Hahn - Francie comes home: one last adventure

Francie Comes Home

One Last Adventure

Emily Hahn

To Wendy

CHAPTER 1

Francie put down her suitcase when she came out of the telephone booth and, without worrying, left it where it sat. Nobody was likely to steal it, and no passenger but herself was in the waiting room anyway. She looked again at the clock, then strolled over to the glassed-in doors to stare with dismay at the vacant lot across the street from where she was, Jefferson Union Station. There was nothing in the view calculated to sadden a heart. It was a good enough lot, lately increased in value because of the bright new filling-station its owner was putting up next door, fronting Station Street. But Francie Nelson wasnt interested in real-estate values. It irritated her that she saw no beauty in this glimpse of Jefferson or even prettiness. She was looking at the town with the critical, anxious affection of a native daughter. It looked raw, she decided, and added sweepingly that that was the trouble with the whole townthe whole statethe entire Middle West. And this was where she was going to live, for all she knew, forever more!

She turned away, almost overwhelmed at the thought, and drifted over to the newspaper stand. A glimpse into the mirror helped her to control herself, as it often did. There was no doubt that the smart new English-tailored suit was attractive, and pleasant little wisps of curly brown hair framed her face under the trim beret. In spite of her twenty-two years she looked almost childish, struggling as she was against emotion.

So far it wasnt a happy homecoming. Of course it would be different when she saw Pop and Aunt Norahnot different in her heart, she thought gloomily, but anyway on the surface. Theyd all have to be bright and cheerful then. Alone, though, she could be honest about it. Just now she simply loathed Jefferson, and yet in her time, when she was far away, shed often been homesickterribly homesick.

Francie was widely traveled. She had been to school in England for several terms, had spent a year in Portugal, and was now fresh from New York, where she had been studying at Barnard. The college part had been as good as the rest of iteven better, she now thought ruefullyand shed had every reason to believe she could go ahead and finish the course. But nowoh well, what was the use of moping? If she went on like this, her eyes would be red and Pop would guess how miserable she was hed be along any minute.

Hell be a little late, Im afraid, darling, Aunt Norah had just said on the phone. I asked him to stop in at the store on his way over and get the marketing done so you wouldnt have to sit outside and wait on the way back. You used to hate that, I remember.

Dear Aunt Norah, remembering those little things, thought Francie. It was queer to think of Pop, Pop of all people, shopping with one of those wire baskets on wheels. During all of Francies childhood life her father had seemed grandly mysterious, busy with matters of high finance, pausing to dabble now and then in advisory bureaus in Washington as one of the countrys experts on oil and its by-products. He had dropped in on Jefferson only on special occasions, to see how his motherless daughter was getting along. Francie had loved him, of course, but she hadnt known him, really, until they went abroad together and spent a revelatory year in England. After that they had been better friends.

Hes such a sweet guy, thought Francie, and hes taking this trouble so well! I ought to be ashamed of myself.

For Pop had run into trouble, what he himself called a streak of bad luck, and though he always spoke as if it were bound to be temporary, Francie suspected that the blow was worse than he admitted. Some of his old strength and ebullience seemed to have vanished. She had realized that as soon as he began talking seriously, sitting in Francies cheerful little apartment.

Francie, youve always had everything I could give you, he had said, and I guess that makes it worse, now, that Ive got to admit Im sunk. The worst part of it is having to tell you how smart I wasnt.

He went on to explain as simply as possible what had happened. There were several partners in the combine. One of them had involved himself in a discreditable deal, the news had leaked out, and the partner had absconded, leaving the others to discover the full effect of his misdoings and face the world with the story. It was my fault as well as his, because I should have kept more of an eye on him. But it wasnt my department, and Ive been abroad a lot; anyhow, I had no reason not to trust him. Im not excusing myself, he added quickly. Im just explaining how it happened. Well have to wait for the results of the investigation before I make more business plans. It may take only a few months, but it may drag on for more than a year, and thats more likely. Even when its settled, Im afraid this might mean starting all over again. Though thats taking the worst possible view.

He paused, and stared down at the carpet. This was a long speech for Pop. I could, I suppose, he went on rather doubtfully, get a job for the time being. But jobs I can do best usually take a long time to get.

Francie had broken in here. Oh Pop, I dont think that would make sense, would it? You cant tell how long this affair will take, you say, and youve been working awfully hard lately. Wouldnt a rest do you good?

Well, it might, though I can think of better reasons for taking a vacation, he said slowly. Theres another angle I havent gone into yet, though. The practical one. Ive always made plenty of money and lived well. So did you live well. A long time ago before your mother died, I thought it would be a good idea to play safe and get her some shares of Sears, Roebuck and Standard Oil stock. They looked good then and theyre good now. So I transferred my holdings in these to your mother, as a sort of ace in the hole in case we had another depression: anyway, I figured it was a good thing for her to own some property in her own name. When she realized she wasnt going to get well and that your Aunt Norah was going to bring you up, she left the stuff in her will to Norah. She knew Id be providing your supportand Norahs naturallybut she had it in mind that Norah ought to have a backlog, just the way shed had it, and I was agreeable. Well, of course Norah tried to hand it all back to me when the will was read, but I wouldnt take it and then I sort of forgot all about it. I actually did forget until Norah told me over the phone last night that the money was all there and shed never had occasion to use it, and believe me that made good hearing. Now Im in a real squeeze, with everything Ive got tied up in this lawsuit. Were bound to win out, but it can take a long time, and thanks to Norahs good management theres enough accumulated in Jefferson to take care of us for as much as three years if we keep close to the belt.

We wont starve, then, said Francie.

Oh no, we wont starve, said Pop. But theres still the question, What about you? I cant keep up the allowance youve been getting.

Of course not! I wouldnt expect it, Pop. Are you staying on here, or what?

No, said Pop. That entered into my calculations, of course. The way I see it, Id better go out to Jefferson and do my waiting there, sublet my expensive apartment and so on: not only does good sense point that way, but it will look better when the whole thing comes to court. Norah says shed be delighted to have me, and I think she means it. Shes lonely since you went away.

Sounds a good idea, said Francie. And anyway, youd like staying in Jefferson. You know you would. Youve often said how you envy people who can be there the year round, using the country club and all. I know Aunt Norah means it;