Evening star., 1934-06-17
CHAPTER XXI.

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mel of the week.
~ Sunday, to Rose, meant waking
to a dawn of rose and purple
glory. to the sweet discord of Ginning
church bells and the sound of the
BaSsett's lawnmower across the street.
A dawn that was to usher in day OF
leisurely peace, doing the homely, small
things she had always wanted to do.
To be able to launder Kittens little
garments on a real table, rather than
on the inverted bureau drawer which
had served as an improvised ironing
board throughout the exigencieS OF her
hotel existence. to be able to prepare
the child's baked potato, her cereal
and the little glass dishes Of green
vegetables she so soreley needed, was
to enter door she had begun to think
was closed to her forever. To Rose,
whose dawns had for so long been
those of unrest and apprehension, of
sordid railway stations, and Sordid,
narrow streets, the timeless peace of
the little river cottage seemed almost
too good to be true.
1t was the kitchen she loved best
with its row of shining pans, bought
in the local five-and-ten store, its neat
yellow jars above the stove, labeled
Tea Coffee" Spices Flour; its
gay window curtains, with their
checkered, crisp folds.
Kitten, on the morning following the
dance at the club had gone riding
with Lottie and Mr.. MertZ. Rose had
been glad to have the little thing out
of the house . glad of a chance to
be alone in the sunny room to
think and try and bring some order
out of the chaos of her mind. A
chaos that during the long hours of
the previous night had threatened to
engulf her beyond her depth.
She had the cookbook propped ur
in the sunlit window and the egg
beater whisking under her deft fingers
when a shadow fell across the floor
She knew, without moving, that it wa.
Larry. Something within her stiffenec
to meet the ordeal of turning to face
him.
He stood in the kitchen door, smil.
ing little; the old, quizzical. detached
smile, yet with a sort of boyish shame.
facedneSs about it that tugged at hel
heart, even as her anger mounted
Even his hat. which he usually wore
at such droll angle. hung in a limp
detected heap from his hand.
Getting breakfast-or lunch?" ht
asked, miserably polite. Ten in 6
sudden impulsive rush of words q.
Gee. I'll bet you hate me, Rose!"
Come in, Larry" Quickly Rost
laid down the spoon in her hand, de.
toly 81, +1L ~, =
chair that faced his own.
Rose, listen-I've not come here tt
explain anything to you . there:
nothing to explain-it was just one oi
those things; but do want to tell yo,
how sorry I am why, wouldn'
have had that happen :" Larry!
voice trailed away miserably. and II
the blue eyes meeting her own was 6
mute plea for forgiveness.
T-Bone, for once hanging discreetly
in the background, seemed to sense
that this was a game for humans tt
play, and that just now it was not hi.
move. He stretched his lazy length or
the porch outside the door, and re.
lapSed instantly into a coma.
What do you meant was 'one O
those things?' I don't think I quit,
understand, Larry?" Rose asked tn,
question worriedly.
''Well-you know how it is-on
party OF that sort-experience," h
concluded with sort of determines
fippancy. being what we ususliy ge
while looking for something less ex
penslve." Then, with sudden chang
of tone, startling in its intensity: Lot
tie tells me you came home with JEFF
Therrold?"
At the mention of that name. Al
the aggrieved note in Larrys voice. thu
f1ippancy with which he seemed bent
on treating the whole thing. sudder
anger flooded the girl. An anger com.
pounded of her own hurt and disap.
pointment in Larry himself, of the
bitter, crowding memories of the eve.
ming before, of the long hours she hac
lain awake waiting for daylight-fol
some sort of sanity to return.
Experience!" Rose sprang from he,
chair, confronting him with hot eyes
DO you think that's all last nigh
meant to me? Do you think" sht
stopped, her lips twisting wryly. hel
hands clenched by her sides. "Yes
suppose you would call it that" sht
said. If experience means losins
faith in some one you'd grown to be.
lieve in with your whole soul-if il
means losing friend
Larry's reaction was so startling thai
for moment the girl stood motion.
less under his strained, compelling
gaze.
1T isn't all that it meant to me
either. Rose" he said slowly, in SC