The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-17

Yet the Inevitable questions kept
popping into her mind, pounding
against her brain.
And at last. wcarled. she resigned
herself. admitted they could not
be dlsreEarded forever.
They must be faced, answers
found.
Had she been a fool7
Did these women know things
that she had been blind TOT
Were they laughing al her. pity.
Ing herr
Was Neal actually interested In
Bette Ollycr1
Keeping rendezvous with her.
II wasn't an lmpossibIlity.
Such things had happened before
She shuddered as thoughts heaped
Into her mind OF other women who
had gone bllndly ahead. loving
sdorlng. not even suspecting their
husbands of fa!slty
Only 10 the end 70 have the hurt
more poignant. more lasting
There was dance that night at
the country club
All the Afternoon Tea women
we're there with their husbands.
Bette oliver was there. and a
dozen other unmarried women.
II WAS a KAY affair
Darthea had always been n little
proud 10 think that the women who
attended the country club dances
were infatuated wlth her handsome
husband.
she liked to think that he was
hers forever and ever and that she
was enyled.
Tonight II was different
She followed him with her eyes.
She watched his every move
ment
She tried 70 stlae the hurt when
she saw him dancing with other
women. smiling into their faces.
She tried not 20 notice that he
seemed to enjoy being with Bette
Oliver.
She fought against sudden knowl.
edge that his attentions 10 her. his
wife. were dutiful.
And when toward the end % the
evening she saw Neal step through
the french doors on the veranda.
saw Bette oliver follow moment
later. II was with a uasterful at.
tempt NJ self.control that she with.
held a scream
She could not resist the impulse
10 follow. 70 satisfy the burning
curiosity that was eating AZ her
soul
She left her partner abruptly,
rudely; sklrted the dance haii.
gained the veranda through a door
al tbs far end OF the room
II was a beautiful summer night.
The great expanse OF golf course
that fell away at the base ot the
veranda was flooded with set. sll.
very moonlight
A section OF the veranda. the end
near which Darthea s,ood. was IN
shadow.
She saw dim figures leaning
against the ralllng-a man and a
woman.
Darthea slid along the side OF
the building. nolselessly. suppress
Ing her breathing.
She heard whispered voices-and
then abruptly her blood froze.
The girl was Bette Oliver!
There was no mistaklng that
baby-like profile. etched as Il was
against the bright moonlight be
yond
Darthea clutched at her throat,
felt suddenly weak and sick.
Then IL was truel
Mrs. Metcaf and the other WON
en- had been laughing nj herl
Neal-her Neal-was false,
Seized by a sudden. uncontroll-
able fury Darthea suddenly sped
across the veranda.
There was no definite purpose In
her act. no recognizable emotion. no
desire other than 10 satisfy a priml-
tive instinct by clawing at the face
OF this brazen huzzy who had robbed
her OF faith.
At the sound OF her step the
couple near the railing turned.
Darthea came upon them abrupt
ly, reached out and felt her hands
entwlBed In the golden blond hair
OF Bette Oliver. and knew a great
feeling OF satisfaction.
Then and only then did she look
toward the man.
And In that single instant n great
weakness and nausea claimed her.
She wavered. gripping Bette's
hair more securely for support; felt
sudden relief and shame and guilt.
For the face OF the man who
stared at her was that OF hen
pecked Gene Metcalfl
Characteristic of Birds
Birds are like people. says A