The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-06-18

They came back to California In
December, and Ferdy came back
for Christmas. Little was said Of
the feminine element on the yacht
ing trip, and the three spent the
holidays in a splendid suite in the
Fairmont hotel up at the top Of the
hill with the green iron balconies of
their breakfast room hanging over
the fascinating tumble of masts and
stacks and long pier roofs on the
Embarcadero. Ferdy now said that
he thought he must 60 back to Ro-
sarios for few months. He thought
Magda would be a great fool to 60.
It would be hot travelling; and she
hated the place anyway.
An unusually long period OF affec-
ton and placation resulted in April
in Magda's decision to 60 with
Ferdy to South America.
Victoria told her mother she was
going to stay in California. Well
because Catherine and Mrs. Brock
were going up to the lake again,
and wanted her. Well-and because
she really would like it-like it bet
ter. She might come down to Ro-
sarios later, all by herself. But
but really she would like it better
this way, now.
Magda was gently hurt, puzzled,
Ferdy smiled, but Vicky knew that
he was furious. She held her
ground, good-natured and affection
ate, but not to be moved. In the
end they left without her, and Vicky
and Catherine went up to the lake.
A week later, when she and Cath
crime were sitting down on the lake
shore one day, Victoria told her
the reason:
Catherine, cross your heart and
hope to die if you ever tell anyone
this!"
81 do" said Catherine solemnly,
suiting the action to the word.
sit was he," Victoria said.
"Who? Your stepfather?"
"My stepfather nothingl" Vicky
echoed, repudiating the relationship.
''He - Catherine, if you ever tell
anyone this I'll never speak to you
again!-he followed me into the sit
ting room one night-we'd all just
come home from movie-and
kissed me and crushed me against
him."
Victoria was at the dock, in the
fine soft November fog, to see the
big ship come in; the Empress Of
Panama was on time; at exactly
one minute before eleven o'clock
she drew up alongside, and all the
excitement of landing began.
Then mother and daughter were
in each others arms, and Victoria
was laughing.
"And how's Ferdy?"
"Ferdy-" Mrs. Manners glance
returned from the luggage and fixed
itself upon Victoria. "Ferdy is
Just the same-as ever"
"And when does he get here? Or
does he go to Paris? You were SO
vague!"
mo, here. When the Loughbor-
oughs' yacht does, whenever that
is" Mrs. Manners said, in the same
tone of pleasant Indifference. "And
now, is car here, and did you re-
serve my rooms?" she demanded
gayly, as the customs formalities
were concluded and she could pick
the Pekinese from Victoria's arms
again and accompany her along the
pier. Don't tell me it's going to
be freezing like this"
"It's been actually hot, until to-
day. This is just fog" Victoria ex-
planned.
Maid, dog, parrot, bags, they got
into large waiting car at the En-
barcadero, Mrs. Manners talking,
as is the custom of returned trav-
elers, of the amusing steward on
the boat, the races at Havana, of
everything unimportant and incon-
sequential. They were driven rap
idly up the steep hills to the big
hotel; everything going with the
smoothness of custom; Victoria'S
mother had been arriving and de-
parting in just this manner ever
since her second marriage five
years earlier.
Soon Victoria and her mother set
tied at luncheon beside the fire.
"Well, this is fun!" said Magda
then. "And now we can talk. You
look so well, Vic, and you're really
handsome. Really you are! What
have you been doing with yourself,
tell me everything, you got my
wires?"
you're the one with the news"
she said smilingly. Nothing has
happened here. Miss Butler put me
on night duty last night-only the
second time, and I'm dead! had
breakfast at the hospital at seven,
and had to clean up three bath
rooms, and stopped on my way
downtown to leave my bag here"
"The hospital!" Magda echoed
aghast, not hearing the rest.
you've been I'LL"
Victoria's smile was reassuring.