Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-02-25
IN THREE PARTS-PART THREE

IN THREE PARTS-PART THREE
Christina felt the blood race to her
cheeks and she turned her head 50
that her wide hat would hide her
face. Nothing. Nothing that would be
possible to tell you"
He took her hands in his. but we
are friends, Christina. Close friends.
Don't you feel the sympathy that I
feel between us? That there is nothing
we could not confide in each other?"
Friendsl She drew her hands violent
" away as If his touch burned her.
/ Pain in reason she could tolerate
but not this irony Of a touch that was
ecstacy to her and nothing more to
/ him than the touch of the flower he
I had been holding. Don't DO that" she
exclaimed In a choked voice. Don't
do 1t ever again"
I'm sorry-dear," he said simply.
Il should have known. I understand"
What Is 1t you understand"
He smiled at her. the same warm
look as usual Of friendship in his face.
THAT 1t win still be a little while be-
fore you can feel normal about human
relationships Of people
and their affection for you-especially
Of men,"
It was like a hand Of ice laid for an
agonizing instant on her hot longing
heart. She said when she could trust
her voice-''it is dear Of you Stefan TO
understand me So"
He did not speak again for a long
time, and she heard the bees droning |
in the hot high silence. But she thought |
II don't care. I shall go on seeing |
him. An hour of being near him is |
worth a lifetime with any other man. !
He took pencil and a tiny note
pad from his flat shirt pocket, wrote [
on a page and handed 1t to her. This
is my town address. Christina. Please
don't go away from Austria without
Itch. gently beautiful, even little
splendid. would like to be the one
to show it to you"
you are going soon?" She took the
precious paper.
ALIAS yes-there is work piling up
for me. have already stayed too long,
She said steadily when the sum
ner is over viii come"
Today she refused his invitation to
walk down to the Gasthaus. She was
J little tired, she said, and 1t was too
ar. He did not insist. She sat on her
high place watching him descend, his
all graceful figure diminishing on the
teep path and finally disappearing
lie passed out of sight Christina stared .
It the place where he had disappeared,
ceiling her soul drawn after him out !
# her body.
She got up and walked across the
meadow till she turned the flank of 7
he mountain and stood looking at /
he white Wendthof with its wide panes
glass glittering below her. There was 6
Ter one chance Of happiness. That 4
nan down there could give her back
he lost radiance that expressed her q
rue personality. Then she would go to a
Jenna and something marvellous might
appen. Stefan might stop seeking for
ne woman of his dreams-might real u
,e he had found her.
A page boy took her in to see the E
octors' secretary. Fraulein FEEDER was 81
gray-haired woman with a fresh d
Ink and white face. Christina talked W
, her, growing calm and confident
nder her reassuring manner. Il want
make an appointment for a consul al
tion with Herr Doktor." "
The secretary was regretful. I'm "
Irry, Fraulein, but DR.. Wendt does 81
1t see new patients here"
81 will 60 to Vienna then. If you viii "
II me when can see him." vi
Fraulein FEEDER consulted thick en- CO