The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-29

| ii all gong wrong was or course
that there were always other WON.
en-. His wife was only to wear the
Jewels and be introduced to all the
business friends, big German and
Spanish cattle men, scores Of
theml The wife is fgurehead after
the first year. If she has sons, and
keeps the peace with his family, and
forgives him everything, the man is
pleased with her If she gets tenn
peramental, tries to assert herself.
he is annoyed But he goes his own
way just the same"
Victoria looked thoughtful. her
fine dark brows drawn together.
You oughtn't to stay here"
Where" Magda asked simply.
fought we go?"
The summer idled itself into au-
tumn, and Victoria and Magda went
down to the shore again. This time
| they had the SmarteSt cottage at
the lodge, and the beautiful Mrs.
| Manners was much admired and
entertained. Mr. Manners, she ex-
planned to everyone, with a flash
of white teeth, was fishing for steel
head up in the Klamath. Every
hostess told Victoria's mother that
she had wonderful man" for her
as dinner or bridge partner, but
Victoria noticed that Magda found
none of them really wonderful.
In October Ferdy went off on
somebody's yacht for six weeks. He
seemed little guilty about it and
gave Victoria a large check 40
waste in New York" Later she
suspected that his twinges of con-
science were because the yachting 2
, trip that he had mentioned as in
volving only "a few fellerS" actually
included the owners wife, another
woman, and the ubiquitous May.
Magda did not know that, or Vic
toria believed and hoped she did
not
They came back to California in
December, and Ferdy came back
/ for Christmas. Little was said of
; the feminine element on the yacht
ing trip, and the three spent the
| holidays in a splendid suite in the
Fairmont hotel up at the top Of the
\ hill with tho uraop iron ho1cOpiac ~
their breakfast room hanging over
the fascinating tumble Of masts and
stacks and long pier roofs on the
Embdrcadero. Ferdy now said that
he thought he must go back to Ro-
sarios for few months. He thought
Magda would be a great fool to go.
1t would be hot travelling; and she
hated the place anyway.
An unusually long period of affec-
tion and placation resulted in April
in Magda's decision to go with
Ferdy to South America.
Victoria told her mother she was
going to stay in California. Well
because Catherine and Mrs. Brock
were going up to the lake again.
! and wanted her. Well-and because
she really would like it-like it bet
ter. She might come down to Ro-
sarios later, all by herself. But
but really she would like it better
this way. now.
Magda was gently hurt, puzzled.
Ferdy smiled. but Vicky knew that
he was furious. She held her
ground. good-natured and affection
ate. but not to be moved. In the
end they left without her, and Vicky
and Catherine went up to the lake.
A week later. when she and Cath
crime were sitting down on the lake
shore one day. Victoria told her
the reason:
Catherine. cross your heart and
hope to die if you ever tell anyone
! thisi"
Il do" said Catherine solemnly,
suiting the action to the word.
at was he" Victoria said.
who? Your stepfather?"
My stepfather nothing!" Vicky
echoed. repudiating the relationship.
He - Catherine. if you ever tell
anyone this III never speak to you
again,-he followed me into the sit
ting room one night-we'd all just
come home from a movie-and
kissed me and crushed me against
him"
Victoria was at the dock, in the
fine soft November fog, to see the
big ship come in; the Empress of
Panama was on time; at exactly
one minute before eleven o'clock
she drew up alongside, and all the
excitement of landing began.
Then mother and daughter were
in each others arms, and Victoria
was laughing.
And how's Ferdy?"
"Ferdy-" Mrs. Manners glance
returned from the luggage and fixed
itself upon Victoria. 'Ferdy is
just the same-aS ever"
And when does he get here? Or
does he go to Paris? You were so
vague!"
mo, here. When the Loughbor-
oughs' yacht does, whenever that
is" Mrs. Manners said, in the same
tone of pleasant Indifference. And
| now. is car here. and did Won re-