The Coolidge examiner., 1937-10-21
CHAPTER XIII-Continued
-15-

tinued after pause.
What are we to do? Just 60 on?"
Quentin presently asked, looking up.
What else? AS far as she goes,
Vicky said, with movement of
her head in the direction of the Nor
rison house, shell gradually-well.
get over it. If you ran away she'd
follow you AS it is, she'll annoy
you for a while, and come over
here and break the news to me-"
Her voice died away into musing.
and Quentin raised his head and
stared at her strangely.
You're an extraordinary wom-
an, Vicky," he said. You can
talk about it. Don't you-don't you
care?"
For a full half-minute Victoria re-
turned his stare. Then she said in
a voice that trembled, that was
pitched very low:
"Oh, / carel Any woman cares.
I'm hurt in my pride and my faith
and my-my heart. 1t isn't ques-
ton of whether or not one cares.
It's only a question as to what one
does about it. / choose to do it my
way"
/ She got to her feet. stood looking
at him irresolutely for moment,
opened her lips as if she had some
/ thing further to say. But she
thought better of it. murmured in
stead a goodnight" crossed the
room and was gone. Quentin did
not look up when she moved, nor
answer her goodnight. After she
was gone he sat beside the dying
fire for a long, long while with his
head in his hands and his shoulders
| bowed.
In the next week for the first
time In years Victoria and Quentin
Hardisty, to the great satisfaction OF
those who loved them, were seen
| lunching together on the fashionable
Monday at the ST. Francis hotel.
They were together later at the re-
ception given to two distinguished
visiting physicians. Vic wore new
smart suit of blue banded with gray
fur. infinitely becoming to her warm
brown coloring, and a dark blue
hat. On the gray fur violets were
pinned. who gave me the vio-
lets?" Vicky said to DR.. Austreich-
ef, Quentin, of course, and he
brought me the suit and the hat
from Paris. Don't you think that's
having a husband!"
Vic, you know you've grown aw-
fully pretty" John Keats told her.
"Wha: have you done to yourself?
Had your face lifted?"
mo. l discovered shade hats and
freckle cream last summer" Vic
answered, laughing. 1T seems in
credible to live to be thirty six
without having had the sense to use
them beforel One dollar a jar for
treckle cream, and before I'd used
nalf of il began to see a great light
iawningl"
Yes, but you've done something
else, toe. New clothes?"
This Is the outfit Quentin brought
n-ze, hat and all. l adore it."
Maybe it's that you're rested,
Vic. You've been going like steam
roller all these years"
II don't see how it can be that,
Johnny. I'm always at home, but
I'm not exactly resting"
How is that little scamp" John
ny Keats asked, rightly interpret
ing the sudden softening of her
voice, the sudden shadow in her
eyes to the thought that was never
TAR Yrcm Martins mother.
Hes adorable Quent's put a
nurse in for few weeks" Vicky
said gallantly. 1--WE have our be-
loved Brownie back-Miss Brown
ing you know, who's taken care OF
me with all the children She's
keeping an eye on Mart, just tenn
porarily."
Good ideal" Johnny said, as
Quentin came up to claim his wife.
He beamed approval on them both.
I've been telling Vic she's getting
awfuhy pretty" he said.
"Vic," Quentin said, looking at
her msmilingly. He put his hand
under her arm-''how about beat
ing it? I think we've done our du-
ty!"
She's got him back and pretty
smart work, too" Johnny Keats
said to his wife. ''I wonder what
ever got into the poor old idiot?"
Got him back?" echoed Violet S
,ncisive British accents. "She nev-
er lost him. He just had one OF
those fatuous brainstorms that big
,nen get. They concentrate and
work and worry and run themselves
down, and some fowery by-path
tempts them, and they stroll into
itl But personally l shall never
forgive Quentin Hardisty, never
really like him again"
Come now, vi, you know you
love him for what he did for Kate! j.
"Ah, well. loving him, Johnny
Keeling grateful to him. that's quite