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

OWAl StSLGE.
The girl looked across at him,
handsome and brown, and quite Sc
rious, in the soft fire and lamplight,
and her heart gave an odd twist,
physical plunge of emotion. Her
throat thickened suddenly, and she
felt silly and confused. But she
gave no sign of it, and before either
she or her host spoke again the Up
hams arrived, in a gay furry of
apologies, and after that everything
was smooth sailing.
The two women were RELOCATED
to the south alcove, drew their cur
tain, and proceeded with their UNI
packing and changing to lively
exchange of gossip. Dora was go
ing to have baby in six months;
nobody knew it but Chase, but they
were tremendously excited. Vic
was all sympathetic enthusiasm
here. There might be some ques-
ton in her heart and mind as to
wifehood, but motherhood was all
joy.
"Oh, Dora, envy you'll"
Pm terribly happy about it."
isn't this fun, being over here
together, and just ourselves!"
II adore this shack. We had our
honeymoon here. And isn't he
darling? Vic - listen -" Dora
paused.
"Oh, shut upl" Vic said, deny
ing the impeachment before it was
voiced.
mo, but listen, don't you think
he's darling?"
CDR. Hardisty? Yes, do"
"If he liked your"
''There isn't the slightest chance
of it, even if you continue to broad
cast your romantic suspicious all
over Mill Valley!" Vic began. Dora
sank her voice to whisper.
"Just the same-They can't hear,
their showers going" Dora said.
"Just the same you'd be an awful
fool not to marry him if you could,
Vic" "H
"I'll never marry anyone" Vic
said, putting on blue apron, Gun
til I'm foaming at the mouth about
him. And I'll never foam at the
mouth about anyone, for before I
reach that point, I'll take my little
throat indoors and cut it. So don't
worry about mel"
Trinity equipped, they went out
to the kitchen, where the younger
doctor was mixing something liq-
uid in a small pail, and the older
one busy with salad.
They all worked together, getting
in each others way, getting more
and more hungry as the clocks
hands slipped from half-past six to
seven, from seven to eight. The
boy carried the steaks into the shed,
where they were to broil on char
coal fire. Victoria sampled the salad
on bit of cracker.
"That," she said firmly, sis the
most delicious salad I ever tasted"
1t was long and delightful meal.
Presently they carried their cups
to the fire, and Mock Suey cleared
away the table, and still nobody
made a move to 60 to bed, and the
logs burned on, and the level
branches of the redwoods swept
across the low roof in the restless
wind of the spring night.
"You girls going to freezer"
"Believe me, we have our hot
water bottles" Dora said firmly.
Victoria, raising her eyes with a
sleepy smile, met Quentin Hardis-
tvs steady look, and was disturbed
to feel herself flushing. But when
she and Dora finally did drag them
selves off to the raised platform
where their beds were, and had
drawn the canvas curtain against
the warm sitting room and the fire,
she was conscious of a sort of
dancing excitement in her veins.
This was all such funl
There was a rattle at the curtain
rings. Victoria put her head through
them and found Quentin Hardisty
standing close to her at the other
side.
Victoria's hair had been gathered
to the top of her head in mass Of
careless, tawny curls; her young
face was rosy from heroic washing
with scented soap, her eyes danced.
Here are two extra-things," the
doctor said a little confusedly.
They're stone hot-water bottles;
some people like 'em. Anyway,
they'll keep hot until morning"
"Oh, God bless you, mister!" Vic
toria said, the curtains parting as
she put out her arms to show her
slim body in square, blue-striped
pajamas open at the soft young
throat.
"You look like a DOLL" the man
said in whisper.
Victoria stood still, her throat sud-
denly thick. She smiled at him
confusedly.
you're lovelyi" Quentin said. He
laid his hand on her arm. Good
night" he said, and somehow the
familiar little word was not a fare
well. 1t was everything quivering,
thrilling, amazing, breath-taking.