Evening star., 1927-09-18

patience. you could almost teach these
to jump into the boat when you
whistled"'
She had taken off her hat, and her
red hair burned in the early pink sun
light; the sunburn on her neck and
arRas had deepened into a rich pastel
shade.
| Diana Pierce sat listlessly. holding
her line; occasionally, when the burst
Of Gordon Carey's laughter drifted
| back to the stern, where she sat with
Neal, she would bend forward and re-
gard the water with serious, searching
eyes, as though she looked into a
| crystal.
| Kathy, at first only vaguely con-
| scious of discord, continued to chatter.
She realized Meals disapproval and
| Diana's depression. but she refused
to analyze them. Life was too lovely
| for thought. especially unpleasant
ones. with the sea blue and fresh
about her. the man she loved so near.
| Yes, and with another man increas-
| ingly interested in her conversation,
and the girl who had once Inundated
| her silent in the stern of the boat!
She wasn't, she told herself, flirting
| with Gordon Carey. If Di Pierce
didn't like it, that was her own affair!
And. if Neal didn't like it . but
why should he object? Obstinately
she closed her mind to consideration.
She was enjoying herself. She was
no longer that shy and resentful coun-
try girl, native. She was herself
Katherine Snow, and. Ii she was just
the least bit exhilarated by the fact
that she was, for the moment, causing
Diana to suffer-well, that was under
~%1 ,Io1
She wanted to forget Meals eyes. to
be let alone! Yet the discord per-
sisted, and most of her elation was
gone when they returned to shore.
Neal and Gordon Carey were collect
ing their catch, and she stood beside
Diana. on the pier. She had nothing
to say to Diana, nothing to hear from
her, and she started abruptly when
the girl spoke.
Meal Hunters in love with you,
isn't he?"
The question was so unexpected
that the shock of it sent a blush over
Kathy's face. "Why, / suppose he
likes me-" she evaded.
II like him." DANA said simply. 81
should think you and he would get
along WELL"
Kathy moved irritably. She didn't
want to exchange condolences with Di
Pierce.
"IIow long are you going to stay in
Foxport?'
II don't know. My mother died last
month, you know"
'I'd heard. I'm so sorry, Kathy!
II wish you'd come to see me. We
used to be such friends" Di said.
Such friends! Kathy was still strug
Cling for an answer, some means OF
turning this unwelcome conversation
into less personal channels, when the
men joined them.
Movies tonight?" Gordon Carey
asked.
Kathy smiled at him.
"I can't" said Diana. "At least,
not until late. Wilma Stone is COM
ing down on the $50 train.''
"It's a good picture" he said. look
ing at Kathy. "Shall I call for you
folks, Neal? Di and Wilma can join
us later.
Kathy smiled again, and continued
to smile, enigmatically, as a kitten
purrs to itself, until they reached the
house. Then she waved good-by to
Diana and Gordon, and turned to face
Neal
She put her hand on his arm, and
he looked down at her-diffidently.
How could he, when they loved each
other so? Her eyes were very soft.
"Neal-won't you kiss me?"
Neal Hunter moved away from her.
"I don't understand you, Kathy." he
said, in strained sort Of voice.
"You-hurt people,"