The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-06-04
CHAPTER l-Continued


.
"Do you play good bridge, Moth
err" Victoria asked, to tighten a
certain heaviness in the silence that
had fallen in the room. She was
washing herself now, busily and eff
fectively, the muddy soap squeez-
ing in great firm suds through her
fingers, her wet straight tawny hair
dripping on her shoulders. She took
a comb and dragged the damp locks
back severely.
Nov take your fingers and soften
that around your forehead, VIC
Yes" Mrs. Herrendeen said, jerk
ing another pillow under her head.
II do play good bridge"
"Does Dad?" asked Vic.
"He doesn't like it. Nor dancing.
Nor night clubs Nor big cars and
yachts and distinguished persons.
Nor anything l like" Magda might
have answered from the sense of
checkmate, of complete bafflement
in her heart. But she said only the
first phrase aloud. For the rest she
lay there thinking. watching her
husbands face.
Victoria and I'll take care of
each other" Keith said, in a hard
voice.
II could telephone and say I'll be
up after dinner" Magda offered.
what good would that do?"
"Well, that's just it; no good.
They aren't dining until nearly
eight. 'Eightish, Sibyl said. You'll
be all through here by seven"
"We'n take care of each other. +"
Keith said again. r, ~.
'"There goes the dinner BELL" Vic
toria said, leaping from rock to rock
beside him. "Goodyl Are you hun
cry? I'm starving"
"Mrs. Herrendeen coming to din
ner?" Emma said, giving them
their napkins and setting two
glasses of cut fruit before them.
mo. she can't come tonight"
Upon their return to their room
Immediately after dinner, Vic and
her father found Victoria's mother
all ready to go. Her manner was
the prettily careless one that dis
guises in a beautiful woman sud-
den touch of self-consciousness.
81 wonder you'll speak to me for
being such runaway" she said
to them with her appealing smile.
She was always gentle; Victoria
had never seen her mother harsh
or angry.
"You look lovely, Magda," her
husband said. He said it without
enthusiasm, almost YEARLY, as he
sat down. The lovely vision stopped
to kiss his forehead. She caught up
the familiar wrap. Victoria had
seen her catch it up a hundred
times; it was her only one, except
for the two shawls. And Mother
said shawls were not really smart
any more.
And now she was giving to Dad
and Victoria her familiar good-by
laugh and nod, an excited, triumph
ant laugh and nod, as if she said,
''Now that I'm all ready I'm not
scared; anyone who looks as do
must have a good time!" and she
was running away.
There was young man in light
overcoat outside the French win
dows; there always was. And there
was a rakish low car waiting in the
drive; that was always there, too.
Mother met the one and ran down
to the other, and there was the
roar of deep engine. and she was
gone.
Dad and Victoria went out to the
front steps and sat there in the
soft summer night.
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 l can't af-
ford it, 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,