The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-09-24

ry about, the Wnole tnlng. III nor
ribly sorry. l blame myself en-
tirely. / don't think we thought
what we were getting into, how
horribly rotten the thing wasi"
1--WE knew that we loved each 9th
er. Some of those first days." Sc
rena said, "ah, weren't they heav-
en-? We were brave, then, we
weren't thinking all the time of
what the world would say. Vicky
knows something, of course" she
added, "but she doesn't know every
thing. She doesn't know that l
went twice to Los Angeles with
YOU, lover; she hasn't seen any OF
your letters"
There was a silence, during which
Quentin looked at the darkening
strip of western sky up beyond the
hills; his brows knit, his jaw set,
his hands damned into his pockets.
you're forgetting Spencer"
Quentin observed dryly. Serena took
instant hope from the words.
Lover" she said, she may not
be a problem long. He's taking
that sleeping stuff all the time. l
told DR.. Cudworth the other day
that it made me anxious, that some
day he would sleep too deep and not
wake up. / did really-I went into
his office and told him, because l
thought, If anything happened,
some day Spencer may not wake up
at ALL"
"You're making this so horribly
hard, Sina." He put away the in
sistent arms. 81 tell you it's all
over. Goodnight" he said almost
inaudibly, turning away. She fol-
lowed him swiftly, caught at his
arm.
"Oh, no, no, no! You can't do
that. You can't just say goodnight!
When can see you, Quentin? l must
see you. We must settle this!"
cts settled" he said, briefly.
"Nothing's settled" she said
breathlessly. "Not one thing is set
tied! l can ruin your life, Quentin;
l can tell Vicky everything"
eff you want to talk about it, al
though it seems to me we've said
everything there is to say" he COM
promised unwillingly. Seren a
drew near to him again eagerly.
"But remember I've got to take the
Keats children homel"
"Quent, Serena Morrison is ex-
tremely anxious to get hold of you,"
Vicky said calmly, few days later.
He and she were alone beside the
evening fire in their little upstairs
sitting room. The doctor had been
reading some scientific article in a
medical magazine, had finished it,
and was lying back in his chair,
his arms locked behind his head,
his stretched legs crossed, his eyes
half closed Victoria was working
at the flat-topped desk just behind
him. Bills, receipts, checkbook, pa
pers of all sorts were scattered be-
fore her; she made notes with a
very sharp pencil.
81 think 1 am going to come out
event" she had announced some
moments earlier. And then, con-
tentedly, "This is pleasant, isn't it?"
but to neither remark had Quentin
made any reply. He had shown no
interest even when the telephone
bell had trilled, except for a glance
toward Vicky and faint shake of
the head, and Vicky had duly an
.,o,,1ood ~ 4bo ,,pcoo,, cyaoLoY. fhof
the doctor had gone out for mo-
ment.
But his distracted mood some
how only accentuated her happiness
tonight; these had been wonderful
days, the days since his return. He
and she had been closer together in
every way than they had been for
long time. 1t had not been only
that Quentin had been gentler, or
kinder, or more generous than be-
fore, but he had been curiously,
dumbly devoted, wanting to be at
home, seeming to love every min
ute of his life there, quietly contriv-
ing to re-establish himself in the
children's plans, to contribute to the
happiness of them all.
Life would simply be heaven if it
could go on this way!" Vicky, feel
ing herself pleasantly capable over
her bookkeeping, had been think
ing to herself when the telephone
had rung a second time. And aft
er having for a second time dis
posed of its claim, she had observed
mildly: "Quent, Serena Morrison is
extremely anxious to get hold of
you"
That reused him. He turned his
head to raise dark brows knitted
in a faint scowl.
WAS that Serena?"
Eyes. She must know often ini-
tate Anna" Victoria said thought
fully. "But I can't help it. I don't
want to talk to her."
Telephone often?" Quentin asked
with a little effort.
Lately, yes. She's called about
five times today. She usually says
that she's anxious to see you, but
y 90 C~Axa