Welcome to sleep stories with Steph It is time to relax.
And fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now.
And know where you need to go.
Close your eyes.
And feel yourself sink into the support beneath you.
And let all the worries of the day go.
Drift away.
This is your time.
And your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose.
And let it out with a long sigh.
That's it!
There is nothing you need to be doing now.
And know where you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 42 Dad told you about Ethel?
" said Barney,
His hands stuck in his pockets,
Regarding the floor moodily.
She was very beautiful and I loved her.
I won't deny it,
I'll belittle it now.
It was a lonely romantic boy's first passionate love and very real.
I thought she loved me.
I was fool enough to think that.
I was wildly happy when she promised to marry me.
For a few months that is.
Then I found out she didn't.
I was an involuntary eavesdropper on a certain occasion for a moment.
And that moment was enough.
The proverbial fate of the eavesdropper overtook me.
An old friend of hers was asking how she could stomach Redfern's son in the patent medicine background.
His money will gild the pills and sweeten the bitters,
" said Ethel with a laugh.
Mother told me to catch him if I could.
We're on the rocks but I smell turpentine whenever he comes near.
Oh Barney!
Cried Valancy,
Wrung with pity.
She had now forgotten all about herself and was filled with compassion.
And rage against Ethel Traverse.
How dare she!
Barney got up and began pacing around the room.
That finished me,
I can tell you.
I left civilisation and those accursed dopes behind me and went to the Yukon.
For five years I knocked about the world in all sorts of outlandish places.
I earned enough to live on.
I wouldn't touch a cent of Dad's money.
Then one day I woke up to the fact.
I no longer cared a hang about,
Ethel,
One way or the other.
She was someone I'd known in another life.
I had no hankering to go back to that.
I was free and I meant to keep on,
So I came to Mystawis,
Saw Tom McMurray's land,
And my first book had been published,
So I made a hit and had a bit of money for my royalties.
Then I bought my island.
But I kept away from people I had no faith in anyone.
I didn't believe there was such a thing as real friendship or true love in the world.
Not for me,
Anyhow.
I used to revel in all the wild yarns,
They told of me.
I'm afraid I suggested a few of them myself.
Then you came.
I had to believe you loved me.
Not my father's millions.
There was no other reason why you should want to marry a penniless devil with my supposed record.
And I admit I was sorry for you.
I don't deny I married you because I was sorry for you.
And then I found you the best and jolliest and dearest little pal and chum a fellow ever had.
Witty,
Loyal and sweet.
You made me believe again in the reality of friendship and love.
The world seemed good again just because you were in it,
Valancy.
I'd have been willing to go on forever just as we were.
I knew the night I came home and saw my home light shining from the island.
You were there waiting for me.
And after being homeless all my life.
It was now beautiful to have a home,
To come home hungry at night and know there was a good supper,
A cheery fire.
And you.
I didn't realise what you actually meant to me though till that moment at the switch.
It came like a lightning flash.
I knew I couldn't live without you.
If I didn't pull you loose in time,
I would have to die with you.
I admit it bowled me over.
Knocked me silly.
I couldn't get my bearings for a while.
That's why I acted like a mule.
But the thought that drove me to the tall timber was the awful one.
You were going to die.
I'd always hated the thought of it,
But I suppose.
.
.
There wasn't any chance for you,
So I put it out of my mind.
And now I had to face it.
I couldn't live without you.
When I came home last night,
I made up my mind to take you to all the specialists in the world.
I was sure something could be done.
I felt sure you couldn't be as bad as Dr.
Trent thought.
If those moments on the track hadn't even hurt you.
Wow.
Then I found your note and I went mad with happiness.
And a little terror for fear you didn't care much for me after all and had gone away to get rid of me But now everything's alright,
Isn't it darling?
Fancy Lord!
Why was she being cool,
Darling?
I can't believe you care for me.
She said helplessly.
I know you can't.
What's the use,
Barney?
Of course you're sorry for me,
Of course you want to do the best you can to straighten out the mess,
But.
.
.
It can't be straightened out that way.
You couldn't love me.
She stood up and pointed tragically to the mirror over the mantle.
Barney didn't look at the mirror.
He looked at Valancy as if he would like to snatch her or beat her.
Love you girl,
You're in the very core of my heart.
I hold you there like a jewel.
Didn't I promise you I'd never tell you a lie?
I love you with all there is of me to love,
Valancy.
Heart,
Soul and brain,
Every fibre of body and spirit thrilling to the sweetness of you.
There's nobody in the world for me but you,
Valancy Snaith.
You're a good actor Barney,
Said Valancy with a wan little smile.
Barney looked at her.
So you don't believe me yet?
I can't.
Should barney violently.
Valancy looked startled.
She had never seen this side of Barney.
Scowling,
Eyes black with anger,
Sneering lips,
Dead white face.
You don't want to believe it,
Said Barney,
In the voice of ultimate rage.
You're tired of me,
Aren't you?
You want to get out of it,
You want to be free from Redfern,
The pills and the liniment.
Just like she was.
Your sterling pride can't stomach them either.
It was alright as long as you thought you hadn't got long to live.
A good lark,
I suppose.
You could have put up with me.
But a lifetime with old Doc Redfern's son is a different thing,
Isn't it?
And I understand perfectly.
I've been very dense,
But I understand at last.
Balancy stood up and stared into its furious face.
Then suddenly she started laughing.
You darling!
She said,
You do mean it,
You do really love me!
You wouldn't be so enraged if you didn't.
Barney stared at her for a long moment.
Then he caught her in his arms with a little low laugh of the triumphant lover.
Uncle Benjamin,
Who'd been frozen with horror at the keyhole,
Suddenly thawed out and tiptoed back to Mrs Frederick and Cousin Stickles.
Everything's alright.
He announced jubilantly.
Dear little Doss,
He would send for his lawyer right away and alter his will again.
Doth should be his soul heiress.
To her that had,
Should certainly be given.
Mrs.
Frederick,
Meanwhile.
Returning to her comfortable belief in an overruling providence,
Got out the family Bible.
And made an entry under marriages.
