The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-01
ykxISsna0x Nveethedrfa By Mabel MeEllictt
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KATHARINE eTRXKHURST, / bcautiful, 20, becomes acuuaint- cd with MICHAEL HEATHE- ROE, riding teacher and acc knOwledges an unwilling aftrac- ton toward him. She is worried over the progress of an affair between ZOE PARKER, her best friend, and GIBBS LARKIN, of whom ZOe's parents disapprOve.
 Katharine and DIR. JOHN KAYE, friend of the Strykhurst family, take Zoe to a night club where she sees Gibbs with a no. < tOriOvls woman. Zoe threatens to Kill herself.
 That same night Michael is in-
 veigled into taking SALLY MOON, local cOquette, to the same place, Sally, arriving home late, informs her father that she and Michael are engaged.
 CHAPTER XVIII
 Katharine said very softly into the telephone, John, I wish you'd come 0ver--if you can get away, that is. Is there bridge or some thing?'
 She was at the instrument in the upper hall of the Parker house. Zoe was not 10 feet away. Gerda, for the moment, was with Zoe. Katharine had explained that Miss Zoe had splitting head ache. She wanted to call Dr. Kaye, but Zoe had protested.
 John said yes, there was bridge, but he could manage it.
 "Gracia - Mrs. McIlvane = just run in.' he said. Shell take my hand"
 In spite of her relief, in spite of her fear for Zoe, Katharine could not refrain from making a grimace. Of course, Gracia would be over! As soon as she knew John Kaye was in Innicock, Gracia had put on her prettiest frock, made up her plump face as seducively as she knew how and very casually happened in" at the Strykhursts'. Just like Gracia. And, if she could manage it, she would break her engagement to that nice army officer and marry John Kaye herself.
 She's years older than he is," Katharine said rather angriIy.
 She went back to Zoe's room. Zoe had refused to permit herself to be undressed. She was lying on the bed, her evening sandals, stained with mud and dew, drag ging the pretty coverlet awry. Her face was lead color. Her blue eyes, open wide, had a sort of dead look in them.
 Gerda asked if there was any, thing else she wanted. At a nega- tive shake of the head, the maid went away. Katharine sat down beside the girl.
 "zoe, won't you talk about it? It would help, maybe"
 Zoe twisted her small body about so that her face was again burrowed into the pillow.
 "Go away, why don't you? Leave me alone. Oh, I'm dying that's what it is. This awful feel ing .,. I can't stand it!' Sud- denly she sat up with one violent movement. clutching her head in her hands.
 T was going to marry him-do you hear? I didn't believe what people said, didn't care what he'd besn in the past. But now I've seen him with that = that devil. Now know how he feels. Why, he never wanted me for a minute. was fool. He was laughing at me-laughing all the time."
 
 Katharine did not try to stem suffering. It was dreadful to look upon the rawness and newness of the wound she had received.
 That's why want to die, Kay. You've got to help me. I can't-I couldn't live after this. Couldn't face it. The way he's been laugh ing at me. And that woman, too. Did you see her look at me, as if she was amused?"
 At the recollection Zoe groaned again..
 Katharine said, very gently, You made a mistake, dear. That was all. We all do that. And you're only 20. Do you suppose there Is single person of 40 to-day who can't look back on an early mistake?"
 "I'm through" Zoe said with finality. "Life-it's done for me, Kay. You didn't know-ah, you don't know. What wouldn't give to be like you! Nothing seems to hurt you.'s
 Katharine said. nothing to this. There was nothing one could say. Zoe was like deaf woman, a blind woman. She was aware of nothing but her own raw wound.
 There were steps on the stairs and Katharine, distracted by the