Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-23
NINTH INSTALLMENT.

THE evening at Stag Island was a
nightmare to Cathleen. Neil
seemed determined to show her
i either that her refustl to accept
him meant nothing to him or
| that 1t was sending him headlong into
dissipation He drank steadily. When
he did not ignore Cathleen's presence
he was deliberately rude to her. His
attentions were all for Freddie Glea-
sons blonde, who lost her lisp as the
evening progressed and was as rowdy
in behavior as Neil apparently wished
her to be.
Would the CHASTITY evening never end?
Cathleen wondered. Why hadn't she
brought her purse with her? Then
she could disappear quietly from the
table, order a taxi and be driven home.
1t was near midnight
please, Neil" Kathleen begged. I'VE
must go. Fathers angry enough with
me already"
You'll stay until I'm good and ready
to 60" growled Neil. his voice thick.
Never mind your old man. If he
squawks, I'll get dad to shut him up
quick enough" Neil took pride in re-
minding her that Dan Carroll was not
his own man.
1t was o'clock before the cream
colored car vaulted out from the drive
/ down the post road at full speed. The
ride back to town was an interval of
stark terror for Cathleen. Twice they
were stopped by traffic officers. The
first officer apologized when he found
out who it was that was driving the
car with such wild recklessness and
merely advised Neil to take it easy
For his trouble he was consigned to a
place more sultry than New York in a
heat wave. The second officer handed
Neil ticket, which was promptly torn
up and thrown into his face.
Ken was right" Cathleen thought
clutching her hat in her lap. Neil is
not only bully. but a Backyard as
we'll" She wondered if her hair was
really blown from her head or if it
merely felt that way. A pebble thrown
up by the wheel struck and stung her
cheek. Her eyes ached from the wind
After to what seemed TO her like
hours, they at last came to a grinding
quivering from its mad flight. There
was light in the sitting room on the
second floor. Her father was waiting
for her again. She could see the cur
tains drawn cautiously aside as she
stepped from the car.
Good night, Neil" she said, trying to
keep her voice from shaking from the
emotion of all that she had been
through that evening. Why hadn't she
, made it goodbye" For she was de-
termined now that she would never GO
out with Neil Nielsen again-no matter
what her father said.
When Cathleen reached the top Of the
, dimly lit stairs the door Of the sitting
| room was open, but the room was now
dark. Whoever had been there had
turned out the light. Her father, OF
| course. He had seen who 1t was that
brought her to the door and was salts
fed to hold his peace.
She was too exhausted even to hang
up her clothes. They lay, rumpled
heap on the floor. She fell into bed
/ and into a troubled sleep that was q
Kaleidoscope of terriers.
In the morning her mother Weakened
her to say that Neil was on the phone
insisting he must speak to her at once
Tell him 1 can't speak to him, .
Cathleen said, rigid with the memory
of the night before.
"Cathleen." her mother insisted. you
get right up out Of that bed and talk
to Neil. What would your father sayl"
II don't care what he says" Cath
leen cried, sitting up, and bringing her
small fist down on the bedspread. II
don't care what he does! won't see
Neil"
Mrs. Carroll began to whimper, rock
ing back and forth in dismay.
You know your father'll blame me-,
, she mosned. You know he'll shout at
me and say haven't brought you up,