The Bluffton news. [volume], September 07, 1939, Image 7

About The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current

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THURSDAY, SEPT. 7, 1939]
THE DIM
LANTERN
01
By Temple
BAILEY
PENN PUBLISHING Ctt
WNU SERVICE
(CONCLUSION)
Edith read the note twice, then
put it to her lips. She hardly dared
admit to herself the keenness of
her disappointment.
She stood for a long time at the
window looking out. Why had Jane
decided not to marry Uncle Fred
erick? What had happened since
yesterday afternoon?
From Edith’s window she could
see the south lawn. The servants
were arranging a buffet luncheon.
Little tables were set around—and
wicker chairs. Adelaide, tall and
fair, in her favorite blue and a broad
black hat stood by one of the little
tables. She was feeding the pea
cock with bits of bread. She made
a picture, and Towne’s window
faced that way.
“I wonder—” Edith said, and
stopped. She remembered coming
in from the movies the night be
fore and finding Adelaide and Towne
on the porch. And where was Jane?
Towne did not eat lunch. He
pleaded important business, and had
his car brought around. But every
body knew that he was following
Jane. Mystery was in the air. Ade
laide was restless. Only Edith knew
the truth.
After lunch, she told Lucy. “Jane
isn’t going to marry Uncle Fred. I
don’t know why. But I am afraid
that it is breaking up your house
party.’’
“I hope it is,” said Lucy, calmly.
“Delafield is bored to death. He
wants to get back to his pigs and
roses. I am speaking frankly to
you because I know you understand.
I want our lives to be bigger and
broader than they would have been
if we hadn’t met. And as for you”
—her voice shook a little—“you’ll
always be a sort of goddess bless
ing our hearth.”
Edith bent and kissed her, emo
tion gripping her. “Your hearth is
blessed without me,” she said, “but
I’ll always be glad to come.”
Towne, riding like mad along the
Virginia roads, behind the compe
tent Briggs, reread Jane’s letter.
“I was not up-stairs last night
when you came. I was asleep in
the window-seat of the living-room,
just off the porch. And your voice
waked me and I heard what you
said, and Mrs. Laramore. And I
can’t marry you. I know how much
you’ve done for me—and I shall
never forget your goodness. Baldy
will take me home.”
Enclosed was a pink check.
Towne blamed Adelaide furious
ly. Of course it was her fault. Such
foolishness. And sentimentality.
And he had been weak enough to
fall for it.
Yet, as he cooled a bit, he was
glad that Jane had showed her re
sentment. It was in keeping with
his conception of her. Her innocence
i
Towne, tiding like mad along
the Virginia roads.
had flamed against such sophistica
tion. There might, too, be a hint
of jealousy. Women were like that.
Jealous.
As they whirled through Washing
ton, Briggs voiced his fears. “If we
meet a cop it will be all up with us,
Mr. Towne.”
“Take a chance, Briggs. Give
her more gas. We’ve got to get
there.”
With all their speed, however, it
was four o’clock when they reached
Sherwood. Towne was still in the
clothes he had worn on the links.
He had not eaten since breakfast.
He felt the strain.
He stormed up the terrace, where
once he had climbed in the snow.
He rang the bell. It whirred and
whirred again in the silence. The
house was empty.
It was on the way home that
Jane had said to Ba.dy: “I feel like
a selfish pig.”
“Why, my dear?”
“To take your precious prize be
fore it is cold. It doesn’t seem
ndiL”
Tt isn’t a question of right or
wrong. If things turn out with these
new people as I hope, I’ll be paint
ing like mad for the next two
months. And you’ll havd your work
cut out for you as my model. They
like you, Jane. They said so.”
He had driven on steadily for a
time, and had then said, “I never
wanted you to marry him.”
“Why not, Baldy?”
He turned his lighted-up eyes upon
her. “Janey—I wanted you to have
your—dreams—”
She had laid her hand on his arm
in a swift caress. “You’re a dar
ling—” and after a while, “Nothing
can take us from each other, ever,
Baldy.”
Never had they drawn closer in
spirit than at this moment. But
they said very little about it. When
they came to the house, Baldy went
at once to the garage. “I’ll answer
that letter, and put in a good after
noon Iqoking over my sketches.” He
did not tell her how gray the day
stretched ahead of him—that golden
day which had started with high
hopes.
Jane changed to a loose straight
frock of orange cotton, and without a
hat, feeling actual physical freedom
in the breaking of her bonds, she
swung along the path to the little
grove. It was aromatic with the
warm scent of the pines, and there
was a cool shade in the heart of it.
Jane had brought a. bag of stock
ings to mend, and sat down to her
homely task, smiling a little as she
thought of the contrast between this
afternoon and yesterday, when she
had sat on the rim of the fountain
and watched Adelaide and the pea
cock. She had no feeling of rancor
against Adelaide. She was aware
only of a great thankfulness.
She was, indeed, at the moment,
steeped in divine content. Here was
the place where she belonged. She
had a sense of blissful escape.
Merrymaid came down the path,
her tail a plume. The kitten fol
lowed. A bronze butterfly floated
across their vision, and they leaped
for it—but it went above them—joy
ously towards the open blue of the
sky. The two cats gazed after it,
then composed themselves careful
ly like a pair of miniature lions—
their paws in front of them, sleepy
eyed but alert for more butterflies,
or for Jane’s busy thread.
And it was thus that Towne found
her. Convinced that the house was
empty, he had started towards
Baldy’s studio. Then down the vis
ta of the pine grove, his eye had
been caught by a spot of golden
color. He had followed it.
She laid down her work and looked
up at him. “You shouldn’t have
come.”
“My dear child, why not? Jane,
you are making mountains of
molehills.”
“I’m not.”
He sat down beside her. The little
cats drew away, doubtful. “It was
natural that you should have resent
ed it. And a thing like that isn’t
easy for a man to explain. Without
seeming a—cad—”
“There isn’t anything to explain.”
“But there is. I have made you
unhappy, and I’m sorry.”
She shook her head, and spoke
thoughtfully. “I think I am—happy.
Mr. Towne, your world isn’t my
world. I like simple things and
pleasant things, and honest things.
And I like a One-Woman man, Mr.
Towne.”
He tried to laugh. “You are jeal
ous.”
“No,” she said, quietly, “it isn’t
that, although men like you think
it is. A woman who has self-re
spect must know her husband has
her respect. Her heart must rest
in him.”
He spoke slowly. “I’ll admit that
I’ve philandered a lot. But I’ve nev
er wanted to marry anyone but you.
I can promise you my future.”
“I’m sorry. But even if last night
had never been—I think I should
have—given you up. I had begun
to feel that I didn’t love you. That
out there in Chicago you swent me
off my feet. Mr. Towne, I an sor
ry. And I am grateful. For all
your kindness—” She flushed
and went on, “You know, of urse,
that I shan’t be happy until—I don’t
owe you anything ...”
He laid his hand on hers. “I wish
you wouldn’t speak of it. It was
nothing.”
“It was a great deal.”
He looked down at her, s’ender
and young and infinitely desirable.
“You needn’t think I am going to
let you go,” he said.
“I’m afraid—you must—”
He flamed suddenly. “I’m more
of a One-Woman man than you
think. If you won’t marry me, I
won’t have anyone else. I’ll go on
alone. As for Adelaide—A woman
like that doesn’t expect much more
than I gave. That’s all I can say
about her. She means nothing to
me, seriously, and never will. She
plays the game, and so do I, but
it’s only a game.”
He looked tired and old. “I’ll go
abroad tomorrow. When I come
back, perhaps you’ll change your
mind.”
“I shall never change it,” she
said, “never.”
He stood up. “Jane, I could make
you happy.” He held her hand as
she stood beside him.
She looked at him and knew that
he could not. Her dreams had come
back to her—of Galahad—of Robin
Hood the world of romance
had again flung wide its gates
After Towne had gone she sat for
a long time thinking it over. She
blamed herself. She had broken
her promise. Yet, he, too, had bro
ken a promise.
She finished mending the stock
ings, and rolled them into compact
balls. The little cats were asleep—
the shadows were stretched out and
the sun slanted through the pines.
She had dinner to get, for her re
turn had been unexpected, and So
phy had not been notified.
She might have brought to the
thought of her tasks some faint feel
ing of regret. But she had none.
She was glad to go in—to make an
omelette—and cream the potatoes—
and have hot biscuits and berries—
an£ honey. ...
Planning Ums, competently, she
raised her eyes—to see coming
along the path the two boys who
had of late been Evans’ close com
panions. She spoke to them as they
reached her. “Can’t you stay a
minute? I’ll make you some lem
onade.”
They stopped and looked at her
in a way that startled her. “We
can’t,” Arthur said “we’re going
over to the Follettes. We thought
we might help.”
She stared at them. “Help? What
do you mean?”
Sandy gasped. “Oh, didn’t you
know? Mrs. Follette died this morn
ing .”
Evans had found his mother at
noon, lying on the couch at the foot
of her bed. He had stayed at home
in the morning to help her, and at
ten o’clock she had gone up-stairs to
rest a bit before lunch. Old Mary
had called her, and she had not
answered. So Evans had entered
her room to find that she had slipped
away peacefully from the world in
which she exaggerated her own im
portance. It would go on without
her. She had not been neighborly
but the neighbors would all come
and sympathize with her son. And
they would miss her, because she
had added to the community some
measure of stateliness, which they
admired even as they resented it.
Evans had tried to get Baldy on
the telephone, but could not. Jane
was at Grass Hills. He would call
up at long distance later. There
was no reason why he should spoil
for them this day of days.
So he had done the things that
had to he done in the shadowed
house. fir. Hallam came, and oth
ers. Evans saw them and they went
away. He moved in a dream. He
had no one to share intimately his
sorrow—no sister, no brother, no
one, except his little dog. who trailed
after him, wistful-eyed, and with
limping steps.
The full force nf the thing that
had happened did not come to him
at once. He had a feeling that at
any moment his mother might sweep
in from the out-of-doors, in her white
linen and flat black hat, and sit at
the head of the table, and tell him
the news of the morning.
He had had no lunch, so old Mary
fixed a tray for him. He did not
eat, but drank some milk. Then he
and Rusty took up their restless
wandering through the silent rooms.
Old Mary, true to tradition, had
drawn all the blinds and shut many
of the windows, so that the house
was filled with a sort of golden
gloom. Evins went into his moth
er’s little otfice on the first floor,
and sat down at her desk. It was in
perfect order, and laid out on the
blotter was the writing paper with
the golden crest, and the box of
golden seals. And We had laughed
at her! He remembered with a pang
that they would never again laugh
together. He was alone.
He wondered why such things hap
pened. Was all of life as sinister
as this? Must one always find trag
edy at every turn of the road? He
had lost his youth, had lost Jane.
And now his mother. Was every
thing to be taken away? Would there
be nothing left but strength to en
dure?
Well, God helping him, he would
endure to the end
He closed the desk gently and
went out into the darkened hall.
As he followed its length, a door
opened at the end. Black against
the brightness beyond, he saw the
two lads. They came forward with
some hesitation, but when they saw
his tired face, they forget self
consciousness.
“We just heard. And we want to
help.” Sandy was spokesman. Ar
thur was speechless. But he caught
hold of Evans’ sleeve and looked
up at him. His eyes said what his
voice refused.
Evans, with his arms across their
shoulders, drew the boys to him.
“It was good of you to come.”
“Miss Barnes said,” again it was
Sandy who spoke, “that perhaps we
might get some pine from the little
grove. That your mother liked it.”
“Miss Barnes? Is she back? Does
she know?”
“We told her. She is coming right
over.”
Baldy drove Jane in his little car.
As she entered she seemed to bring
the light in with her. She illumined
the house like a torch.
She walked swiftly towards Ev
ans, and held out her hand. “My
dear, I am so sorry.”
"I thought you were at Grass
Hills.”
“We came back unexpectedly.”
“I am so glad—you came.”
He was having a bad time with his
voice. He could not go on
Jane spoke to the boys. “Did you
ask him about the pine branches?
Just those, and roses from the gar
den, Evans.”
“You always think of things—”
“Baldy will take the boys to the
grove, and do any errands you may
have for him.” She was her calm
and competent self—letting him get
control of his emotion while she di
rected others.
Baldy, coming in, wrung Evans’
hand. “The boys and I will get the
pine, and Edith Towne is coming
out to help. I called her up to tel]
her—”
Baldy stopped at that. He could
not speak here of the glory that
encompassed him. He had said, “If
death should come to us, Edith?
Does anything else count?” And she
had said, “Nothing.” And now she
was coming and they would pick
roses together in the garden. And
love and life would minister to a
greater mystery
When Baldy and the boys had
gone, Jane and Evans opened the
windows and pulled up the shades.
The house was filled with clear light,
and was cool in the breeze.
When they had finished, Jane said,
“That’s all, I think. We can rest a
bit. And presently it will be time
for dinner.”
“I don’t want any dinner.”
They were in the library. Out
side was an amethyst twilight, with
a young moon low in the sky. Evans
and JanfLStcQilby the window, look-
THE BLUFFTON NEWS, BLUFFTON, OHIO
ing ouf, and Jana asked in a hushed
voice, “You don^ want any dinner
because she won’t be at the other
end of the table?’
“Yes.” His face was turned from
her. His hands were clinched. His
throat was dry. For a moment he
wished he were alone that he might
weep for his mother.
And then Jane said, “Let me sit
at the other end of your table.”
He turned back to her, and saw
her eyes, and what he saw made
him reach out blindly for her hand—
sympathy, tenderness—a womanly
brooding tenderness.
“Oh, Evans, Evaps,’’ she said, “I
am not going to marry Frederick
Towne.”
“Why not?” thickly.
“I don’t love him.’
“Do you love me, Jane?”
She nodded and could not speak.
They clung together. He wept and
vivas not ashamed of it.
And standing there, with his head
against her breast, Jane knew that
she had found the best. Marriage
was not a thing of luxury and soft
living, of flaming moments of wild
emotion. It was a thing of hard
ness shared, of spirit meeting spirit,
of dream matching dream. Jane,
that afternoon, had caught her
breath as she had come into the
darkened hall, and had seen Evans
standing between those slender lads.
So some day, perhaps, in this otd
house—his sons!
THE END.
Pandora
Mr. and Mrs. Clar Diller and
family returned to their home Sun
day evening after spending a long
vacation out west.
Mis Betty Weber is i working in
the Gid Lehman home.
Earl Geiger who has been running
a bread route for Ra bakery at
Findlay resigned his din He is
now selling cars.
Mr. and Mrs. Rolland enback are
the proud parents of I aby boy born
to them at their home ht Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Zimmerman of
Zion City, Ill., spent a few days at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Hilty
Rolland Burkhart won first prize at
the Ohio State fair for shearing
sheep. He was given a gold medal
and a ninety dollar shearing outfit.
Mr. Burkhart is an expert when it
comes to shearing sheep
The meetings of the Inter-Church
Prison Association closed at Pandora,
Sunday night at the Missionary
church. On Monday evening the Wig
dom brothers and their sister gave a
program They are fine colored sing
ers. A full house heard them sing
and preach.
Lowell Hatfield is the owner of a
1936 Chevrolet sedan.
Ambrose Basinger was baptised
Sunday at the St. John church.
The Grace Mennonite choir will ap
pear in a program at the Ebenczer
church next Sunday night at 8 o’clock.
Albert Hager who has been pastor
of the Phoenix, Arizonia Missionary
church has accepted a call to Grove
land, Ill.
Mrs. Frances Davidson who has
been employed by C. D. Diller in his
insurance office, resigned her position
Saturday. She is moving to Leipsic
where her husband is engaged in the
painting business.
A number from Pandora attended
the Clover Farm picnic at Riverside
park in Findlay on Labor day.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Snavely and son
have been spending a few days at
Bellvue at the home of Mr. Snavely’s
parents.
A new’ change has taken place in
Pandora’s meat market, Joel Basing
er has bought Homer Basinger out.
The two have been in business to
gether a long time. The meat mar
ket in Pandora has no connection with
Basinger’s in Bluffton. As before,
Paul Basinger and his father will op
erate the market.
Repubican Caucus
At a meeting Friday night of the
Republicans of Pandora and Riley
township the following were nominat
ed: Harry Cahill presided over the
towm and Stanley Burkhart over the
township:
Mayor—I. R. Trostle.
Clerk—Glen Schumacher.
Treasurer—Lowell Hatfield.
Marshall—H. M. Thrapp.
Council—Raymond Walters, Wil
bert Zuercher, Wilmer Niswander,
Adam Bixler, John Berry, Joe Probst.
Riley township candidates:
Constables Elmer Baumgardner,
Leroy Lemley.
Township Clerk—Lester Harkness.
Trustee—William Carr.
School Board—Dr. M. B. Rice, Noah
Soldner.
Women dress now-a-days that men
may admire their good points. Pity
the admiration that does not reach
above the shoulders.
For Vigor and Health—
include meat in your menu.
Always ready to serve you.
Bigler Bros.
Fresh and Salt Meats
A NATION’S FAVORITE!
An intensely d.'omotic story even
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Under the Earth," or "Dark Dawn."
MARTHA
OSTENSO
Beaverdam
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hiles and
sons Eddie and Jack of Maumee were
Saturday visitors of Mr. and Mrs. G.
T. Andrews.
Miss Katheen Luginbihl of Chicago
was a week end visitor of her parents
Mr. and Mrs. Harley Lugibihl.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Truax and
family of Geneva spent the week end
with his mother ,Mrs. Minnif* Truax
and other relatives.
Mrs Lester Bierly and sons Gary
and Jimmie of Lafayette were Friday
visitors of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Yant.
Mrs. Cathrine Ross and son John
spent the week end with relatives at
Greenville.
Bud Lumbard returned home after
visiting relatives the past month at
Ft. Wayne.
Mr. and Mrs. Faye Fowler and dau
ghter Joan spent the last week visit
ing relatives at Michigan.
Mrs. Wilbur McClure of Dayton
visited Tuesday with Mrs. Charles
Weaver
Eileen Amstutz has returned to Ft.
Wayne to resume her studies at the
International Business college.
Mrs. Emma Barber and Frank Mc
Dorman accompanied by Mrs. Cora
Kayser of Kendelville, Ind., are visit
ing Mrs Sarah Ridenour at Mansfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Yarger of Mun
sie, Ind., are visitors of Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Yarger and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Varvel and dau
ghter Mary spent the week end at
Hillboro, Ohio. Paul Stratton return
ed with them and will attend school
here.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bazner and dau
ghter Ardella, Mr. and Mrs. Cark
THIS
U TO LOVE
THE AUTHOR: Martha Ostenso, fixed star in the Ameri
can writing firmament, enjoys a world-wide prestige for her
forceful, moving stories of people you might easily know.
THE STORY: PROLOGUE TO LOVE is the story of lovely
Autumn Dean, whose family history seems destined to keep
her from the man she loves. How she shapes that destiny to
her own ends makes one of Miss Ostenso’s greatest serials.
THE SETTING: The mountains of British Columbia where
untamed beauty in its natural setting provides a fitting
background for the powerful human drama which develops.
FOLLOW IT SERIALLY
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Hitchcock, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hitch
cock all of Chicago, were week end
visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Arnod.
Miss Louise Mottr of Toledo spen
the week end with her grandparents,
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Marquart.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Amstutz, Mr.
and Mrs. J. C. Yant spent Thursday
at Castalia.
Mr. and Mrs. Lansil Edgecomb of
Pennville, Ind., spent Saturday with
Mrs. Jim Edgecomb.
Mrs. Mat Vegel and daughters
Gladys and Edna. Mrs. Wm. Speaker
and Mrs. Minnie Linkhart of Belmore
were Monday dinner guests of Mr. and
Mrs. Lervy Fett and family.
Jeanette and Ronald Ludwig spent
the past week with Mr. and Mrs. Tom
Ludwig at Lafayette.
Miss Madeline Smith of Findlay ar
rived to resume her duties as teach
er in the high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Grant Barber re
turned after a weeks vacation in
North Carolina.
Mr. and Mrs. Clair Younkman and
famliy of West Unity were Monday
visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Younk
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PAGE SEVEN
Mr. and Mrs. Ami Nonnamaker
and Glen Nonnamaker spent Monday
afternoon at the Howard Nonna
maker home at Hassen.
Jackie Koontz was felled to the
ground by a stroke of lightning,
Monday morning. He was burned
about the body in numerous places.
Dr. Steiner rendered first aid at the
A. J. Nonnamaker and Anna Koontz
home.
School children are starting in to
the schools for another term on
Tuesday morning.
Union prayer services at Olive
Branch Thursday evening.
Mrs. N. B. Steinman of Bluffton
and Mrs. Anna Koontz and Kaye
Nonnamaker spent Sunday afternoon
at the Thomas Bell home at Owls
berg. Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bell and
two children of West Jefferson were
evening callers at the Bell home.
W. C. Klingler, Gladys and Dorotha
Klingler and Jimmy Scott motored
to West Jefferson, Sunday and visit
ed at the Russell Stratton home.
They were accompanied home by
Mrs. Klingler and Jean Anne who
had spent the week in the Stratton
home.
Frank Dray was taken to the
hospital in Findlay, Friday evening.
He has been seriously ill since Wed-
nesday of last week. His many
friends hope for his speedy recovery.
Gene Bish of Columbus spent Sun
day at the home of ins parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Evered Bish.
Celebrating the birthday anniver
sary of Mrs. Emaline Nonnamaker
Friday evening a picnic supper was
enjoyed on the creek bank at the
Shoemaker farm. Those enjoying
the occasion were: Mrs. Nonna
maker, Mr. and Mrs. London Bas
inger, Janet and Gareth Basinger,
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Stauffer, Mr.
and Mrs. A. J. Nonnamaker, Kaye
and Roderick and Robert Koontz.
Rev. Hilard Camp has been re
turned to the Rawson charge by the
U. B. Annual Conference which was
in session at Bowling Green last
week. Thomas Koontz was returned
to Walbridge.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cherry
of
Findlay were Sunday visitors at the
J. R. Fisher home.
Mrs. Lida Gallant is a patient in
the University hospital in Columbus.
“Please send $460 dollars at once
the school is bankrupt and each stu
dent has to pay double tuition.
Kindly make check out to me. Your
son, Bob, Jr.”
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