Evening star., 1936-07-04
CHAPTER vi,

then. She stood up, slim and
n dark and beautifully formed
L n She clicked open a diamond
studded case and lit long green
Turkish cigarette and inhaled deeply.
A cloud of smoke circled her lovely
head like misty veil.
Then she said SNUG little smile
tipping up the corners of her mouth:
well. don't stand there gaping at
me like that! Really, I'm not
ghost! Aren't you glad to see me.
Lee? And who is this blond infant
with you? No-don't tell me! See If
I can guess! She's Patsy Warfield,
isn't she. and she threw over per-
fectly splendid young scientist and an
operatic career for you. didn't she,
dear?
That's too, too dreadful. 1 mean
for her-now that I've changed my
mind about divorcing you. Lee. You
see, I dropped my suit. My lawyers
went into a frothy dither over it,
rolled on the floor and foanled at the
mouth and told me didn't have bats
brains to withdraw it just four days
before I'd be free. They were perfect
fiends about it! But you see, got to
thinking about you, Lee. 1 visioned
you heartbroken and lonely and un-
cared for. $3.50 l came back and
here I ami"
Patsy went rigid. Kitty's words
lay upon her like frozen sun. like
death In her soul. She said: But
but you didn't-you couldn't have
done that! You're just joking-try-
ing to frighten mel" Her vioce shook.
Kitty laughed softly and exhaled
another cloud of gauzy smoke. Then
she looked at Patsy with sweetly
calculated, slightly indulgent smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my dear" she purred.
Il know just how difficult this is for
you. For us all! But believe me, I
shan't say one word about catching
you with my husband tonight, and
you can 60 back to your scientist and
your singing and
Lees eyes suddenly blazed His
face turned livid and his jaw became
a grim line. He was white-lipped
and violently angry He snarled be-
tween clenched teeth: Cut that, Kit
ty. You've had your say and now Ill
have mine. We're through. do you
understand-through? Nothing on
Gods earth could make me live with
you again."
Then he turned quickly to Patsy.
"Come on. dear-I think I'd better
take you home"
Kitty hurried across the room to
Lee then. For one second her face
was no longer beautiful to see. All
the youth drained out of it. leaving
her 80 years showing plainly in the
lines around her eyes. the drawn
crescentS above her mouth, the very
faint puffs beneath her lower lashes.
Her pupils became SO dilated that her
whole eyes seemed black and hot
She laid a OBTAINING hand on Lees
arm and said: "Lee-aren't you for
getting a night in December-"
"Lee!" Patsy cried. What is it?
It's about us, isn't it? Its"
He faced her. Stricken-eyed, some
how utterly defeated. His shoulders
sagged. his head, his hands, even his
long splendid legs seemed shaken.
He put his hands on her shoulders
and his fingers dug into her soft
flesh. He said. looking deep into her
wretched young eyes: Patsy. while
was q midshipman at the academy I
married Kitty You know what the
regulation book says-'Any midship-
man who is married or shall be found
to be married shall be dismissed from
the academy
You've got to believe that l didn't
break my oath, Patsy You've got
to-! I thought Kitty was putting on
a mock wedding. Afterward she
showed me the license-told me We
we're really married. All those who
saw thought the ceremony was fake
except the minister. who, l under
stood, was just another member of
the party. He must have thought it
the crasiest ceremony he ever per-
formed.
For days lived in a hell of in
decision. Should 1 resign from the
academy-should I tell the superin-
tendent? Because I was only 19 and
infatuated as only a young boy can
be, couldn't humiliate Kitty. And
! couldn't give up the Navy, either.
All my life I'd planned to go to the
academy. 1 can't remember time
that I wasn't dreaming about it and
praying over it and studying for it.
There's never been a time when the
Navy wasn't in my blood"
In a brief and brilliantly horrible
spasm of understanding Patsy cried:
"Oh-Lee! Lee! You'd be court
martialed for that if they knew
Hol1oW-eyed they stood looking at
one another Lee said. searching her
face: you don't hate me for that,