The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-25

1 the upper windows; rugs were be- ing vigorously shaken. | s. T do like Mrs. Merser, she said to herself. wonder why Daddy was so stiff about herl Usually he makes a fuss about q pretty Bertine had been inclined, as usual. to discourage any connection with the Mersers.
 They want to get in with the right crowd, that sort of peOple,y Bertine had said in he assured tone that always irked Katharine. Just be polite but don't encour- age them.g
 Usually aKtharine didn't bother to argue with her stepn1other, but this time she had lifted her voice in protest.
 TT don5tf think Violet Merser wants to get in with anyone. she said indignantly. "Why, she knows all sorts of people in the city who do important things and writers and that sort of thing. Why on earth should she want to know any of us?"
 AAtAAAA JOAp you very much, {" Bertine had said stiffly. We all know what you think of Innicock. And yet I must remind you that some of the most splendid people, the finest names in the country, are here.' = Bertine had gone on in this vein for some little time and Katharine had listened with a mutinous face It was always like this. she re- minded herself angrily Whenever she found a friend of her own, whose pedigree had not been in- vestigated from to izzard, Ber- tine would be sure to put in a med ding finger.
 T hate her." the girl decided, whirling her car recklessly around the corner of the River Road. She would go to see Mrs Merser again, no matter what her stepmother said! She had decided that
 a
 The barns and outbuildings of Michaeps place were now in view, and Katharine's heart began to beat thickIy. furiously. How stupid of her! She had been keep ing at bay. all the week, the mem-, ory of Michael's visit in that little upper room at the Merser house. She had been trying to tell herself that his muttered, My darling!" had been the merest figment of her imagination. But the sum of all this thought had been to make her extraordinarily self-conscious about seeing Michael again. Now the very memory of his slow, reluctant smile, the laughter wrinkles about the corners of his gray eyes seemed dim and, far away. She must cling to her remnants of dignity. She must not, by any possible chance, let Michael know she was attracted to him. He would despise her. Hadn't she read that, hadn't she ben told by Bertine and others that men hated being pursued. Isabel, the litle manicurist, could quite frankly suggest to her Bill that the playful circlet of string be replaced by a plain band. But she was Katharine Strykhurst, cool@and assured e and self sufficient. She could never. never let a man know that she cared for him. Until, e. course, he spoke first .1
 And Michael Heatheroe was a nobody. Bertine would be sure to designate him as Ian upper sery- ant"
 What was it John Kaye had said? Don't let Bertine get your goat" But that was it. Bertine had dominated Katharine for years; it was hard to. break the habit of obedience, of tacit sub mission to the older woman's will.
 Katharine caught her breath. A man had ridden out of the lane! His crest of reddish hair gleamed. in the sunlight, He wore brooches and an old blue jersey.
 ITO Re COntinuedl