Carbon County news., 1937-07-02
together for one of lies. happy.

They climbed straight up the
great shoulder Of the mountain;
stopped, painting and flushed, to gel
their breath and to look down on
the sparkling world; went on again.
The sun was hot on the singing
blue February morning, but the
ground under their feet, especially
when the trail went into the woods,
was soaked and slippery from re-
cent rains. Quentin gave her his
hand; she slid against him; they
both laughed.
Reaching the summit Of the spur
with the dark blue rise of Tamalpais
high above them, they sat upon
sun-Warned rock for a while, look
ing down, breathing in the aromatic
sweetness of the still, clear air, list
ening to the cries of 1arks all about
and the occasional scream of jay
or chatter Of a chipnunk in the
chaparral.
When they started to slip and
slide down, the going was infinitely
easier, especially with the tree
smothered brown goal Of the cabin
roof right ahead. ViclSy and Quen-
tin came back to the cabin at one
o'clock, breathless, ravenous and
weary.
Once again the quartette that
gathered about the table was in
gala mood. More than once again
Victoria told herself that this was
one Of the good days, this was one
Of the satisfying times!
But just after the leisurely meal
there was an interruption. A car
came up the circuitous bit Of road
way to the porch with the speed of
familiarity. Quentin's expression of
Mortified expectation, at which Vic
toria had been laughing, changed to
one Of odd embarrassment, of some
thing like faint annoyance-like
qualification.
'tIt's Marian, it's Mrs. Pool" he
had time to say under his breath
before he went out to welcome her.
"Oh, help!" Dora commented,
disgustedly. Victoria said nothing.
But the glory, the content Of the day
instantly were destroyed. It was
with a sense Of dullness, a vague
feeling of hurt that she entered upon
the requisite moving of chairs and
shifting Of places to make room for
the newcomer. Marian Pool, lovely
in the smartest of sportwear, came
into the room with a rush and stood
with her head tipped a little on one
side, alphabetically smiling at them
all.
''Oh, you're having a partyI Oh,
how shameless of mel" she said.
''But why on earth are you eating
at haH-past four o'clock? Sit down,
everyone-do sit down, DR.. Upham
here, everyone sit DOWN."
They all sat down, and Victoria
saw the expression on Quentin Har-
disty's face. He saw nothing but
Marian.
''We're all driving up for supper
at Maud's," the newcomer said.
''I've dropped Sally and George in
the village to see the Cushings. It
occurred to me that Quentin here
had entirely forgotten that he prom
ised to be at Maud's, and I told
them I'd come up and get him. It's
the golf thing, Quentin, and after
ward a big supper at Pete's."
"Sure; I hadn't forgotten" Quen-
tin said, in a lazy, smiling voice.
His eyes caressed her.
"You did tell me you had house
partyl"
1--WE didn't know 1t ranked as a
house party, did we, Dora?"
81 beg pardon?" Dora stam-
starting.
''You don't remember me, Mrs.
Pool?" Victoria said, in the dread
full moment of silence when every
one stirred and smiled, but no one
had anything to say. Victoria Her
rendeen-down at the lodge, years
ago?"
"Oh, frightful, don't remind me
Of those ghastly days." Mrs. Pool
said lightly, her eyes on Quentin.
'That was before, all bushes and
confusion, ! got my divorce! cried
all day, when I was first married,
and danced all night when got
my divorce. I mean I really did,
Quen." <*-
The dullness, the wearisome stu
pidness Of it all deepened. Vic,
from the moment her eyes had first
fallen upon the visitor, had known
that it would.
'tShe is beautiful-perfectly beau-
;iful," Victoria said to Dora, when |
hey were gathering brushes and
Jars in the bathroom. /
''I don't see it," Dora answered |
'tubbornly, and Victoria laughed
without much mirth. To deny Mar |
ans fiawless and amazing beauty |
would be to deny the mystery Of the |
;tars, the glory of an apple orchard !
n the spring. It worked upon men /
ike an irresistible anesthetic.
Vicky and the Uphans were swift
ind brief In their fareWells. The
,irl admitted she was tired; the !
lays happiness, cooking, tramping, |
making fires had not tired her, but
La,.o xxync mn rhr.ad NJ fho falioif1y