HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-12-23, Page 16PAGE EIGHT WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES
had loved him from the first, though
until now she had refused to acknow
ledge the fact even to herself, She
had felt that when Jim came to mar
ry, he would choose one of the girls
from his own crowd—more sophisti
cated, more worldly-wise than she.
Yet now that he . did want to marry
her, she was jeopardizing their happi
ness by clinging to a promise she had
made to another man.
On the face of it, she had to admit
that it seemed a little silly. Yet she
could not face Scott Kelvin and tell
that that, after all, her own selfish
pleasure and that of the man she was
going to marry meant more to her
than the kindly, human, charitable
things that she had promised to do
in his name.
"She crept into bed at last and wept
a little as she fell into an exhausted
sleep.When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she found her .fath
er and-Jim in the living room togeth
er. Her father looked a trifle dis
turbed, Jim was grave. They turned
to her as she came into the room and
Jim said smiling:
“Hello, darling. I’ve been telling
your father that we want to be mar
ried. He’s just given us his blessing,’’
Chloe was hesitant, flushed, shy.
Her father said quietly, “Come here,
Chloe.” , .
She went to him swiftly, his arms
about her, her face burrowing into
his shoulder.
“If it’s what you want, Chloe, then
it’s what I want too.’ There’s just
one important thing in the world for
me, Chloe, and that’s to know you
are happy. Are you, darling?” he ask
ed very gently.
Chloe looked up at Jim hwo was
watching her, smiling a little.
“I — oh, yes, Dad!” she stammered.
• Her father kissed her and Jim said,
“And now, Chloe, I think you’d bet
ter see to getting your things packed.
We want to take off by eleven at the
latest.” .
Chloe looked up and her eyes met
his. She saw that this .mouth was set,
his eyes determined Her heart sank
a little. Yet she only said smoothly:
“I think, you must have forgotten,
Jim, that I told you last night I was
spending Christmas here.”
'' CHAPTER XV
Jim, frowning, angry, turned to
Howell, “For Pete’s sake, Mr. Sarg
ent, can’t you make her understand
that this is all a pack of nonsense
staking here to. arrange an idiotic
Christmas celebration that any nitwit
with a good-sized pocket-bct,k could
look after easily?”
Howell answered evenly: “Sorry,
Jim, that’s something that you and
Chloe will have to settle for your
selves. I refuse to have any hand in
it.”.
Jim turned on his heel and’ went
rapidly out of the room. When the
door shut behind him with a sound
that was just barely not a slam,
Howell looked down at Chloe and
said, smiling faintly:
“I’m afraid he’s pretty angry,
Chloe. Sure you don’t want to change
your mind and run along with him?
Jane and I will carry on for’you and
Scott here, you know.”,
“Thanks, Dad, but I’m going to see
it through. I’ve never in my life done
anything I didn’t want to do, and I
think this will be good for me in a
lot of ways!” she said.
Howell nodded. His eyes were
proud, tender. But his voice was
quietly matter of fact as he said:
“That’S for you to decide, youngster,
but always remember I’m standing by
if there’s anything I can do.”
For all his fury at Chloe’s stub
bornness, Jim exerted himself to be
pleasant at breakfast/ Later, he said
good-bye to Jane and Howell, and
Chloe had her car brought around so
that she could drive him out to the
airport. He was briskly impersonal
as they drove the short distance, but
at the edge of the field as he left the
car he turned to look down at her,
and his mouth was thin-lipped and
hard as he said grimly,
“I supose you know you are being
a stubborn little idiot?”
Chloe said, “Since you feel like this
Jim, maybe you’d rather we just for
get about—well, about—being in love
“Are you trying to offer me my
freedom?” demanded Jim uncompro
misingly.
“Something like that/’ said Chloe
levelly, though her heart criqd out
against both the offer and against her
apparent calmness.
Jim jswore under his breath. He
lifted her out of the car, stood her oh
her ‘feet, glared down into her startl
ed blue eyes and then caught her in
his arms, raising her clear of the
ground, holding her so closedw that
yet. I wanted to get this Christmas
thing off my hands first,” answered
Chloe coldly. “But if you can convey
the information to Callie that she has
nothing to be jealous about, so that
she will get the, young people togeth
er, I’d appreciate it.”
“Oh, I'll tell her, you can be sure
o’ that,” said Sara promptly. “I rec
kon you’ll find her a right smart o’
help with the young folks. They just
kinda follow her lead in most every
thing.”
Chloe thanked her and went away.
She hgd been startled to discover how
angry it made her to think that Callie
Johnson was jealous of her.- That
Callie hark: thought her romantically
interested in Dr. Kelvin. Chloe’s
cheeks flamed at the thought,. No
doubt the people here in the village
had been thinking that all along. No
use telling herself that she was being
childish and silly in resenting such an
opinion. She thought of Scott Kel- ,
vin’s- head against the pillows, his
eyes eager and alert as they turned
to meet her own. She remembered
his very obvious and distinctly un
flattering opinion of her at the dance
the first night they had met: remem
bered the taunting, way he had called
her “Little Princess”, No doubt, she
told herself grimly, he’d be as indig
nant as she at . the thought that peo
ple were linking them romantically.
' - CHAPTER XVI
As Chloe went along the hospital
corridor late that afternoon, carrying
the box of flowers that daily accom
panied her on her visits to Scott, she
came face to face with Callie John
son, who had just left the doctor’s
room.
Calli,e was twenty. Plump, blonde,
dimpled. Her coat was a cheap imi
tation of an -expensive model; ’her
slippers were high-heeled and run ov
er a bit. She wore, too much rouge
and of the wrong shade. But her eyes
were warmly blue, her teeth small and
white,, her figure, despite the plump
ness, attractive.
Heretofore she ‘had greeted Chloe
coolly, with- a blank pretense of not
understanding her. Chloe had sensed
it as a ■ deliberate rudeness that did
not quite come out into, the open as
a frank lack of courtesy due her em
ployer’s daughter. But now her greet
ing was almost effusive.
“Oh, hello, Miss Sargent, I’ve just
v been in telling Scott all about the
' plans for, the entertainment. I’ve got
two songs by the glee club, and One
of the girls is gonna do a tap dance.
She’s real good, too. And Annie Jud
kins—she sings in the choir on Sun
day—is gonna sing ‘Silent Night.’ It
ought to be <a swell party,” she said
eagerly.
“I’m glad to hear it,” said Chloe
icily. “I’ll make a note of the things
you’ve arranged. I’m sure we can get
them in nicely.”
- Callie bridled and tossed her head.
“Oh, I suppose I ought to have
come to you about the things instead
of to Dr. Kelvin,” she began but
Chloe interrupted, her.
“Not at all. It’s Dr. Kelvin’s party,
after all. The only! thing is that I
don’t want to plan more -entertain
ment than we’ll have time for. But
I’m sure the things you’ve arranged
will be very nice.” ’ •
Callie studied her curiously, then
shrugged and went on out of the
building. Chloe hesitated a moment
and then opened Scott’s door and
went in. He turned his head as she
appeared but his face did, not light.
■ up as it usually did, and his greeting
was quiet and restrained instead of
the daily friendly, eager, “Hi, Pard-
ner!”
“It’s good of you to take so much
trouble, Miss • Sargent,” he thanked
her for the flowers. “But really, you
shouldn’t. And as for the party, well,
I’m sure there is no longer any heed
of your giving it your personal at
tention. You’ve already done so much
that I feel sure it will be all right
from now on. So you needn't upset
your own plans any longer.”
Chloe stopped arranging the flow
ers in a tall black vase that she had
brought, and turned to stare at 'him,
astonished.
“Do I understand, Dr. Kelvin, that
you are trying to discharge me?” she
demanded haughtily.
But Scott’s stern manner did not
relax. She saw that his sound hand
was clenched hard on the bed and
that his paw was set. He looked a
trifle palcL she decided, and was wor
ried lest he had had a ,relapse.
“‘Not at all, Miss Sargent, but I
think it is a shame yott should have
to stay here, instead of with your
fiance during Christmas—” he. began,
“Who fold you about my fiance?”
, demanded Chide.
“I’m sure it’s not a secret. Callie
she could scarcely breathe. Holding
her so he kissed her hard. He set her
on her feet and said severely,
“And that, young lady, will be en
ough of that nonsense about 'my free
dom’. Who wants freedom? What I
want is my girl. Now, if .1 can get
her, but later, if it has to be! What
I ought to do is tuck you under my
arm, fling you into the plane and fly
away with you, -1 wonder why I don’t
—come to think about it?”
He looked at her very much as if,
he might that very thing. But Chloe
laughed and said lightly,
“Of course it apparently hasn’t oc
curred to you that you might come
back here for Christmas, since, you
are so a.nxious to spend it with me?”
“Darling,” he protested with an al
most ostentatious gentleness, “I’
afraid you’ve been here so long you’re
losing your perspective. Gosh, hon
ey, where’s your sense of humor?
You’ll be singing, carols next, and be-
stpw'ing baskets on the poor.”
Chloe set her teeth. She wouldn’t
quarrel with him. After all, she was
in love with him and she was going
to miss him. Maybe she was a fool
not to just hop in the plane with him
and go ahead. She pulled her
thoughts together and remembered
Scott Kelvin; that tow-headed baby
who had said, “Dood Dod,” with such
simple force at the thought of Santa
Claus and his gifts; Sara Jenkins,
who had looked at her hopefully. No,
she couldn’t let them down.
And so she stood at the edge of
the field as Jim stepped into the
bright-winged monoplane, then taxied
down the field and lifted into the air
as smoothly as a. bubble; circle once
above her so that she saw the ges-.
ture he mad as he flung out his hand
in leave-taking. And then the plane'
went winging its way south and
Chloe stood for a long moment
watching it until it had beer, swallow
ed up in the blue sky ar d not even
the sound of its powerful motor could
drift down to her where she stood.
She did not realize that she was
crying until the instrument board be
fore her grew, blmyy. And then'she
dashed the tears from her eves, child
ishly, with the back of her hand, and
jammed her foot hard on the' accel
erator as she sent the car flying back '
over the road to town.
She flung herself headlong into'the
work r>f getting the Christmas plans
in ordeiF. Sara Jenkins had proven
verv helpful but. when she had und
ertaken the task of organizing the
boys and girls for the tableaux, nei
ther she nor. Sara had been very suc
cessful. Because neither had had any
stage exnrience or aspirations, and
because Chloe would not be content
with anything less than a smoothly
working entertainment for the event
ful night. Mrs. Barwell was getting
alone slowly with her task of secur
ing the names of all the children and
their desires; and Callie Johnson had
been verv wary, very uncommunicat
ive not to sav down fight unfriendly
' when Chloe had approached her and
asked her to help in arranging the
partv.
Sara Jenkins, to whom Chloe con
fessed as much, nodded her graying
head and her small, shrewd eyes
twinkled a little.
"T reckon Call! can’t forget that .
Scott Kelvin danced with her a few
times at one of the monthly dances
here,” she admitted “Callie’s head
over ears. in love with Dr. Kelvin,
not that it’s goin’ to do her a mite
o’ good, of course, but that won’t stop
her makin’ a fool o’ herself about
him. She’s as jealous as’all get-out.
Miss Chloe. I’d ’a’ thought you’d ’a’
seen that from the first. I did,” said
Miss Sara firmly.
“jealous?” Chloe repeated. "You
mean she’s jealous of me? Oh, but—-
whv‘. that’s absurd!”
“Is it?” asked Miss Sara politelv.
”T ain’t so sure. I reckon I can’t
blame Callie much for. bein’ jealous o’
you and the Doc.”
Chloe .flung up her head proudly.
“Then if that’s the case, you might
convey the information to. Callie
Johnston that. J haven’t the remotest
interest in Dr. Kelvin, beyond the fact
that I cmised his accident and so feel
responsible for carrying Out the plans
he can’t carry out! But I cati assure
you there’s no personal interest. As
a matter ^of fact, T am enggp-ed to be
married in the spring, to Mr. Pear
sall.”
“Then that was why he come by
here to see you,” she commented drv-
Iw “Folks has been mighty curious,
/’n’t ever’ dav a. man as'rich and
all as Tames B. Pearsall comes td
town . I reckoned he had some verv
Feon imprest. Reckon vou ah him will
he V'hd nflftfr of five one,- you’re
*nnrried?’’ she added with lively inter
est
“I don’t know. Nothing is planned
happened to mention it when she was
in.”
“And did she happen to mention,
that the reason she has, until today,
refused to have anything to do with
the Christmas plans is that she has
had some idiotic idea that you and
I might be romantically interested in
each other?” * "
The moment the words had left her
lips ,she wished them unsaid, But it
was too- late. Dr. Kelvin lay quite
still, his bandaged body outlined by
the covers, his eyes upon her. face.
Eyes that were bitter and1 hurt and
angry.
“You think it such an idiotic idea
that I should be in love with you?” .
lie asked quietly after a moment.
Chloe said, after a startled mom
ent, “But—you can’t possibly be say
ing that—that—
“That I’m in love with you? Be
lieve 'me, I realize as well as. you
how utterly ridiculous it seems—but
there it is. I’ve been in'love with
you, I think, since you used to come
to school looking like a little white
clad angel. Oh, its' all so absurd—
so .impossible! Let's forget it. When
are you leaving to join your fiance
and liis party?”
Chloe ignored the question, In fact
she scarcely heard it. She was study
ing him—confused, uneasy, uncom
fortable.
“You—you can’t possibly be in love
with me. Whyr you don’t even ap
prove of me and the things I do,” she
stammered at last. ’ ..
Scott made a little weary gesture
and, for a moment, the ghest of a
smile touched his lips.
• “No, I don’t approve of you at all.
I think you are a spoiled, selfish, self-
centred young thing and even if you
were in love with me, which of course
you coudln’t ever be, not in a thous
and years, I could never marry you.
So you see it doesn’t make sense. But
people who are supposed to know say
that love "seldom makes sense any-,
way—” his voice broke off and for a
long time he studied her as if he tried
to imprint the image of her on his
heart in imperishable colors.
“I’m — I’m sorry. I never dream
ed that you—that you—felt this way,”
she said unhappily.
“Of course not,’ he told hei
promptly.' “How could you? In fact
you never were conscious even of my
■existence until I was inconsiderate
enough to hurl, jnyself beneath your
car so that .your whole Christmas had
to be upset. I’m sorry for that, but
now that you have everything work
ing* so smoothly, I’m sure that Mis.
Barwell and Miss Sara and Callie pan
carry on, so there’s no longer, any
need of your staying here.
“You mean you’d like me to go .
South?” she asked, after a moment.'
“I mean that I’d like you to do
whatever would insure youi happi
ness, my dear,” said Scott very gent-,
ly. “Don’t resent my saying my dear
just once, will you?” ‘
“Of course not-rl mean —but oi
course I’m not. leaving until after
Christmas,” said Chloe unsteadily.
“But there’s no need,” Scott pro
tested, and Chloe interrupted:
“Maybe not. But did it ever occur
to you that L. might want to see it
through?”
Scott stared at her for a moment
and then he grinned faintly. (
“You’re finding that Christmas Ent
'such a bore after all?” he suggested
a trifle dryly. - .
Chloe flushed brightly beneath* his
look but all she was was, “Maybe.’
She turned and opened the door.
As she. closed it behind her she
thought he called her name, but she
would not go back, Instead, she ran
down the corridor to the street where
a cold wind was fumbling its way
about as if in silent warning that the
unseasonably mild weather was at an
end.
Chloe drove straight home and she •
reached her room without encounter
ing any ope.
She was a little shaken by the dis
covery that Scott thought himself ill
live with her. For of course, she as
sured herself as sjie dressed for din
ner, it was only in his imagination
that that love for her existed. He just
imagined himself in love with her.
But her cheeks were a little pink as
she remembered the way he had look-
at her. A way that made his eyes
caress her, though lie .had not made
the slightest move to touch her. She
found herself a little uncomfortable at
the memory of Callie’s face when
they had met. Callie was in love with
Scott Kelvin. .Miss Sara had Said so
and, even if Chloe had been inclined
to doubt Miss Sara’s judgment, her
face had betrayed that truth this af
ternoon. There had been a glowing
look about Callie, as if some great
happiness within spoke through her
blue eyes.
