The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-04-15
CHAPTER vII-Continued


Nora pondered, that Don, sleeping so
peacefully beside her-Don, who UNI
derstood people so well, so quickly,
shouldn't have known by instinct
that to 60 so far away while the
black cloud of her fathers anger lay
between them, would hurt his wife.
Yet she was glad, too, that he
hadn't guessed, thought Nora. with
all the inconsistency of woman. Why
mar his happiness in the adven-
ture? If she could keep stiff upper
lip till they were once away
"Nora-are-are you awake,
dear?"
Don's voice was cautious, as If
he feared to rouse her, and Nora
turned.
II thought you were asleep your
self, Don."
II wasn't! I've been lying here
thinking-trying to see the thing we
ought to do. know what's trou-
bling you,i dearest. I knew this
afternoon, only l wanted time to
think a little before I spoke. It's
your father, isn't it? You hate to
leave him?"
ooh, Don!" breathed Nora, turn
ing her face into the shadows. She
must not cry. He mustn't know how
much she wanted to.
He said, gently: II understand,
dear. It's only because he is still
angry. You're afraid something
might happen to him-that he might
need you when you couldn't come.
Isn't that it? If you were friends the
parting would be so different. It's
the terrible misunderstanding that
makes it hard. I was a durnbbell
not to see it sooner, Nora. Why
didn't you tell me?"
"How could II"
Don managed little laugh which
broke the tension.
"You couldn't-you being yourself
and I being I! But you should
have, Nora. AS see it, marriage
is sort of compromise. We can't,
either of us, expect to have our own
way eternally. But until this after
noon I didn't imagine for one min
ute that you weren't crazy for an
Italian winter. You're better ac-
tress than I thought, my dear; and
in the future I'll have to watch my
step! But it's never too late to
change our plans, you know. That's
one of the reasons LIES so thrill
ing. And I've been thinking about
the West. There are places"
Nora sat up suddenly, drawing
his head down against her breast.
eff you think that I'll let you
She was crying now. Somehow
Don raised his head and got his
arms about her. He said, with
more unselfishness than truth: '.But
/ won't mind changing-not a little
bit! There's lot to interest us in
the Southwest, and you've never
been there. If those tears will help
you, Nora, why keep right on, but
they're almost killing me! As was
saying"
Then Nora laughed. It was an
hysterical laugh, perhaps, but it
cleared the atmosphere.
"You can keep on saying things
all night" she told him, "but we're
sailing tomorrow. Once we really
get away I shall feel better. Have
you forgotten those articles you're
going to write for that London edi-
tor? Have you forgotten you've a
family to support? OF course we're
going to Capri" With every word
she was getting back her courage.
Sand besides, wrote Dad we were
sailing. ! thought perhaps he'd
come to the boat, Don. Don't-don't
you think he might come to the
boat?''
"He might" Don echoed; and to
himself: "How can he stay away?
How can he hurt her so? How can
he?" Yet somehow, he knew in
stinctively that Morals father was
not yet ready to forgive.
They sailed next afternoon, a
bright, clear, sparkling day that
cheered Nora immeasurably, de-
spite James Lambert's absence
from the scene. Standing beside
the rail, her eyes searching the
thronged pier hungrily. hoping I'M
til the final whistle sounded that
she would catch glimpse of his
familiar face, the girls mind went
back to her last sailing. She saw
again the crowd of youthful friends
waving farewell-Ned. moved by
one of his rare impulses Chose i'm
pulses which made him almost low
able) arriving breathless with box
of roses-kissing her like real
brother And her father-dear
Dad! trying so hard to put a cheer
full face upon this parting she knew
he hated-saying: "Don't-stint your
self, Nora" CAS- if she ever hadl)
Remember my London bank
ers If you need money" CAS- if she
wouldn't!) T. BE careful about
the drinking water in those filthy
places" (To Dad all Europe was
unsanitary) !. ''Be sure to cable
as soon as the boat docks"
It all came back; and suddenly
Nora was conscious of a great lone
liness. Her carefree girlhood
seemed left far, far behind. Ahead