The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-13

| fast passed. Berthe said some
thing about missing the rolls fol
lunch the day before, and Katha-
rine came out of her trance ia
stare at her stepmother 81 ct 9
perfect stranger.
what did you say, Berthe 2"
II said that Cook was furious
when the rolls didn't arrive yes
terday. We waited and waited,
Victor" said Berthe, with that
infuriating smile of hers, "and
this girl. never showed up. Nora
willis was here and there wasn't
thing but whole wheat bread
in the house. You know Nora hates
it"
This went on for some time.
Katharine, breaking bits of toast
and arranging them in a geomet-
rical pattern on the pink Spode
plate, paid little heed. Berthe was
trying to irritate her, trying TO
goad her into some sort of explain
alton. But this particular morning
her stepmother's jibes simply could
not reach Katharine.
Her father grunted over his
newspaper which he had folded
back to the financial page. The
telephone rang In the study. Kath-
arine could hear the jAngling of
the bell and every nerve in her
taut body responded to the sum-
mons. Any moment now Ellen
would call her.
But 1t was only Leonard Willis,
making a golf engagement with
her father.
Her heart raced and slowed
again. Not for her.
The morning droned past. Mi
chael must be angry with her
she must have been too repressive
in her manner when he called her
last night. Oh, he'd have to learn
to understand her better-he'd
have to see 1t meant nothing when
she was cool and standoffish. She
had crawled into her shell for SO
many years that 1t was hard, all al
once, to break the habit. And she
loved him SO terribly!
At last, unable to bear the
silence further, she got into the
car and drove over to the riding
school. Tips was in the yard, feeding
some chickens that fiuffed about on
the bare earth. He looked up ex-
pectantly.
Nom, Mister Michael, he ain't
come back, miss" Tips white teeth
showed. PA, he thinks it's mighty
funny. He went Off las night soor
after those men left. :"
Went orr" Katharine stared at
him.
"Yes'm. He say he goin' to New
York, and he say for Pa to lock
up. This morning when ! goin' to
call him for breakfast, sure enough
he amt been back"
We'll, thank you very much
Tips. No, I won't make an APP
pointment to ride just now"
Katharine went back to the car
Automatically her fingers turned
the ignition key. She started tbs
motor, drove off almost blindly.
Michael had gone awayl He
hadn't let her know. What In
heavens name did this mean?
Had he told her the truth wher
he said those men could not pos
sibly bring evil tidings to him
that his slate was clear? Sh,
would have staked her life yester
day upon his honesty, but this ney
development brought terror to he
soul.
What was she to do? Their,
was no one she could tell, no on
she could turn to now.
Or was there?
Violet Merser's wise, kind, gen
tie face came to Katharine's mind
In spite of her instructive distrust
her impulse always to stand npoi
her own feet. she was drawn tr
resistibly to this new friend.
Violet was in q basket chai
under the apple trees, knitting
pink sweater for Sybil. "How mic
to see you! We've been missini
you" Then her keen perception
told her something was wrong
my, dear, what's up? Can I help?'
Katharine sat down and tn
whole story poured from her lips
She held nothing back. Viole