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Page 4 Back T BY ETHEL WILLIS HEWITT o Port The story thus far: Elsa Swan attracted the attention of Cris Valentine, wealthy sportsman. He said if she ever decided to come to him, he'd be waiting. Wisa, out of a job, decided to ac- cept his offer. She is on shipboard now, going to him in France, al- though by marrying him she feels she will be false to her ideals of Jove. Joe Sterling, professional gambler, and a friend of Cris, Ras volunteered to entertain her. Rut Elsa has met Nick Hudson, young Texan on his way to Paris to study art. Immediately they fall in love. ? CHAPTER III «Tell me about you," Elsa brea- thed in the dusk, Nick grinned, his fine teeth gleaming white. "Me? Why, Im only beginning. The cocoon that I used to be lived in a rather imposing house in Gal- veston, went to school, to col- lege, and finally disappointed the best father in the world by re- fusing to be tied down for life to the wholesale. grain business." Some of the brightness went out of his face. +It was--Well, dad counted on me to carry on--" he stopped abruptly and stared out over the water. "It wasn't easy for you to dis- appoint him," Elsa said, "Pll never get over the hurt of it. But there's something in-me that's got to be satisfied, the urge to create, the--" 4 know," Elsa put in softly, her gaze on his rapt face. Nick laid his hands on hers, absently, as if just to feel her near. His touch thrilled her. Elsa went a little sick at the thought of Cris, she almost wished she cculd have died like that, with Nick's hand on hers, his eyes smiling into hers, before he knew. "Youre a thousand times dear- er than I dreamed you'd be," he said gently. Elsa choked back a sob, She'd have to tell him; she couldn't let groping blindly for a way out. «Oh, not that, Nick! I just t sure of what was happen- to us." the deck was deserted. Music out through the open ac No doubt they were mis sing dinner. «Oh, yes! You did know, from the first time, even before you knew who I was. And I knew," he ended huskily. There was something final in ais words that frightened Elsa. Ho took her in his arms like a young tempest, hugging her wild- ly, sctting his hard cheek against until it hurt. She closed her drifted hers eyes. "You're so far beyond any- hing I ever dreamed you'd be." lis arms, his voice, were all tenderness. He hadn't kissed her, ®isa hoped he wouldn't. «Il have enough for two to i he drew back, tilting her head up until his eyes oked into hers. Something in heir expression made Elsa realize what she had done. She drew way, quickly, definitely. Cris-- "Nick, 1 can't; oh, I can't!" she cried, covering her face with her hands. Tears were brimming c:om her eyes. Nick wiped them a clumsy finger. cart," his eyes were laughed to cover his "Sweet misty. He confusion, «Your nerves are all shot to pieces--so are mine, It's -- it's all so new and wonderfull" he added in a whisper, He bent his head and. kigsed her gently, as if he were laying every gift he possessed on the altar of love. "Nick--oh, please!" Elsa cried in desperation. "I can't -- I can" marry you, ever." Nick laughed contentedly, hol- ding her close. "Come along, Elsa Hudson, or we won't get a bite to eat." There was + that, Not that Cris isn't all that's a heart-breaking thrill in the way he said "Elsa THE OARVILLE-TRAFALGAR JOURNAL antly. "By the way, young Hud- son's been searching frantically for you," he added, gazing down at her. «That's why Tm here" Elsa offered lightly, Sterling looked at her for a moment in silence. "Shall we find a seat, if you are in no hurry to be found?" Elsa smiled. Strangely enough his An looked over af hef curiously. "What do you mig&h?" 4 "I mean, after Cris and I are married." That was a funny ques- tion for him to ask. She returned his curious stare with one of her own, In the near-darkness of the starlight on the deck she could just see his face, and the expres- slon there frightened her--sud- denly, unreasonably. she d p: y= thing to keep from thinking. Sterling drew two chairs into the shadow of the second hoat. "I've seen precious little of you lately -- enjoying yourself im- mensely, I suppose?" he asked. "One in particular," Sterling put in. "Young Hudson's pretty keen on you," he added, his eyes on her face. It wes dark to see clearly, but Elsa could feel his gaze; friendly enough, but it made her uncom- fortable, "I think he's--well I like him," she finished shortly, She was watching a man, stand- ing a little distance away. He was smoking and the light from his cigarette blinked weirdly against a velvety background. "It's interesting, but what will Cris say?" "Say! Hlsa flared up like a torch. "What business is it of his?" she asked, a flash of anger in her voice. Sterling shrugged his ample shoulders. "My dear--perhaps it is no business of his, I only thought-- --he paused. Elsa felt hot with shame. "Of course--I had forgotten; you. are his friend. But can't you see what Tm trying to tell you? I'm free for this week; I'm not obligated to Cris yet." He understood, "I'm glad of to be desired in an affair of this «It's rather slick--so many| ade him wince. interesting people," she said simply. "Why--I don't know what to J hat's wrong?" He didn't answer; instead, he turned his head away and looked out over the water with a soft whistle of surprise. wpell me!" She reached over and took his arm in a grip that say," he murmured. Then he tur- ned back to her with sudden de- cision. "But you have a right to know--especially now. Listen, child, TIl put it brutally; Cris isn't going to marry you. He never intended to!" He must he wrong, of course; his words suggested a situation completely incongruous with what she knew, "But he does intend to, Joe," she pointed out. "Of course he does! Why, he would never have told you to meet me if he 'didn't want me." She could see the look of in- finite pity on his face, "Of course he wants you, my dear, And you're going to him. But he does not intend te marry you. My lord, and he thinks you under: stood that all along!" He wanted her, but he didn't intend to marry her; he never had; he thought she understood that . . . : "It isn't true!" she whispered breathlessly, but she knew it was true. Cris didn't intend to marry her. He was bringing her across the ocean, sending her money -- not 'as his wife-to-be, but as the woman who would grace his home for awhile--until he tired of - her, until he found someone else Romance of Lighthouse Vanishes In Bronte Once again the Old must give way to the New, It seems that the next lighthouse will be elec tric and gone will be much of the romance of lighthouse keep- ing. The lighthouse that was swept SET me aloud, the same thing, the girl's mind whirling. He stood up. below 2" "Pll stay," she said weakly. I run across him?" a bit desperately. Sterling turned abruptly. ly still. Perhaps if she hadn' have known Nick; she'd rathel suffer anything than have mis sed that . . . . to her? She was sailing to a man who wanted hel --but didn't want her in mar- riage. A man whose desire of her had seemed sanctuary--but had proved to be a trap to ensnare her. She couldn't go on, of course, but could she go back? Back to a jobless career, to days of weak hunger--? Copyright, The Chicago Daily News, Inc. kind, but Tm glad for you--and "I can't do it!" she breathed (continued next week) Sterling gripped the hand that had fallen weakly on the arm of her chair. His gesture seemed to say that other women had said and found out they were wrong. Nothing shoc- ed him, of course; apparently nothing even surprised him; not even his revelation that had left "I've told you; that's all I could do. What you do now depends on yourself. Shall I leave you here, or are you going "Shall I send Hudson along if "Please--not tonight," she said and left her For some time she sat perfect- fainted that day in Bert's place all this wouldnt have happened to her. But then she would never But just what was happening in midocean, Thursday, January 26th, 194g away New Year's nigh ATE, about the ian tes me oo ury by Orange Ribble. The bj. ing stood thirty feet high ang 'was enclosed in the upper 5] of the structure, with Windows facing approximately East, North and South, The windows four feet wide and two ang half feet deep, glazed With goo: quality plate glass. To facilitat, window' cleaning, a balcony wits guard rail was built just below the windows. One e local feats of aquatic skill was climb to the balcony and dive from the guard rail, clearing the wharf, into the water. Within the lighthouse the ofl and sun. plies were kept at ground ol and a steep stairway le light above. ied ito fThree v sof mur The source of light was a sim ple oil lamp which burned ap. proximately a quart of fuel each night. Although the fuel capac. | ity of the lamp was a half-gal. lon, each night when the keeper tended the light he would refi the lamp before lighting it. The lamp was placed within a glass lens of about 12 inches diameter and the resulting gleam couRl be seen at least three miles out in the lake. Heven m [available box The keeper ordered supplies for the sight in January, The arrival of the supplies by boat in July or August was usually a colorful event, especially for the children of the community. The Depart. ment of Transport's vessel 'Gran. ville' would anchor about a half * mile off-shore and attract every } one's attention by several blasts | on its whistle. A small tender would be dispatched to tthe har- i bour with the fifty gallons of oil | required to operate the lamp for another year, The light is lit from twilight to dawn throughout the naviga- tion season. During the day the blinds are Lung in the windows to keep out the sun which if al- lowed to shine through the lens could cause a fire. t Tr T three ieepers, the present keeper. A new-fangled lighthouse did. During the fifty year life of the lighthouse it has had only Charlie Osborne, 'Walt Thomas and Freeman Bray, electric light for Bronte will probably be more afficient but will never again gain as much respect by as many fishermen and sailors as our old the boy. Something might turn up." He stopped and blew @ Ting of smoke above his head. "I almost forgot to mention, house party at Deauville, week after next. Youll be there?" he asked. Cris radioed me 2 bid to his for you or your family--let us fill it exactly to his - PRESCRIPTIONS When your doctor prescribes a certain medicine him go on like that. She tried to | Hudson." ; figure blindly where it would There was mo going in like all iead. they were; they had to dress. At "Nick" she began broken, |e cabin door they paused. her hand trembling beneath his. "I know. We'll be married as soon as we land. Then--" he paused. Higa gasped. She went sudden- 17 cold and numb. Married as soon as they landed! She lay, for what seemed ages, looking at him blankly, "My allowance won't afford us much luxury, but we won't have {0 scratch along on that always. I mean to pay dad back, every cent, when I get on my feet. I should wait, I know," he paused, his splendid young face aglow with adoration. "But the waiting would rob us of something life would never offer vs again," he ended in & hushed voice. ven in the dusk Elsa could see the light in his ardent blue eyes. Still she couldn't speak. Nick's glance wavered. "I gee--I shouldn't have spo- ken. What have I to offer a girl Elsa drew him aside, was a trace of despair Jess. "You call that being good? he asked, letting her go. it snappy," he flung back ovel his shoulder. as she heard his door close sh went up on deck. She chose some time to find her. them, studded the sky. trickling up from dinner, everything numbly. There Nick . . . . like you?" His words sounded Lard and fiat, Elsa came to life, startled, A new Dutch coastal steam hol, Holland, lormerly of Vancouver, commerci ague, in accordance with the wish of the builders. NETHERLANDERS er, launched is christened Canada by V. L. Chapin, ped for a chat. "Glad you weren't ill; we mis- sed you at dinner," he said, pleas- ee EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE TO CANADIANS 4 at Fox- is the son of al secretary at The army, retiring or all the lo express the gratitude of towa! at the Canadians had done eir country. Mr. Chapin was employed with fmerican Can Co. in Vancouver befor the rd the liberation of the Hollan and 5 "Be good," he wispered Softly. "Nick." That was all, but it swept her up in his arms. There in her "Be back in ten minutes; make But Elsa didn't dress. As soon place where it would take Nick Stars, with a gray mist across People were strolling about. She paid little at- tention to them, She was feeling had been two radios from Cris, like a sinister warning. Then--Nick. With her in his arms like that-- Sterling, sauntering past, stop- Department of "Im supposed to be hostess, but--" Sterling leaned forward. "You might run away?" he fin- ished evenly. "Is that a suggestion?" Again he shrugged. "Perhaps." A spark of light arched down ward and disappeared, The man by the rail had thrown his cig- arette overboard. Elsa watched him turn and walk down the deck. r e 21 in silence. slowly. There was something herself very grateful. always, after I'm married." comfortably in his chair, Walter LeRoy Chapin, of Vancouver. He served overseas: with distinction in the Canadian He joined the assistant trade in training in March, 1946, and is now. opnacial secretary 'with the Canadian embassy in with the rank of major. Trade and Commerce as D R U G S prescription. Qualified pharmacists are always in attendance and only the best drugs obtainable are ' used. DRUGS -- TOILETRIES -- SUNDRIES The Oakville Drug Co., Limited a Colborne St. E. (Len. Hope, Mgr.) Phone 94 For a while Sterling smoked "My dear, if -you go om, Or if you turn back, I hope youll be very happy. If I can be of any service--ever--yowll remember I am your friend as well as Cris. We shall see quite a lot of each other--if you go on," he added gallant in his offer, for which she found "p11 remember your kindness "Married?" Sterling, stretched had ROTARY BINGO | Over 100 Attractive Usefnl F Prizes Including - - ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND RADIOS Come Early And Bring Your Friends Victoria SAT., JAN. 31st at Sp.m.