THE FORNE FAMILY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 25 October 1930, Page 20

THE FORNE FAMILY

(Part 1.) VALMA, dear, do stop" throwing" Konny could not be persuaded t(f stones. And Philippa, sit down take Patricia to Letty, and luckily foj; und read your book." 'Mrs. Forne they came in at that critiThe plaintive voice of /ctticia Fame cal moment. stopped her two little sisters from the "Hullo, Kon. Why the pouty lips?" quarrel in which they frequently in- smiled Philippa. "Pat's been pulling dulged. . him nbout, I bet. Where's Patty, A alma Forne looked over - towards Mum?" her si&ter Lctty, then spoke to Philippa, Valma, standing by the " window, and they both ran over to Letty and turned round abruptly. "Listen, I eaii' threw their arms round her waist, hear someone calling." ".Really, Letty, we're frightfully "It's Pat," said Letty. "Ilcre,. Konny, sorry," they said together. . whore's Pat?" Letty's fair curls lay in a tangled "Don't know. JNTaughty Patty!" eaid mass against a white, thread-bare pil- Donald, studying the pattern on the low, and her grey-blue eyes rested lov- Hoor. ingly on the two dark, straight-haired "Como on, Ronny; do toll us,"'begged heads on cither sido of her.' Her pale Philippa. iace wag lined with the "marks of -Sonny's brown eyes grew sullen, pain which had been imprinted there "She wanted me to take her to'you, 6ince that awful day when "The Pome *«d I said, 'Don't want to go,' and ' Family" went to the beach, and Letty Patty got into the copper and I .put had slipped on the rocks and injured rlle Hd on i nt snc Ects plenty of herself badly. After that they did all breafs." to please and help her, and her sad - "oll > Ronny!- How could you?" said little mother showed a cheerful coun- Letty, laughing. tenance to the world. Only a special- : Philippa ran hurriedly to the aid of ist could help her, but mouey was too Patscant for that. Pat emerged' very indignant, quite 'Mother, whore's my Letty?" - disgusted tbat Ronald was not sent Mrs. Forne looked* down into fie to bed. flower-like face of Patricia, the young- -When Philippa and Pat returned,;the cßt and baby-da vliug of- "The * Forne table was set for tea, and tho. mastor Family." . ~ ot ; t ] ie \ xomc was soa ted at the ..head ' Out by the river, dear. Valma and of the table waiting. Ho was tall, Philippa wheeled her out there half and very much like Letticia, .only; an hour ago." • . •• tanned with the sun. Patricia rubber! her black, curly head "Well, Pat, what's the young villaui aganist her mother's roughened hand been doing to you?" coaxingly. ' , , ■ • Patty scrambled on his knee, ani • «?at^' wants t0 B°j too." • related her story, shooting unapprov* Are you going to go away and leave ing glances at Eonald. Mother. Patty!" Mrs. Forne asked her Letty said she was feeling tired that tcasingly. night, so retired early. She had not Patty's blue eyes looked puzzled, and gone long when Gilbert said, "Mother, then they brightened. She ran off sud- it's Lotty's . birthday soon, isn't' it?" denly, and came back, dragging her "To-morrow four weeks, my son. unwilling little brother by the hand. "Wouldn't it be lovely if " "Don't want to go. -Don't have to!" Mrs. Forne never finished her senlie was muttering. tence, but how well the other's knew! "Ronny'll take me. Won't you, Phil looked at Val. and she nodded. Ronny?" said Patricia, full of en-1 That night when tho twins were unthusiasm. . . dressing in their pretty pink bedroom, Six-year-old Ronald was very fond Valma turned to Philippa. of his little sister, Patricia, but some- "Oh, Phil," she said, "do you think times ho thought she wanted too much, we could do it?" All of the family had the firm .'-chin . "Why, of course, Valnta,' dear. Don't of their father. Their eyes you could be stupid, it might help Mum, mightn't n6t forgot, so very expressive .were it, and if it doesn't, well, there'll be they. , Philippa and Valma being twins no harm." ' .' . ,were "as like as two peas," as the say- "Tq-morrow morning about half past , ing goes. They were plain, but there four we'll go up the river—b,ut —" 'was a certain attractiveness about / At this moment the door was throwit 1 them, owing to their manner and quick, and silence reigned, except for friendly smile. Their sister Letticia tho ticking of the'clock. ... • was beautiful with her quick wits and ' "That's fvf," thought Mrs. F.orne, jovial spirit,'and when in these spirits "I'm sure I lizard someone talking." she was the exact replica' of her bro- ' But there wasn't another souna froai ther, Gilbert Wally Forne. Three years the twins that night.' Letty's senior, he was nineteen years of (To be continued.) ~ ' age, and took father's place since tho "PAT MARLOWE" (15). letter's death. ■ Xewtown. kiiii ■■imiMiliiiinimiiiiiiiMiiiimiiiiiMimmiiiniiuiilinilniimulililliiiii mitiiiimiimliiinmimililimillliillllliil