The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-07-09
CHAPTER IV-Continued

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"Better than that" Victoria said
HWe've put it aside-we expected
this
She went away and presently,
when a maid had preceded her with
a card table and silver and glasses,
returned with laden tray.
''You looked very charming with
that baby in your arms" he said
abruptly. Victoria and he were
alone now; the men had had their
supper; the fire had burned down
low during the weary, comfortable
talk that had followed, and presently
a ringing telephone had taken the
doctor to his study, and Mrs. Keats,
murmuring something like, ooh,
dear, I must tell him" had fol-
lowed him.
He had seen her with Bunty in
her arms, had he? The unexpected
blood rose to Vic's face.
"Any man would be glad to come
home and find such a scene at
night" the man said.
well, would he?" Vicky coun-
tered. "Violet and l have just been
having an argument about it.
say that nurseries and Nanas and
hearth fires have all gone out of
fashion. That isn't what men want,
any more!"
'Only proving that you don't
know anything about men," the doc
tor said. 81 didn't think you did!"
''Most men would much rather
have wives who are curled and
dressed and painted and ready to go
out at night" Victoria persisted,
annoyed in spite of herself by his
lazy air of complacency, and warm
ing to her subject. "Men aren't
crazy about Violet, because she
lives for her husband and the chill
dren."
"You may be little bit cracked
on the subject of love and mar
riage," DR.. Hardisty said. "But
you're amusing"
''Do you think I'm little bit
cracked on the subject of love and
marriage?" Victoria demanded in
surprise. "There are plenty of
bachelors about. Is it so extraordi-
nary that now and then a woman
likes to play lone hand? I have
my work, my housekeeping /
want. Why should l add to it all a
man I don't want?"
Because in your heart you know
that you do want mani"
''You think so?" Vic asked, her
face red.
81 do" Quite suddenly, quite SIM
ply his arm was about her and, for
the first time in her life, man
kissed her on the lips. "There!"
he said and laughed. In another in
slant he was gone.
Seriously, and all this teasing
aside, would you come over to the
shack for Saturday and Sunday?"
he asked her few weeks later.
Instantly she knew now that she
ought to say no. But the tempta-
ton to yield was strong. For, after
all, his was the most fascinating and
popular figure in San Franchises
social circle at the time, and week
end invitations to the shabby little
cabin in Mill Valley were eagerly
sought.
Mill Valley would be thrilling!
After all, Quentin had shown that
he regretted his greatness, and
when he was in one of his nice,
simple moods she liked him quite as
much as she detested him in his
other ones.
All this flashed through her mind
as she hesitated over the invitation,
smiling.
"You said I would, you know, and
Wilt" she told him, simply.
"And ] think you are sport!"
he answered, in his pleasantest
manner. It'll be rough, you
know"
II can be very rough. Only /
don't go in for cocktails and staying
up dancing to the radio until morn
ing" she began.
Nothing like that. Rough means
that / have only one Chinese boy
there and he doesn't know much
about cooking, and that the chief
entertainment will be long climb
up the mountain on Sunday"