The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-07-23
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS
Q Kathleen Norris
WNU Service.

ties. Sometimes after their late
dinner at home they would slip
downtown for some music, for
the last acts Of a play or the final
run of a good film. But almost al
ways they were at home in the eve
ming, Quentin glad to smoke his
pipe, to 60 early to bed; Vic happi-
lest when she was within reach of
any call from the nursery. Other
women laughed at her, perhaps pit
led her a little. She never pitied
herself; she was supremacy content.
1--WE like each other" she told
him on a certain Sunday morning
when they had been six years man
and wife, and when an unusual lull
in domestic and professional inter-
ruptions had by chance afforded
them lazy hour together.
Victoria looked enviously at the
comfortable peninsula homes they
were passing, for by this time the
day had somehow rushed about to
one o'clock, and Quentin was driv-
ing her and the three older children
down to Menlo Park. There was a
skull fracture to be diagnosed at the
hospital, and after that the Har-
distys would go to lunch with the
Gannetts. Mrs. Gannett, whose own
doctor husband had summoned
Quentin to this emergency case, had
Hospitality insisted upon the lunch.
1t needn't be until two o'clock; she
had beds upon which the small fry
could take their maps; please,
please, please come; they never
saw the Hardistys any more!
They were at the hospital. Vic
and the children walked about on
the grass while Quentin was inside.
Then he came down again, and DR..
Gannett came down, and the Har-
distys were to follow the Gannett
car.
Their way wound up into the hills
near Woodside; they were presently
being welcomed by Mrs. Gannett on
porch; everything went just as
such days always went, doctor talk,
nursery talk, spring Sunday talk.
Vic was alternately Sproud of her
children and anxiously exasperated
about them; nurse walked them
away with little Betsey Gannett,
and there was lunch, a delicious
company lunch with chicken and
asparagus and beaten biscuit and
strawberries, and several nice
neighbors to share it. Then all the
men went to play golf on the club
links hundred yards away, and
some of the women played contract.
Victoria played neither, and she and
her hostess sat talking together.
'Vic, you mean you're that way
again!"
September. 1 rather hoped you'd
not guess"
"Guess! A child in arms would
know. How old, in heavens name,
are the twins? Are they a year old
YETI"
"A year! We've just had our
second birthday celebration.
"Well, honestly" Mabel Gannett
said, 81 think it's dreadful! Going
in for perfectly enormous family
these daysl With Quentin as stun
ming as he is, and all the women
mad about him"
"Oh, that!" Vicky said indiffer-
emily, as the other woman paused.
And then, just before the Har-
distys went home at five, the odd
thing happened.
Victoria had led her troop up
stairs for last wiping of small
faces and buttoning of small coats;
these operations we'll under way,
she had gathered Susan under one
arm, Susan's brief legs dangling
from her hip, and preceded the 9TH
ers downstairs, to reassure the wait
ing Quentin as to everybody's be-
ing "just about ready"
There was wide lower hall in
the Gannetts' house; a hall now
filled with soft late-afternoon light,
and empty except for Quentin; the
cheerful voices of the hosts, saying
farewells, could be heard through
the open porch doorway.
Victoria had reached the landing
and was about to call to Quentin,
obviously and patiently awaiting his
family, when another person came
into the hall. She came from the
direction of the dining rooms;
slender, graceful woman-almost
girl, though the voice was a wom-
ans. 1t was al voice low with re-
proach and pain now, and as she
spoke she put her hand on QUEEN
tins arm. Victoria, halted on the
landing, had an odd feeling of
amusement, a surprising feeling
that was something like fear, as she
watched
Quentin" the woman said clear
ly, but in a low tone, show can you
be so horribly unkind to me?"
Victoria saw Quentin look down at
her from his big height; saw the
good-natured smile in his eyes.
"Am horribly unlind to your"
he asked mildly.
you're killing mel" the woman
answered passionately, with a little
rhnla II, hor x10ioo