Evening star., 1936-01-05


He went below to appraise the dam
age, came on deck again. Kay was
whistling softly to herself In the fog.
He lowered the tender and turned
to face her. "Well, are you coning?"
he demanded.
"oh, are we going somewhere?" Kay
asked.
Naturally" he said.
Then Of course I'm coming" Kay
assured him. WHITTIER thou, goect,
Bob .. - She smiled and drew
near, and he looked at the white
duck trousers, the oilskin Jacket she
had worn against the fog.
"Well change our Clothes" he de-
cided. "Well 60 the rest Of the way
by land!"
And he went below and presently
came up with his own bag. go get
ready" he directed.
Ten minutes later, discreetly clad,
they were in the tender; and he
began to row into the harbor. cropping
his way through the fog. He made
arrangements with a local ship car
penter to float the Lark at high tide,
repair her damage, sail her to Boston
Then. with Kay quietly at his heels
he sought a garage and hired a car
At dusk that evening they came back
to his fathers house on Beacon Hill.
Mrs. Dakin had surprise for Kay
and Bob; but when she told them
what she had done she appeared to
be unconscious OF the fact that they
would be surprised.
Il knew you wouldn't want to stay
here with U.s." she explained. THAT
is never wise. to have in-laws under
the same roof"
She had taken on their behalf a
small furnished apartment on Bay
State road. you've seen 1t, Bob.
she said. THE Terrills'. They're 60
ing abroad for the Summer; or rather,
they have gone. and Sarah Terrill
said they would like to let it. I thought
it an opportunity too good to miss. u
She spoke to Kay. I'm sure you'll
like It, The windows look out across
the river"
Kay saw the blank dismay in Bobs
eyes, and she. said quickly: "Of
course we will"
Mrs. Dakin seemed to assume that
there was no least suggestion Of i'm
permanency about their marriage.
The Terrills won't be back till Sep
tember," she said. so you'll have
plenty of time to look around for an
other place, decide exactly what you
want"
Bob said in a harsh tone. broken
by pain and distress: Mother, you
know darned well we're not not
going to -
Mrs. Dakin-Dr. Dakin was not at
home when they arrived-waS silent
for a moment, as though she caught
her breath. Il thought, since you
went away together . :"
II went because Kay wanted to"
Bob declared.
And Kay said gently: "But we're
going on for a while. We thought,
Mrs. Dakin, that IN few months
people would begin to forget. I don't
want to subject you all to too much
publicity. BY and by we can be di-
vorced more quietly"
Mrs. Dakin seemed pale and tired.
In any case. you will want the apart
ment," she returned. Then you and
Bob can-make your plans without
being affected by outside influences. +"
Kay touched her arm. You and
his father aren't outside influences. "
1T has sometimes seemed as though
We were" There was in Mrs. Dakin's
glance toward Bob no reproof, but
merely an acceptance Of the fact.
Bob perforce submitted to the ar
rangement she had made. He and
Kay established themselves in the
apartment by the river: and Mrs.
Dakin helped them, and at Kay's
invitation she and DR.. Dakin stayed
to the dinner which Kay herself pre-
pared. Kay watched them thought
fully, seeking to discover what their
attitude might be toward her; and
after they were gone, she said to Bob:
II can't understand your father and
mother. I don't know what they want
us to do"
Bob nodded. "They are that way"
he assented unhappily. They have
been, more or less. ever since was
a boy. Father has left me to make
my own decisions. He's never driven
me, or urged me- I knew he wanted
me to be surgeon: and suppose
that's why I-started in that direc-
ton. Then the work did interest me,
so I kept on" He shook his head.
II remember. when I started medical
school, saying to him one day that
wanted to do well, and he asked
why, and I said to please him. He
told me not to consider him. He
said, that day: I've done my part,
Bob; given you what opportunities
could. You make what you like out
Of them, but If medicine isn't where
you belong, don't stick to it on my
account. What you do with your life
Is for you to decide"
They've made you stand on your
own feet" Kay agreed.
t1C 81 lAAllCu luCluLlys VIC WOUUlCu
pretty badly sometimes. he confessed.
Kay neither assented nor denied.
He and Kay settled that Summer
into a routine for the most part un-
eventful. Most of the people they
knew were out Of town. at the shore
or in the mountains, or in Europe;
so there were not many social de-
nands upon their time They saw
Pat Norris and Felicia; and Kay saw
Genevieye often. She said to Bob one
night:
"Genevieve's like your father and
mother. Bob. I mean, she's-neutrall"
She smiled at him TITS as II they
we're all bound to let us fight this out
;ogether, without any interference"
Il don't intend to fight YOU Kay"
he told her. He hesitated, said then
slowly: II was pretty sore, when we
came back from Maine. But-IM
play the game. Things are going to
be the way you want them. and when
you want them. Is that fair?
Fair and fine, Bob" she agreed.
Fair and finel"
This was one of the few occasions
when they had any personal talk