The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-17

led the way into the living room. She fixed a cushion on the sofa, and bent to pick fallen book.
 Then she smiled at Marvel. Her. face felt stiff, but she knew the smile looked all right. "How kind of you, Miss Hastings!" she said T never dreamed you'd want me. l expected, of course, it would be some friend you'd known long time"
 Dwight was twirling his cap. Judy turned her eyes on him, mercilesSly. But of course-if there's no one else you might ask--no one but this girl who couldn't come"
 He burst out, T wanted you, Judy. You've always been so swell to me"
 "Yes," said Marvel. "1t was Dwights idea"
 "I'd really have to think about it. said Judy slowly. "1'd love to of course-but there are so many things D Her voice trailed off. She despised herself for the cool ness of her voice, for the lies she was telling them But every lie was barbed. Marvel knew that Judy would turn her down. Maybe Marvel had known all the time. Maybe this was just her own idea of having a little fun with the queer Navy girl Dwight had been interested in.
 Judy went into the hall, murmur- ing, T must tell Mother" and she struggled with her inward rage for second before she entered the kitchen. Mother" she said, Dwight and Marvel have asked me to be their maid of honor"
 Her mothers worn, but still beau tiful, face mirrored surprise. Judy patted her mothers hand swiftly. T don't want to, darling" she said. But you tell them. Tell them l can't"
 Dwight rose to his feet punctili- ously as Mrs. Alcott entered. How are you, Mrs. Alcott? You're look ing we'll"
 Thank you, Dwight" she said. He had called too many times for her to abide by the formal Lieu tenant" She greeted Marvel with that graciouSnesS which was so lovely part of her social gifts. Judy felt proud of her then. But she was always proud of Mother. The thought came to her that even if Dwight ever reached the rank of admiral, Marvel would never grace his position the way Mother graced Daddy's.
 Mrs. Alcott was saying, How kind and sweet of you to ask Judy, Miss Hastingsl But on such short notice, I've had planned trip" She smiled. Beside, Lieutenant Hanley has been trying to persuade Judy to take little jaunt to Pensacola, and in that case, she couldn't be back in time"
 It was polite, meaningless, the refusal that Mother knew so well how to give. But at the mention Of Jacks name, Judy felt her hands shake. Mother was so wise. Her kind eyes saw everything. Maybe Jack had even told her, before Judy got home from the shopping trip with Diane, that he wanted to take her to Pensacola. The more she thought of it, the surer she grew. He had told her.
 But she wouldn't speak of it to Mother. They were very close, and yet there were some things that lay between them unspoken. Judy felt, sadly, that Mother wanted her to accept Jack. Mother had seen Dwight only a few times before she recognized his inherent climbers spirit. And Jack-Jack was the sort of officer Daddy had been.
 Dwight and Marvel left soon aft erward, murmuring the proper things, and Judy stood at the door with her mother and said, You must come and see us again." But she wanted never to see either one of them as long as she lived.
 
 The door closed. There was sf- lence in the house. Judy said, slowly, Thank you, Mother"
 Her mother looked at her very directly. Judy, I wouldn't have permitted it under any circum- stances" Then they went into the living room together, and Mrs. AL colt said. Come here, puddn." That was Judy'S baby pet name. Tears stung her eyes. She wanted sud- denly to throw herself into her mothers arms and sob. Everything was so complicated. So cruel. If she could just bury her face in Mothers breast and tell her all the doubts and fears which tormented her. Even now-even now, as he rode back to the hotel with his flancee- she loved Dwight so much that it was tearing her apart. She loved his eyes, and the way his hair grew. and the big, blunt fingers that had twirl- ed the gold and silver eag1ed cap. He