across the breakfast table his eyes widened a little. She occasion­ ally breakfasted with him but it was usually in gay lounging pajamas or a. house gown. This morning she wore a trimly tailored dark dress, an im­ pudent little hat cocked over one eye, and'she dropped a little fur jacket on a chair as she-came into the dining room. . "Hello, Dad!” she greeted him lightly. Not since that dreadful ev­ ening in the hospital when they had waited to find out whether Scott Kel­ vin would live .or die, had she used the stiff, formal salutation of “Fath­ er." Howell noted it and was glad for he felt that -it brought them, some­ how, closer together. “May I give you a lift to the office this morning?" Howell grinned at her, and answ­ ered lightly, “Oh, and so you’re go­ ing to the office this morning?” She nodded. “To see’ Sara Jenkins —know her?” she answered lightly and sampled her tomato juice. “Of course, she’s been with us thir­ ty years or more. A fine woman. But what on earth do you want with her?" demanded her father. # “Frankly, nothing. But Scott- Kel- ’ vin thinks she^ may be a valuable as­ sistant in this idiotic Christmas thing,” answered Chloe carelessly. Her father studied her for a mo­ ment and then, “Still think it’s idiot­ ic, Chloe?” he asked. She flushed, looked up swiftly, * hesitated and said frankly, “J did un­ til yesterday afternoon, when a crip­ pled child was so overcome at the thought that she might actually have a doll of her own, with ‘sleepy eyes and a white dress’ that she said’‘Good God!’ at the bare idea.” Howell .smiled and said gently, “Want to tell me about it?” _ She did, and Howell listened with si.ncere interest and understanding. “Jennie Barwell’s a fine woman,” he said when she had finished. “I remember the day she came to work for us, years ago.” “I suppose you were best man at her wedding too, eh, Dad?” sugqest- 'ed Chloe. “I probably was, 1 don’t remem­ ber,” he answered, and grinned. Chloe poked a fork into the scram- blecf eggs on her plate, buttered a bit of toast and suddenly she looked up at her father and Said: “D ad, I have to ask you something. Are conditions in our mills — well — fair to the people who work for us?” Before he could answer she rush­ ed on: “Up north, when the girls knew that I was a Sargent of the Sar­ gent Mills, some of them asked a lot of questions, and—well, lots of peo­ ple seem to think that working condi­ tions are intolerable in southern mills and that the people live dreadful liv­ es, underpaid and overworked and “generally ground down. Do we—do . we pay fair wages and make it poss­ ible for our people to live decently?” “I’m deeply and sincerely glad, Chloe, to be able to tell you truth­ fully — yes!” said her father quickly. “We pay a wage scale, that compares a little more than favorably with that of any other mill in the country. Our people are comfortably and adequate­ ly housed; the living conditions.are as good as we can make them. After all, you know, no matter how good a man’s house, how well equipped, * the man himself decided whether it is to be kept clean and orderly or al­ lowed to be squalid and filthy. We don’t hire snooper to go around and investigate and prove that Mrs. Jones takes proper care of her home, or that the family doesn’t go into debt, but so far as we .are able, we. see to it that otib people live comfortable, orderly lives. Thev have unemploy­ ment insurance,'’ thev have a com­ missary at which they can buy the things they need at prices lower than anywhere else in town: the machin­ ery is the latest and safest. Yes, I think wo can honestly say that our peonle live under the best possible conditions!” “Good! I’m glad,” said Chloe hon­ estly. "Suddenly .yesterday I began to Wonder. J suppose I hadn’t given much thought to it. but when Mrs. Barwell showed mo those two babies and said there wasn’t any father and the mother was having a hard time making a living for them, and I real­ ized how I throtv money away, well, gosh!” She and her father smiled at each other understand! ugly.