The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-06-18
CHAPTER II-Continued

Victoria spent somewhat be-
wildered yet happy Easter vacation
there, exploring all the garden paths
and all the big rooms.
She came back to California at
another Easter time, eighteen years
old, and ready to graduate with her
class. Her mother met her in New
York, and they made the transcon-
tinental trip together.
Ten weeks later Victoria's hand
some bags were packed again, and
she went down to the Chalmers
place for the summer.
The beautiful Chalmers house was
open to summer breezes and filed
with summer flowers; the Chinese
butler, discreet in his purple and
blue silks, motioned her upstairs.
Another Oriental took her bags;
her mothers maid, who had crossed
the continent with them few weeks
before, met her at the top of the
stairs. Vic asked to see her mother.
Magda was in her magnificent
bedroom, large airy apartment
f1anked by an enormous bath, by a
complete dressing room, by an avn
inged upper balcony.
Victoria found her m 9th er
stretched on a couch by a window;
she was not reading the magazine
she held, and her eyes were absent
and Redeemed a little from recent
tears. At the sight of the girl she
began to cry again, and they
clasped each other closely.
"My darling, you're home at last!
If you knew-if you knew how I've
wanted you'll" Magda sobbed. She
instantly regained control of herself
and smiled with trembling lips,
Strengthening the collar of Victoria's
blouse as the girl knelt beside her.
s'Was it all wonderful" she said.
set was perfect. And at the end
we all cried because we weren't
all going to be back in September"
Victoria laughed. "But, Mother
dearest, you're not well?"
"I've been feeling-wretchedly.
Something" Mrs. Manners said
hesitantly- something rather hor-
rid happened last night, and Ferdy
was arrested" Her eyes filed
again, she Strengthened the collar
again. sit was all rather horrid,
and it'll all be forgotten this time
next week." she said cheerfully.
$50 let's not talk about it"
Arrested Victoria echoed,
aghast. "Why-what happened?"
'There was an accident. I don't
know just what happened" Magda
said, her eyes watering. cit was
all so horrible He had been drink
ing, of course, and he was driving
May Finee home-they were both
in the car asleep, right near where
the smash was
'sWho were?"
eff it had been anyone but May"
Magda sighed. However, they say
the poor fellow'n get well, and
Ferdy can stand the damages. He
was all smashed up, the man they
ran into, and it's a miracle they
weren't all killed. But if he'd been
with anyone but Mayl"
'sWho's she?"
"Oh, she's cheap little idiot ]
used to know years ago-May
Smith; she married Tony Feeney
and divorced him and spent few
weeks in Paris, so now she's Ma
dame Finee,' and she can hardly
remember an English word
"And does Ferdy like her?"
Magda looked at her daughter
ruminatively, answered mildly.
Rather. And of course she's
making passes at Ferdy."
'Oh?" Vicky said. It was the
old atmosphere again.
''Or rather, at the Manners mon
ey, which is very stupid for me"
Magda ended the subject cheerful
ly. Stupid, that's what it is, for
Ferdy'd never look at anyone like
Mayl And now tell me more about