The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-22
CHAPTER I-ContinUed

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There was little boat waiting at
the pier just below the lodge; a
white little boat gushing blots OF
white dancing light onto the dark
water.
They're going out to that yacht
out there for dinner" Victoria told
her father.
"Oh, yes" he said. looking in
the direction of the lodge.
Dad. why don't you like going to
the LODGE"
well. for one thing 1 can't af-
ford il. Vic"
Can Mother?"
'Ah. but they ask her. They
don't let it cost her anything"
They give her dresses. too" Vic
toria said. thinking.
who does?"
Mrs. Lester did-that dark blue
dress"
Il thought she bought that at a
sale?"
mo; Mrs. Testers maid, Lofty,
brought it over in a box. And an
other blue dress, too"
They walked along in silence for
a while. Presently Victoria said:
We've had a happy day. haven't
we?"
I'm glad you have" her father
said. stopping to bend down and
kiss her.
Victoria had to sleep on the porch
cot that night. as she always did
when Dad was there.
In the night she wakened. and
heard their voices-her father s
and her mothers. Her mothers S
was almost inaudible. and had a
please hush" note in it with which
Victoria was entirely familiar. Her
fathers was not very loud, but
clear:
I'm not saying it's easy for you.
Magda. say it's simply your luck.
We had it-lots of it. And God
k..ows l didn't hold out on you then.
Now we haven't got it any more.
and that's your bad luck.
Silence. Ard then Mothers voice,
very low and gentle:
Keith. know how hard it is for
you. dear. And if you feel that way
/ simply won't go. But it does seem
a wonderful chance. We happen
we four, the Harwoods and Grace
Cuthbertson and Ito play a mar
velous foursome of bridge. and Col
lins-thats the brc cuts in now
and then. so it , IS it perfect.
They're only to be zone five weeks.
could get Victoria's things
Strengthened out. and ask Hetty to
get your dinners :"
There was another plause. Pres
eItly the man said:
"You have no further affection
no interest in either one of us. !
know that"
"Oh. please!" the woman's voice
protested mildly. Il suppose this
viii go on into the forties and the
fifties, boarding houses and Pine
street apartments"
1T won't be forever" Keith Her
rendeen said.
"Itll be Until I'm too old to
carel" Victoria heard her mother
say. Then there was long silence.
while the little girl lay listening on
the porch with her heart hammer
ing like a wild birds and her ears
strained. and her whole little body
tensed with fear.
Go. then" said her father out
OF the pause. They hadn't gone to
sleep then; the quarrel was still on.
"Oh. no; l won't go now," her
mother saidegently and sweetly, in
a normal voice.
Well. now l tell you to go, that
doesn't suit you!"
1t would be impossible for me to
go now" Mrs. Herrendeen muir.
INJURED fr--''~ IS if the whole mat.
ter were settled.
Nov. WAy 20 you want to act
like that about it, Magda?" the
man demanded, with a faint hint OF
uneasiness, Of change. in his tone.
Silence. Silence. Victoria heard
her fathers snore, light at first,
swiftly deepening. Her heart began
to beat more quietly. A night bird
cried in the garden; the sea rushed
and retreated on the rocks.
A whimperinG sob broke through
the other sounds; Victoria froze.
Her mother was crying; bitterly,
brokenly crying. and keeping the
noise of il soft, so that no one should
hear.
Victoria suffered as if from physi-
cal pain. The crying went on for a
io32 time; a clock struck one for