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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-12-23, Page 14WINdtlAM AbVANC^IMUS -----——............... ....... “I’m glad you’re taking an interest in the mills and the people who op erate them, Chloe, Some day they will be your responsibility, you know," said her father. “Are you sorry I’m not a sort, Dad. Maybe I should have been—r-’’ “1 wouldn’t, for anything in the world, have you anything but what you are — a living and lovely remind er of the other Chloe," he said swift ly, and Chloe looked up at the paint ing that hung above the great old white marble mantel. The painting of a girl about her own age with lovely, laughing eyes and a tangle of taffy-colored curls tumbling from a low knot on her neck, both hands tugging at the col lar of a beautiful tawny collie dog. “She was lovely, wasn’t she?" said Chloe, and there was a mist of tears in her eyes. Aunt Jane came into the room and said, seeing Chloe’s street attire: “Good heavens,' child, where are you off to at this hour of the dawn?" “Down to the mills, to find out what makes them tick!” answered Chloe promptly. “A shame a girl who is so bored by Christmas as you are has to take such an active hand in it!” comment ed Aunt Jane teasingly. “Oh, there may be more to this Christmas racket than is visible to the naked eye,” said Chloe nonchal antly, and rose to accompany her fa ther as he left the room. Aunt Jane chuckled, and Chloe looked at her suspiciously. But Aunt Jane’s eyes were limpid, with inno cence as Chloe followed her father without another word. Chloe’s roadster was waiting in the drive and Howell, with a little .smile, stepped in beside her as she backed the car competently to the tree shad; ed street that would lead them down the hill to the mill village. It gave Howell a distinct thrill of pleasure to be riding into town with this lovely daughter of his. He felt a little guil ty at the thought of his own happi ness at having her home for Christ mas. Guilty, because he knew that It had meant a real sacrifice for her to give up her rosy plans and hopes for .that Caribbean cruise.- Reaching the largest of the mills where the administration building was located Howell showed Chloe to a parking place at the left of the of fice and they walked together across the yard with its glowing beds of scarlet cannas still blooming defiant ly, in spite of the faint and growing chill that each morning brought. The building was a dingy red brick. Dingy because of the great belching columns of smoke that poured out of its tall chimneys twenty-four hours of every; day. The big outer office was already humming with activity when Chloe and her father entered. Fifteen or twenty people; busy at. various tasks about the office, looked up and said good morning, eyeing Chlode curious ly as she walked beside her father in to his private office. CHAPTER XI Once Chloe had gone down into financial New York with Betty Pear sall to her father’s office. It had been an impressive place with a deep-piled rug on the floor, expensive draperies at the windows, handsome furniture. Chloe thought of all that as she look ed about her father!® office, furnished plainly with a few heavy, old-fashion ed pieces of furniture that she knew had been there for many years. “Who is it you want to see this morning?" he asked Chloe with almost boyish eagerness. “Miss Sara Jenkins, I think. Mind if I see her during working hours, Dad?” s “Of course not, J’ll have her come here to the office, I have to spend an hour or so in the spinning room. We are trying out some new machinery there and I’m curious to see how it works,” answered Howell, and went swiftly out of the office. Chloe waited, her heart beating a little faster, and in a few minutes the door opened and a thin, faded little woman in a sleazy dark serge, clum sily made, hesitated in the doorway. There were small disks of color in her sallow cheeks and her faded Blue eyes were shy and apprehensive. “I'm Sara Jenkins,” She said short ly. “You wanted to see me?” “Yes," said Chloe and smiled her prettiest smile. “Won’t you come in and sit down?” “I’m pretty busy this morning,” Sara protested. “It’s the day before pay day and I got the pay roll to check and everything, before Walt goes to the bank after the money.” Chloe’s color rose a little at the woman’s tone and manner, But she said calmly, “Dr, Kelkin suggested I see you. He thought you would help me to carry out his plans for the Christmas party he wanted to give.” Sara hesitated. Her eyes fell be fore Chloe’s straight, level regard. But she came into the room and push ed the door shut, She would not sit down, She stood behind the chair that faced the desk where Chloe sat and she said grimly: “It was bad luck for the village when poor Dr. Kelvin got hurt. There ain’t a man, woman or child in this village that don’t wor ship him. He’s a fine young man, - He comes of mighty good stock.- His mother and me was friends before he was ever born—a fine young man.” Chloe flushed, for the woman’s tone and manner were faintly accus ing. “I know, Miss Jenkins. It was I who ran "Dr. Kelvin down and I’m terribly sorry and very anyious to do anything that I can to make amends,” she said evenly. “Everything possible is being done for -him at the hospital, and the only thing that seems to wor ry him is the fear that the village won’t have its Christmas party the way he planned it. I’ve offered to do everything I can to carry out his plans, but of course, I can’t do it alone. If you’ll help, I believe we can make a good job of it.” Miss Sara Jenkins flushed a little. A look of gratified pride* dawned in her faded tired eyes. Chloe had hit exactly the right note in appealing to her. “Well, o’ course, I dunno’s I could be of such a lot of help,” she pro tested. “But I’d do anything that I could to make Dr. Kelvin a little hap pier. He’s been mighty good to my poor, sick Ma and my brother’s kids. What was it you’d want me to do?” “First of all, help me to decide what sort of entertainment we should have. The tree will, of course, be for the' children,” answered Chloe quick ly. “But Dr. Kelvin thinks there should be something —■ some sort of entertainment before the presents from the tree are distributed. Some thing that will entertain the older people.” “Then make it somethin’ their kids can be used in—a pageant, or a play or tableaux, or something like that,” suggested Sara, her faded eyes light ing a little with interest. “And then maybe some of the young folks might dance or sing or something. We got some right talented young folks here in the mill, Miss Chloe. With Chloe’s encouragement and genuine interest, Sara offered, sugges tions that secretly surprised Chloe with their genuine value and when, an hour later, Chloe left the mill, it was with several pages of,, her note book filled with suggestions. She stopped at the hospital on her way home and the nurse assured her that she might see Scott right away. The way his darkly red head turn ed on the pillow at sight of her made Chloe’s heart stir a little and the eag er, excited light in his eyes told her how anxiously he had awaited het coming. “I’ve grand news,” she assured him gayly. “Mrs. Barwell is a darling, and she’s going to find out what every child in the village wants for Christ mas and, instead of just ordering a job lot of dolls and drums, we’re go ing to see to it that each child gets the thing he or she wants most!” Scott chuckled, his eyes warm and interested. “You’re in for a surprise,” he warn ed her. “Some of them will want the darnedest things—” . “Anything short of machine guns and bowie knives, they shall have,” Chloe assured him rashly. “And Miss Sara Jenkins thinks that we should have a series of tableaux or ‘living pictures’ featuring scenes from the first Christmas — The Three Wise Men and so on. And some of the young people will probably sing or dance—” “Great,” said Scott happily. Then his voice altering a little, be add ed gravely, “It’s pretty swell of you to sacrifice your own Christmas like this, especially when you dislike Christmas so much.” Chloe shook her head, her eyes bright. “But I find it isn’t Christmas I dis like, it’s the things people do to Christmas that make the trouble! I can see that Christmas might be a lot of fun, with people like Miss Sara and Mrs. Barwell to help plan. And the babies at Mrs.. Batwell's. I prom ised one a doll with ‘sleepy eves and a w’hite dress* and she said 'Dood Dod!’ in a tone of complete and in credulous amazement.” “Poor little tyke!” said Scott and they Smiled together, warmly. Chloe said suddenly, “Do you real ize that this is the first time you and I have ever spoken to each other quietly and peacefully? Scott flushed a little and said quick ly, “I’m afraid I have rather gone out of my way to be unpleasant, I’m sor-. ry." '“It’s quite all right. I haven't been overly nice myself!” Chloe forgave him largely. “I’m sorry I had to run you down to realize that you can be —rather nice!” She dimpled at him and Scott, his eyes with an odd light in their depths fastened upon her flushed, charming face, made her suddenly and oddly uncomfortable. He said: “I find I’m delighted that you did run me down.” The nurse came in with the pat ient’s tray and Chloe took advantage of the interruption to take herself off. Driving back up the hill heme, she frowned a little puzzled and a little disquieted, remembering the look in Scott’s eyes and discovering that it had done something rather frighten ing to her heart. She left her car in the drive for the chauffeur to put away and went swift ly up the steps and into the house-. But as she reached the door of the living room she heard voices. Her aunt's and the deeper tones of a man’s voice. She stopped abruptly as if a hand had been laid on her shoulder as the man’s voice reached her ears. It was a voice she knew quite well she could never forget. A voice that had the power to make little ripples of sheer excitement slip oyer her body. That stirred her heart to a strange, rather delicious unrest. In short, the voice of Jim Pearsall. “I think that must be Chloe now,” said Aunt Jane, and Chloe pulled her self free from the momentary par alysis that had. sped over her at the sound of Jim’s voice. She forced her self to walk into the living room and face him. f CHAPTER XII . ■Jim, looking bigger and browner and more disturbingly handsome than ever she remembered him, came for ward to meet her, his hand extended, his eyes drinking her in as if he had grown hungry for the sight of her. But all he said was, “Well, Chloe, it’s nice seeing you again!” - v ----- -- — _•.................-Chloe'put her hand in his and felt J°r “ie people of the village. Her his fingers close warmly and strong- * ............... ’ ly over her hand. She felt her heart beating strangely, excitingly, and she know that she was flushed, her breath a little short. But all she said was: "Jim, of all people! What are you. doing-here, of all places?” Aunt Jane with a swift look at them both, said hospitably, “You’re staying for lunch, of course, Mr. Pearsall. Excuse me while I tell the cook.” Jim said, as the door closed behind Aunt Jane, his eyes caressing Chloe, "“What’s all this nonsense about your not coming on the cruise? You silly child, don’t you know the whole thing will be. spoiled if you aren’t there?” Chloe said, stammering a little, sharply conscious of his hand that still held hers strongly and warmly, “It’s nice of you'to say that, but of course there isn’t a word of truth in itl But I have to stay here!” “But why, child?" protested Jim quickly. “Surely you’re not. going sentimental and assuring me it’s your ■duty to spend Christmas with the .family? What a stuffy idea! Christ mas is for fun and good times, child. .Not for stuffy family parties.” Chloe studied him almost curious ly. But she answered promptly, “It’s not altogether that. But — well, I ran over a man and, because he is laid -up in the hospital, I’ve offered to see his Christmas plans through. They involve a whole lot of work and I’ve promised and I have to see it through.” Jim drew her down, beside him on the chesterfield that faced the open fire. “Suppose you tell me all about it. Spin your little arguments so I can dynamite them with a common sense word or two of logic, and then we’ll begin the business of. taking off to join the gang at Miami." And with Jim’s handsome face bent above her own, listening to her in tently, she told him what , had hap pened. When she had finished Jim made a little gesture with a strong, well-kept hand that had ’ a famous grip on a polo mallet but little know ledge of actual work. • lf‘Oh, well, if that’s all! Sec here, child, you need a good spanking for trying to spoil otir plans and our par ty, for any such silly reason!” he pointed out vigorously. “It’s all. so simple. All you need to do is hand over a substantial check to somebody ______ ________ ...___ . in authority at the mills and you and . accident just' how much Chloe’s pres- I will fly south this afternoon! l‘*d e;;cc kero mermt to Mm. He hod , like to contribute to> such a worthy to school himself to the thought of j cause—” r “But that won’t do,” protested the girl, a little warm and arguing firmly. “I’ve promised to see to it person ally-” “Nobody would hold you to such a ^silly promise,” Jim insisted, obviously a little annoyed that she did not fall in instantly with his plans. “But I. promised and I intend to keep my promise,” Ghloe told him firmly, and added swiftly as she saw the dark frown touch his handsome, slightly arrogant face, “I’m sorry, Jim, but surely you must see how it it." “All I can see is that you don’t want to go with me, that’s all. That I’ve made seventeen different kinds of a fool of myself in flying here. You see,” I was sap enough to think that you like us — me -— enough to want to spend Christmas on the yacht with us.” “Oh! But I do like you — and the ifc others,” cried Chloe eagerly. “And TW) want terribly to go, but surely you ' must see that I can’t break a prom ise—” “But you promised us, Betty and me, that you would go on the cruise. You and Betty planned it. Isn’t that a previous promise? Shouldn’t it take precedence over a,,killy promise to this rather absurd young doctor?” de manded Jim. Chloe studied him with a sinking heart. He was terribly good-looking. Any sane girl would be ecstatic over Jim Pearsall’s attentions. Compared with the girls of his own set, she, Chloe Sargent, was a little nobody. Yet it was Chloe Sargent, the little nobody, whom he had singled out for his attention. That must mean that he liked her a lot! Her heart beat fast at the thought. This cruise — tropic waters — moonlit nights — fun and laughter and good times — Jim her devoted escort. Perhaps he might Oven tell her that he loved her! At least she knew that he liked her a lot to have flown here after her. Oh, it was all so mixed up! She wanted so desperately to go with him. But even as the words trembled on her tongue she saw Scott Kelvin propped up in bed, his darkly red head, his rather lean brown face and dark eyes turned eagerly to her, planning busily the things that she was to do in his name '■ " . / heart sank, but she knew that she could not break her promise to Scott. She could not let him down. Jim turned to her swiftly. Puzzled because she had not yet capitulated. Jim had never had any trouble get ting girls to do the things he wanted them to do and he was not prepared to have this one hold out so firmly against his wishes. He took a rapid step towards her. His arms went about her, drawing her close. His voice dropped to a caress ing murmur. Coaxing, cajoling. “Look, Chloe, we’ll have the most marvelous time. I came down in my own plane, There’s just room in it for you and me. We’ll have the most , glorious time. We’ll pick up the yacht^B in Miami tomorrow evening and go* aboard, and from then on — rolling down to Rio! It’s summer time in Rio, Chjoe. You’ll love it. Stop be ing a stubborn little goop, Chloe,, and say you’ll go.” He felt her tremble in his arms. But before he could clinch the argu ment, cinch his triumph, Aunt Jane spoke a trifle dryly from the door way. “Luncheon is ready. Your father is here, Chloe.” Almost guiltily Jim’s arms dropped and Chloe stood free, flushed and shaken, her eyes meeting Aunt ajne’s and dropping shyly. She presented her father to Jim and the two men shook hands. During luncheorf Howell and Jim talked courteously, but Chloe, watch- , ing them and listening, knew that ’ each was quietly, mentally, taking the other’s measure. That Jim was try ing to conciliate her father. That her father was studying Jim intently, though with a perfect courtesy. Howell’s mind was busy. A little frightened. So this’Was the young man Chloe liked so much. He re membered that Thanksgiving after noon when he and Chloe had gone for a walk and, atrifle shyly, hesi tantly, she had told him something of this man,’ Had defended the fact that Jim was quite content to live on his income and do nothing more use ful with his life than st>end it in var ious kinds of- sport. The man must be serious in hjs interest in Chloe to have come soUjh this way. To be so determined tp take her away with him on this cruise. Would she go? Howell had. discovered since Scotts ence here meant to him. He had tried / to school himself to the thought of J doing without her, but now, when he^