VALLEY

SHEER GOSSIP 19unconscious of the high tribute she was paying toRosemary's charm. "Ellen has always kept her down,so to speak. She has tyrannized over her, and yet shehas always indulged her in a good many ways. Rosemarywas engaged once, you know, to young MartinCrawford. His ship was wrecked on the Magdalensand all the crew were drowned. Rosemary was justa child only seventeen. But she was never the sameafterwards. She and Ellen have stayed very closeat home since their mother's death.Theydon't oftenget to their own church at Lowbridge and I understandEllen doesn't approve of going too often to aPresbyterian church. To the Methodist she nevergoes, I'll say that much for her. That family of Westshave always been strong Episcopalians. Rosemaryand Ellen are pretty well off. Rosemary doesn't reallyneed to give music lessons. She does it because shelikes to. They are distantly related to Leslie, youknow. Are the Fords coming to the harbour thissummer?""No. They are going on a trip to Japan and willprobably be away for a year. Owen's new novel isto have a Japanese setting. This will be the first summerthat the dear old house of dreams will be emptysince we left it.""I should think Owen Ford might find enough towrite about in Canada without dragging his wife andhis innocent children off to a heathen country likeJapan," grumbled Miss Cornelia. "The Life Book was