The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-04-07
CHAPTER 21. FIRM GROUND


 FIRM GROUND
 Miss Lee had not noticed Kit tvs agitation.
 She was enjoying herself im- menSely; to talk even with a pre- tense of intimacy of such people as Margery Crosby, and the Idyl- lers, had for her as pleasant a taste as the Chefs salad T don't care much for amateur things, but I'm going to the first show. I like to see who's in the audience, and it'll be a smart one. That's the way fix these people in my mind, you see. This Somerset $ coaching them. He may be a good actor, but I cant say I like his looks, do you?"
 Kitty looked at Paul Somer- set. He was lean, dark skinned, heavy browed, with black hair which he wore plastered back from his prominent forehead. He was 1eisurely finishing his meal, appar- entity urdisturbed by Carols de- sertion.
 No, don't like his looks" And Kitty was thinking of Carol of Carols face as it had looked when she left the table. Carol had said she had nothing she wanted. Did she want Paul Somerset? And if she did there was Marge to reck- on with. Gar had laughed over the way Marge was giving this fellow a rush.
 The old alien feeling swept over Kitty, for Marge and Carol, all of them, and then almost at once it left her Why. now she had escaped then-she'd found firm ground for her feet to tread.
 T think I'll let you take charge of the display after this" Miss Lee was saying.
 The next Sunday Kitty, leav- ing the house for breakfast, paus- ed on the top step to draw in a long breath of the sun-warmed air.
 Usually on Sunday she met David at the corner restaurant to eat breakfast with him, to daily over the meal, talking to him, to drink a second and often a third cup of coffee stood off the emptiness of the long day, Now she found him waiting at the ta- ble which they called theirs by right of usage.
 He rose quickly to greet her, The concern with which he all ways met her took note of her lighter step, little glow on her face, a softening of the too-set lines about her face.
 Did you ever know such a day?p she asked gayly as she eased her. self in the chair he drew out for her. q wish I had wings-Td fly to a hilltop know back home ? Her whole heart was childishly, In her voice.
 David smiled at her as if she was child. We can go without wings. Not to your particular hill- top, but to one that's particularly mine, if it'll do"
 "David You mean to your lit tie house?"
 s'Yes. There's a bus that goes within a half mile. Will you mind walking?"
 'fOh, I'll love it. What a dall- ing you are to think of it. to know how much I'm longing to see real country again. Can we take q picnic lunch? Can we start at onee?"
 And you say you're grown up
 T feel young today. It's-but I'm not going to tell you now I'm going to save it. Oh, David I'm happy again. Did you guess when you saw me?" He nodded He'd seen that she was happy perhaps shed heard from him But he didn't want to know just now.
 You'd better eat some break fast. Then we'll go around tc your room and get an extra wrap It may turn cold before night This warmth is only one of the weatheiman's jokes"
 Might not Dorcas like to go?' she asked after a moment, but with such lack of enthusiasm that she had to explain, laugh ingly. I'm selfish this morning | v