The Coolidge examiner., 1937-04-29
CHAPTER VII

Jim, in a rosy glow of optimism,
sprinted down the terrace steps al
the side of the house and through
the garden, taking shortcut to the
cottage. A figure detached itself
from shadows.
"Jim!" Cecily called, softly.
He halted IN the path beside the
miniature fountain, one foot threat.
ening a clump of ight-bloomins
stock. She came up TO him, laugh
ing.
I've been waiting for you," she
said. Forward of me, isn't it? It's
getting to be a habit" Her voice
was light, gay, excited. 1--WE nev-
. er believed in victims caught in
the tentacles of Habit. Maybe
there's something in it after all.
Jim, what did he say?"
Jim looked at her, mentally blink.
ing.
What did who say?" ne asked.
Father. You've been with him
all evening. Didn't you drop hint
about Jerry? 1 thought that was
probably why you were there" Her
hand, as light as butterfly, touched
the sleeve of his coat. Wasn't
it? Didn't you make single help
full SUGGESTION"
Several" Tim said. But they
weren't about you and your Jere-
miah."
jeremiah! l loathe you! No ]
| don't. You're teasing. You did,
didn't you, Jim?"
you're a self-centered young Ia
dy." Jim found it impossible to be
distant and unapproachable. The
rosy glow took care of that very
nicely.
who isn't?" she countered. But
if you weren't talking about Jerry
and me all those hours and hours
I've been waiting out here getting
soaked with dew and bitten by ear
wigs-What are ear-wigs, Jim?-
what were you talking about? Or is
it a secret? Something important
and masculine that l wouldn't un-
derStand?"
1T isn't a secret" Jim felt his
mouth stretching into grin. Luck
lily the night was as dark as
dungeon. Maybe she wouldn't no.
tice. Il was getting, fired" he
said.
THAT isn't true! Father doesn't
waste that much time on men he's
discharging. What has happened?
Dark as it is, can see how SNUG
and pleased with yourself you look.
Sounds terrible"
1T is" Sne stood very close to
him, her hand resting on his arm.
Thanks" Jim said, wanting to
cover her hand with his. prudently
resisting the impulse. 1T felt like
silly grin. If I'm not entirely re-
spectful tonight" he went on, put
me in my place. When an extra
man in and about the house is
elevated beyond his station, it's apt
to go to his head"
Tell me, Jim. Let's sit in the
summer-house. It's buggy and the
benches are damp, but l think we
can stand it.
I'm not sure that should" Jim
appeared to hesitate. ''IS it con-
ventional for you to sit in sum-
mer-house with the manager of a
riding academy? I'm little vague
about social distinctions.
"a riding academy" She
laughed. rs that what you and
Father are up to? Do you like tho
idea?"
tremendously. Jim followed
her to the summer-house built
about the stone foundation of
smoke-house at the END of the gar
! cen.
HAS Father taken over the place
on the Cherry Hollow road?"
Like Grant took Richmond" Jim
sat beside Cecily in the summer
house screened with vines. Your
father is swell" he said with en-
thusiasm. 4 hope l won't fall down
on the job"
"Oh, you'll make a success of it,"
Cecily assured him. Just the sight
of you on horse will bring the
debutantes f1ocking in sWarms and
yearning ladies on the verge of
| spinsterhood and ladies whose hus-
bands don't understand them"
They sat on the bench in the
summer-house, smoking companion
ably, talking, sharing the intimacy
of laughter. Jim could scarcely
distinguish her features. Her dark
dress of some filmy material melted
into the shadows. Her face, her
arms, her hands, moving in charac-
| teristic gestures, were pale in the
darkness, as thick and soft as plush.
Her voice, low and silken at times,
light and gay, her voice and the
springlike perfume she used, were
all that identified her as Cecily-
that and her effect upon Jim, the
reluctant admiration he felt for her,
the protecting concern she had
awakened in him the night she had
talked of Jeremy Clyde.
ITO BE CONTINUED