The Coolidge examiner., 1937-09-23

good-by!
Somehow, Quentin said, lost in
his own thoughts-"someh the
thought of her going in there and
laying her face against that shawl
well, it gets you'll l mean she's
nothing but little girl
And you're nothing but little
raw blind baby!" Vicky might think
hotly. But she never said it aloud.
No, he was in the grip Of a fever
now, and there was no saving him
until it went down. He could nei-
ther hear nor understand until then.
One day Vic met in the street
woman who stopped her with
smile. A pretty woman, but wear
ing too much rouge and powder,
hpstick and mascara, woman sug-
gesting a gallant retreat from youth
and beauty.
Marian POOL" Vicky said. Mar
ian was animated; the beautiful
eyes worked with their old fire; she
had an adorable cattle king" in
tow. MY dear, he owns half of
Brazill" she said in an aside, in
Producing copper-colored stout old
person who spoke only a stilted
English and used that almost entire
ly for labored compliments to Mar
ian. Marian was still beautiful.
Vicky thought; she was not much
more than forty, but ten years ago
she would not have wasted any time
on Senor de Raa.
Now she was working over him
industriously, laughing at his lame
jokes, allowing the fat paw to
squeeze her own pretty hands.
Watch me get present out Of
him. He shipped his wife and
daughters on the last steamer, and
he's going wild" said Marian.
drawing Vicky with them into
Marsh's beautiful shop. She called
the attention Of the cattle king to
the cabinets of jade jewelry. Vicky,
who had left Gwen with a dentist
for half an hours Strengthening of
teeth, looked interestedly at one of
the worlds finest collections of
oriental jewelry and porcelain,
brocade and teak and ivory, brass
and enamel A middle-aged sales
woman presently drew her aside.
Excuse me, madam, but did
your friend speak of you as Mrs.
Hardisty'?"
I'm Mrs. Hardisty," Vic said.
And your husband is DR.. Har-
disty? l thought so. There was
something l wanted to ask you.
This is very unprofessional." the
woman broke off in a tone of smil-
ing and eager apology. Vic could
only continue to look expectation
and surprise. You see," the sales
woman pursued, Christmas is very
close, and someone was looking at
a present for you in here yesterday,
and l thought :"
She had led Victoria into a small
adjoining salesroom where there
were a teak table and some chairs.
do sit down." she said, "and I'll
explain. Your husband was in here
yesterday looking at some of our
lovely things. and he picked one
out for your Christmas present.
Now, often when a gentleman does
that" Mrs. Mooreweather went on
confidentially, Il like to give the
lady just a little hint, when 1 can,
because sometimes, as we all know,
| tastes do differ, and when a present
is very handsome-and this is hand
some-it's SO easy to give a gentle
man just little hint, and say, I
think your wife would surely prefer
that and then she gets what she
wants, and we please customer"
While the amiable endless patter
had been streaming on, Victoria had
been smiling vaguely, hardly listen
ing.
Now, this must be a secret.
Where is that? l thought-oh, yes,
l know where it isl" Mrs. Moore
weather was saying, as she drew in
and out of their frames great deep
black drawers filed with silken
beauty. This must be little Sc
cret between you and me-" she ran
on.
Victoria did not hear her. Her
head was spinning, and her mouth
! filed with salt water. Her brown
hands were lying on the royal folds
of a white Chinese shawl
After a while she was out in the
street again, walking in a business
like way toward the White House.
The familiar shops and corners
went by her; flashing in winter sun
light and cold shadows, moving
with forms and sounding with the
horns of cars and the chip of feet.
Victoria felt dazed and weak; she
felt that her knees would give way.
"Oh, my God, my God, my God!"
Victoria said, half aloud.
She couldn't stand here like an
idiot; passers-by would notice her.
She walked irresolutely toward
Geary street, turned back. She had
had something to do-something to
do at three o'clock-oh, yes, Quen-
| tin had asked her what she wanted
for Christmas, and she had said
! that he would meet her some after