FORBIDDEN YEARS
by
WADSWORTH CAMP
II
The ’room Barbara entered
was small and very warm
after the automobile. A wood
fire, freshly lighted, crackled
In a corner fireplace. Before
It stood a small round table
pleasantly laid about a bowl
of roses. Two chairs were ar
ranged close together there,
and against the opposite wall
stood, except for a small serv
ing table, the only other piece
erf furniture, a wide sofa up
holstered with an imitation of
Gothic tapestry.
"I’ll ring when we’re ready
for supper."
The waiter bowed, backed
out, and closed the door. Bar
bara leaned against the man
tel and watched him go.
Whether it was from the rain,
the sudden brightness of the
room, or a cause more remote,
■he couldn't tell, but her eyes
were not clear. Through a
mist she saw Gray's eager ap
proach. Through a ringing in
her ears she heard his ex
ultant voice.
"I’ve waited a long time for
this!”
She steadied herself and
•hook her head.
"Let me catch my breath. I
want to get rid of these damp
things."
She took the scarf from her
bead, and the wet cloak from
her shoulders, and draped
them over the back of one of
the chairs. Her hair glistened
from its recent wetting which
had made more ardent the
■ly flame that always lurked
In its dark waves. She realized
that her eyes shone, that her
cheeks were abnormally
flushed. Being in this room
filled her with dismay. She
had an instinct to run across
the hall where a number of
people were gathered, talking
loudly. Here everything was
•trange, suppressed, seci*et.
"No supper, Gray. I’m not
hungry, and I must get back.”
"Nonsense. After all this
while you owe me a little
time.”
Why should she owe him
anything?
"Suppose Mrs. Twining
•hould wake up?"
"She won’t. Don’t be jumpy.
I’ve only had snatches of you
before. Now that we have a
chance like this let’s make the
most of it."
She said weakly: “You
wanted to talk to me, Gray.”
Abruptly he crushed her in
his arms and tried to find her
lips. She fought helplessly
against his strength; but
when he conquered, her lips
for the first time failed to
respond to his.
Studying her curiously, he
led her to the sofa, and she
•at down, her glance seeking
about the room. He sank be
side her and circled her with
his arms again.
“Barbara! What's the mat
ter? You've never behaved like
this before.”
“Gray, I don’t know. I don’t
quite understand. I do know I
oughtn’t to be here. I only
e&me because you said you had
•omething important to tell
me.”
He nodded.
“That is it, that now that
I’ve found you we’re going to
have thousands of times like
this. Don’t you want them,
too?”
Her gleaming head shook
•lowly back and forth. She
laughed desolately.
"Is that all you brought me
Jaere to say?”
He stared at her, frowning.
“What else did you expect?”
Her smile held abrupt com
prehension. She patted his
hand in an absurd attempt to
temper his disappointment.
Freak Weather In 193L
from St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The year 1931 Is a freakish year
tn many respects outside of eco
nomics. Above all else It has been a
rir of abnormal weather. In fact,
is expected to hang up a record
as the hottest year tn a century.
Bence January 1, 1931, the country
pas accumulated a great surplus of
neat, as well as a surplus of wheat,
and while Europe is now taking
large amounts of grain, it can do
nothing, and we can do nothing,
about our high temperatures.
In the first 10 months of this
ysar, st. Louts alone had an excess
ff 751 degrees, or an average of 35
hrm afagw* qwjml » dy, froy
He was a child, a spoiled child,
selfish and thoughtless.
“Never mind. You’re right.
I oughtn’t to have expected
anything. You made that clear
enough to me just before I
went to Europe."
“Oh, that! Women oughtn’t
to be so touchy; oughtn’t to
spring at conclusions."
The dream was dead again
once more. It was quite clear
that to his archiac mind she
was one of the lesser women,
wandering far outside the
frontiers within which the
fortunates like Esther dwelt.
It wasn’t altogether his fault,
because he had been so
thoroughly spoiled by every
one within and without those
shadowy boundaries.
"I’ll never spring at con
clusions again. Gray."
He clasped her tighter.
“Let’s talk straight. I tell
you you started something,
there in Elmford, and you’ve
got to see it through.”
“Not this way. And don’t
forget, Gray, that you started
something too."
His frown tightened.
“That means you do care
for me, Barbara?"
“Gray, I care so much, and
always have, that it frightens
me. That’s why I want you to
take me home, that’s why
you’re not to try to see me
again.”
"Barbara! I won’t take you
home yet, and of course I'll
see you again, as often as may
be."
She tried to slip from his
grasp, but he wouldn’t let her
go.
“This ends It. Try not to be
selfish for Just once, Gray.
Try just once to understand."
He held her at arm’s length,
his eyes widening.
“You never mean you
dreamed—”
Poor child! It wasn’t his
fault that the logical thought
had come so tardily. She hated
to see his happy game end In
shabby defeat.
“Yes, Gray. I dared dream.
I was a fool."
In his amazement he re
leased her, and she got up and
crossed the room to the fire
place. He sat with his head
in his hands, staring after
her, muttering:
"uood tioa! rarnaaoes,
plagues, and cataclysms!
Dreams? Nightmares!”
She nodded.
"Yes. I thought of all that.
You’re right. So please take
me home. I’ll miss you, Gray;
but you’ll forget about me
when you don't see me.”
Suddenly he sprang up, ran
across to her, and caught her
tightly to him. His face was
crimson , determined. She
reached behind her, and
pressed an electric button at
the side of the mantel which
she had noticed from the sofa.
“I’m not going to take you
home. You care for me. You
admit it. You know what I
think of you. I tell you every
time I see you you make me
lose my head. There’s a way
out of this, and you’re not
going home until we’ve hit on
it.”
A discreet rap drummed
from the door. Barbara caught
her breath as Gray released
her.
“Who the devil’s that?”
“Come in," Barbara called.
The waiter entered, looking
at them expectantly.
“Will you have supper
served now?”
Before Gray could answer
Barbara walked towards the
man.
“Wait in the hall for a mo
ment. Leave the door open.
We’ll let you know.”
When the waiter had gone
| this one can get an Idea of the ov
' erproductlon of heat in the coun
try as a whole, but only a very in
distinct idea. The excess in Kansas
City was 1,121 degrees; In Moor
head, Minn., 1,924 degrees, and In
Huron. S. D., 2,092 degrees, or 69
degrees above normal a day. The
month of May was colder than nor
mal. Every other month has been
decidedly above normal, except In
patohee. But stranger still is the
bend noted In a study of weather
bureau records printed In the Wash
ington Star. “The geographical or
der has been turned upside down,"
we are told. “Both North and south
have been hotter than normal, but
Ul9 t '**4*051,
Barbara turnec ia. Oiay, wild
y seeking the way out Hi;
frown steadied ner. There was
inly one way out.
‘I’ve no idea where I am,
DUt I must get home. Will you
arrange for these people to
take me? I can do it, but I
think it would be better if
you—”
Yes, his game was smashed;
the pieces were scattered all
over the board; and his child
ish temper was plain in his
face and attitude.
“That would look pretty,
wouldn’t it?”
“Not very, but I can’t think
of anything else. If you won’t
ask them I shall.
She started for the door, but
he sprang in front of her.
“See here! I brought you,
and I’ll take you back.”
She looked straight into his
furious eyes.
“I’d rather not go with you.”
His anger didn’t subside,
but quickly he spread Inis
hands.
“You’ll be all right with me.
Word of honor I won’t say
another word.”
“Thanks, Gray. Then shall
we start?”
Clumsily he helped her with
the cloak. Her hands shook
as she fastened the half-dried
scarf over her head. She
waited in the car while he
settled with the waiter. Then
he came striding across the
porch, flung himself into the
seat at her side and started
the car noisily and too quick
ly; the spoiled child, wholly
furious at defeat. He broke
his promise only once, mutter
ing nearly inaudibly:
“You say you love me, and
yet you don’t want to see me
again. You don’t trust me.”
She didn’t answer. She only
spoke several times anxiously.
“Need we go so fast? Is it
safe in this wet?”
But his temper drove him
recklessly on, and she clung
desperately to the frame of
the swaying car. At last she
saw in the path of the head
lights the stone gateposts
flanking Mrs. Twining’s drive;
but Gray didn’t slow up.
“Careful, Gray! Here we
are!”
He grunted an exclamation.
Apparently his mind had been
far from the hazardous busi
ness of driving an automobile
too rapidly on a streaming
road; for he snapped off the
headlights and applied the
brakes too impulsively, and
the rear of the car seemed tc
slide out from beneath them;
but he was skillful, and par
tially compensated for the
skid. He was nearly in control
again, very close to the gate
posts, when a blaze of light
circled the bend just beyond
and bore swiftly down on
them, two glaring eyes in
front of another reckless
brain.
our lights, Gray!”
But he hadn’t time to turn
them on, or to do anything
except avoid a head-on smash.
In pulling his car, which still
slithered, too swiftly to the
right, he lost control com
pletely. In the radiance from
the other car Barbara saw one
of the stone gateposts close
at hand, too close. Before she
could try to save herself, be
fore she could think, the huge
post seemed to crush down
upon her. She heard the
splintering of glass, the grind
ing and snapping of metal.
She seemed lifted by a giant
hand and flung far out of the
car.
Ner her on the ground lay
Gray, curled up. Groaning. A
man with a flashlight bent
over them.
“Is it bad?”
Gray’s groaning voice over
came a barrier of pain.
“I had someone with me.
How is she?”
“I’m all right,” Barbara
managed to quaver.
“Thank God! The house is
just along the drive. Wake
i ’em up. Get help. Carry her
; in, then me.”
She heard the man’s feet
• splashing along the driveway
I towards the house to alarm
especially in the last two months,
to be actually as well as relatively
hotter than the South.” Mississippi
gardens were nipped while flowers
bloomed in eastern Iowa.
The weather bureau, of course,
makes no attempt to explain this
heat surplus. It did not warn the
country to make provision against
it, and It does not try to show what
brought It on or how long it will
persist. All the bureau knows or
pretends to know is that tempera
ture records go back only about a
century, and reliable ones only
, about 50 years, and that on the bas
is of these records 1931 appeals to
i be the hottest year this country
I ever exoertencea Not so hot Jpr
,*ii i i wining and tlie ser
vants. Everyone would have
to know now unless she could
do something.
-Stop him. Gray!”
He must have been a good
deal hurt. His voice was so
thick.
T’ve done you a filthy trick
Can't be helped. You’ll have
to go in.”
She burst out hysterically:
T won't.”
She meant to run, anywhere
away from Mrs. Twining and
Esther, but when she tried tc
get up she crumpled in a heap,
and a blackness thicker than
the night wrapped around
her.
CHAPTER V
Temporarily Barbara em
erged from the blind, empty
pit of coma, and found herself
in the hall which was full of
gaping people; occupants of
the other automobile and
household servants. Gray,
misshapen, lay curled in a
great chair, his right arm
circling his left shoulder, his
face white and twisted. Mrs.
Twining, wrapped in a dress
ing gown, and holding a
candle which didn’t shake at
all, stood on the stair landing.
Barbara turned away from
the sharp eyes, but instead of
asking questions the old lady
sprang instantly to the com
mand of the situation.
“Some of you carry Miss
Norcross to her room, and take
Mr. Manvel to the northeast
rooms. Hoskins, telephone Dr.
Morris to tumble out of bed
and come here as fast as he
can; then get the nurse’s
bureau in town, and have too
competent women sent instan
ter. Slocum, tell Cook to make
coffee for these people.”
After arranging all that,
Barbara thought she would
ask where Gray and she had
been; at least how an accident
that might easily have been
fatal had happened. As Gray,
helped by two men, passed
Mrs. Twining on the landing
she ran her fingers through
his wet hair.
“We won’t disturb your
fond parents’ slumbers until
Morris has looked you over.”
He groaned.
“Nothing much the matter
with me. Have Morris look to
Miss Norcross.”
Mrs. Twining’s laugh crack
led.
“Nothing much the matter,
I imagine, except a few broken
bones.”
She added dryly: “Ought to
be thankful your head was
spared, although I’m not sure
that wouldn’t have served you
right.”
The sarcasm, added to the
pain of being lifted from her
chair, sent Barbara deep down
again into the pit. She strug
gled out of it finally to hear
Morris’ depressing diagnosis
muttered to Mrs. Twining.
“She’d have been happier
with a broken ankle. The
muscles and liga/nents are
badly torn. It’ll be some weeks
before this young woman
starts to hobble.”
Barbara turned to the wall.
She couldn’t look at Mrs.
Twining’s calm, incurious face.
She accepted bitterly the fact
that she was going to be im
prisoned against her will for
some weeks in a house where
she was no longer wanted; for
after what had happened she
had no doubt that Mrs. Twin
ing would at least give Esther
her way, and exile the pre
sumptuous interloper who had
dared make Gray’s glance
waver.
Even then, during the pain
ful hours of that first night,
she accepted her destiny as
lying in the theater; she pos
sessed no education for any
thing else; but in this fresh
escape she would have one
Important advantage she had
lacked when leaving Elmford.
Mrs. Twining had, if anything,
overpaid her, and she had
spent practically nothing; her
savings would give her a
chance to walk cautiously into
an utterly strange world.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
> business, but hot in every other
way.
Colder weather is predicted, but
November did its part in making
this a year of record heat, and only
December remains. We have no ob
jection to a heat surplus at this
time or in midwinter. We welcome
it. And a geographical upset is not
surprising in a year with so many
• other upsets. But we hope that the
Southern states that voted the re
1 publican ticket three year* ago will
not permanently change places with
the Northern states in tne weather
scheme, so that there will be snow
and ice in Virginia when flowers
bloomin* i® N^ryj Oikoti
NEW PARADISE
OF FISHERMEN
Bass Fishing Flourishes in
World’s Largest Arti
ficial Lake
Eldon, Mo. — (UP) — The Lake
of the Ozarks. a $33,000,000 project
down here in the mountains, is the
largest artificial lake In the world.
Its power plant supplies St. Louis
with electricity. But these facts
mean nothing to the sportsmen of
Missouri and surrounding states.
The Important tiling to them is
that the Lake of the Ozarks has
made it possible to catch bass, big
bass and lots of bass, after It
looked like bass fishing was about
to go out in Missouri.
Black bass were almost nonex
istent in Missouri streams in 1930,
and fishermen had given up hope
that the supply could be built up
again. Small hatcheries failed to
solve the problem.
Then Bagnell dam was finished
and the Lake of the Ozarks began
to form for some 129 miles behind
it. And the fishermen flocked in.
Before the lake was even full,
more black bass had been taken
from it than had been taken from
It than had been taken the pre
vious year from all Missouri waters
together.
The Union Electric company,
builder of the dam. must erect a
hatchery for game fish. With this
addition, Missouri sportsmen have
quit their worrying about the fish
supply.
The lake was created while the
state was putting increased effort
into development of its parks. The
12 state parks comprise 39,490 acres,
but much of this was undeveloped,
and much was inaccessible to mo
torists.
Co-operation between the fish
and game commission and the state
highway department, however, is
making it possible for the motor
ing nature lovers to reach the most
out-of-the-way spots. With this
program the folks of the Ozarks are
hoping that their mountains will
become increasingly popular with
vacationists who haven’t the time to
drive to the Rockies or other moun
tain resorts.
-44-.
San Francisco Restores
Palace of Fine Art*
San Francisco —(UP)— Sixteen
years ago throngs of tourists from
all parts of the world walked
through the buildings of the Pan
ama Pacific exposition, and re
marked at their beauty. Some of
the structures—the Tower of Jew
els. the Court of the Seasons, the
Palace of Fine Arts—became world
famous.
Today, a small group of work
men labored where hundreds once
were, restoring the Palace of Fine
Arts. The edifice never was de
stroyed, and finally acquired by
the city.
Restoration of the great ro
tunda, which still impresses the
visitor with the height of its in
terior, is in progress. Virtually all
of the classic columns supporting
the adjoining structure have been
recast, and are once more intact.
--
Western Railroads Show
Increase During October
San Francisco—(AP)—All three
major railroads serving Pacific
southwestern territory showed gains
in October net earninvs over Sep
tember. The western Pacific gain
was largest, exceeding 38 per cent.
Combined October net for the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the
Southern Pacific company and the
Western Pacific railroad was $7,
051,218. compared with $6,047,870.
The combined net, however, was a
little less than half last year's Oc
tober net of $14,575,546.
DIVERSIFIED PHILOSOPHY
If Gandhi is a lawyer, then
He’s just a raw recruit;
For it is very evident
He never won a suit.
"Hades or Hoover,” the slogan is
Of hard boiled G. O. P.;
Twould seem to me they'd stick to
one,
And let the other be.
That manager plan some citie*
have,
And some want us to try,
The other day in Cleveland town.
Picked up a fine black eye.
Manchuria is doubtless worth
A pretty nasty scrap;
If so. the League might quite a»
well
Just give it to the Jap.
Sure, two can live as cheap as on*.
As all those parents know,
Who have a daughter they must
keep
Until she hooks a beau.
If It be true about that wind
And lambs that have been
clipped.
This winter should be mild enough
So not an ear gets nipped.
—Sam Page.
SIRENS PROHIBITED
Pasadena, Cal. —(UP)— Gover
nor James Rolph, Jr., recently
signer a bill prohibiting use of si
rens when motorcycle police of
ficers were accompanying machines
on streets. He arrived at a hotel
from Sacramento amidst the
screams of four sirens.
Man 103 Years Old Gives
Receipt for Longevity
Allentown, PaV(UP)—A recipe
for longeviey that include* freedom
from worry, abstinence from diet
ing and "eating and drinking what
ever you please” is offered by
Miehael Neiswender, who celebrated
his 103rd birthday her*.
Neiswender, a resident of Mt.
Carmel, Pa., came hers to spend
the birthday anniversary with rel*
at.ivav
njsnc.it Hc-.ppiness in
Labor Well Performed
Today the most welcome word that
can come to millions is a promise of
employment—to have a share in the
world's work. The song on which
many of the older generation were
brought up urged one to work in the
morning h > irs, to work ’mid spring
ing flowers, to work even through
the sun ay noon, and then on till the
“last beam fadetli, fadeth to shine
no more.” But it was a joyous song,
and the only unhappy note in it was
the one that suggested the oncoming
of night, “when man works no more.”
The most fervent prayer that most
men make, especially those who have
not much goods laid up against
days of ease, come from ancient,
times: “May I be taken in the midst
of my work.”
So for from work being a curse,
Carlyle speaks of it as “the grand
cure of all the maladies and miseries
that ever beset mankind.” It is the
boit physician. So in seeking to find
employment for those out of work,
the problem of misery is attacked at
its root.
Skill iu labor Is man’s highest vo
cation, but it is through labor of
some sort, whether by hand or brain,
whether of one's choice or by com
pulsion, whether as a vocation or an
an avocation, that lie finds his way
to his better and best self.
Giving a rnnn a job is the best
form of helpfulness, if lie is still able
to work.
It has been often said that there is
no good obtainable without labor; but
it Is better said that lhere is no
good that is to be put above the
ability and the opportunity to labor.
—Kansas City Times.
MercolizedWax
Keeps Skin Young
Get aa ounce snd u*e as directed. Fine particle* of aged
akin peel off until all defects eucb ai pimple*, livar
■pots, tan and freckle* disappear. Hkin ia then *ofA
and velvety. Your face looks years younger. MercoUaed
Waa brine* >ut tbe bidden beauty of your skin. F*
remove wrinkles use oue ounce Powdered cUaoIitft
dissolved «n jat»-Uali pint witcb basal. At drug stores*;
~Golf Is Golf
The Movie Magnate—I’m going to
; lay golf today.
His Secretary—But you were to get
married today, sir.
The Movie Magnate—Oh, at! right,
—have her get to the links by 2
o’clock sharp.
Cruel
Mr. Grump—A woman who really
loves a man will bake a pie for him
now and then.
Mr. Grinn—Yes, and if she really
loves him she will give the pie to
the iceman and buy another at the
bakery.
KIM. COLD GERMS]
-7—---t—m
Clears head instantly.
Stops cold spreading.
Sprinkle your
handkerchief during the day
—your pillow at night/"
a at *
McKesson I au drug
PRODUCT STORES
That’* Clear
“A man makes the best boas,” said
184 out of 200 shop girls wtm were
questioned on tlie subject—proviug
that only sixteen of thorn were mar
ried.—Life.
J Gilbert T. Hodges I
PRESIDENT
Advertising Federation
of America
a
Recently Said:
. . Reduced advertising
appropriation* will mean
we shall continue in reverse
gear, while advertising
to tell people about the
things which will enable
them to live fuller and hap- all
pierlives will play ilspsst,
as it always has, in keep
ing business moving''
> ►»> |
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