The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-06-21
CHAPTER X-Continued

you're IN nne form COnlgnt, Ia
briella." Connie Belmont fluttered
her long lashes at them across the
table. "If Pete wasn't your cousin,
I'd be wall-hower too"
John turned to Gay.
"Will you dance with me?" he
asked quietly.
Her eyes, brilliant with animation
for the others, clouded as her quick
upward glance met his.
''I'd like to-" she said and rose
as he got up to pull back her chair.
Excuse me-" she said directly to
Robert Cameron and, silently, at
Johns side, walked to the edge of
the dance floor.
She was light in his arms. He
scarcely felt her hands, on his Shout
der, in his hand She held herself
at little distance from him. He
could not see her face, only her red
brown hair, brushed smooth tonight,
bound with a narrow bandeau of
dull gold leaves. They circled the
floor in silence. Then John said:
cts nice party"
eyes, isn't it?" she said and was
silent again.
He had thought that, dancing, he
might find her again. During this
interminable evening, she had held
him off as, now, physically, she kept
a distance between them. Her ami
nation for the others excluded him,
though he had sat beside her. ST.
lently, miserably, unable to respond
to her mood, he had watched the eff
feet of her high spirits upon the
party. Now with him, alone, she
was silent.
care you having a good timer"
he asked, when again and more
slowly, as the number of dancers
increased, they had circled the floor.
ooh, yes!" she said. care your"
mo! You know I'm not!"
She drew back and looked up at
him. "Why not?" she asked lightly,
smiling, her eyes sparkling in dark
blue glints between the thick
straight lashes. cts a beautiful
party. Robert always does things
nicely" Her expression changed.
"Oh John, mol" She gave a little
despairing cry. "I'm miserable. I've
never spent such a wretched eve
ming. Why didn't we do as we'd
planned? Robert wouldn't have
minded"
"You were afraid we'd quarrel"
he said.
eyes, I was. If you'd seen your
face when Mother asked me what
intended to do this winter"
II never heard anything so COM
pletely selfish" he burst out with
low vehemence.
"It was tactless of her to have
spoken of it in your presence, per-
haps, But that's Mothers way. She
calls it being practical. It didn't
occur to her that you would think
her heartless, as you did"
'But she's your mother, Gay!"
1--WE each lead a completely indie
pendent existence. It's not a bad
idea. When see what some moth
ers do to their children, I'm glad
Kitty is like she is"
"But you don't want to visit Tory
Wales in Palm Beach?"
"There's only one thing I really
want to do"
Don't you know how that makes
me feel?"
''Flattered, / should hope" Her
smile trembled.
''No, you can't know" he said
bitterly. "You can't know what it's
like to feel Inundated, not to be
able to take you away with me,
now, tonight, to have you make
explanations which / should make.
You haven't been happy and nei-
Their have /, except that first day,
Christmas Eve"
Yesterday and today in the coun-
try? Weren't you happy? I was"
"But why?" They moved slowly,
only their feet conscious of the
rhythm of the waltz. Because we
avoided any reference to the sub
jects upon which we disagree, be-
cause we were alone except for
Kate and your father"
''Oh, dear!" Her laughter shook.
81 made you come here because l
was afraid we'd quarrel if we were
alone, and ! wanted your last night
here to be pleasant Don't, John.
Talking spoils everything. If we
keep on at this rate" Her head
dropped against his shoulder. He
felt her tremble in the frightened
clasp of his arms.
''I'm sorry. but I've got to know.
Look at me, Gay" His voice was
rough with urgency. "Tell me. Do
you want to 60 on"
Her eyes, lifted to his, were bril-
liant with terror.
"Johnl" she cried family. 'Dar-
ling!'
II don't see how you can," he
said more gently. 'I'm- There's
nothing"
II love you," she said steadily.
do you, Gay?" His lips moved
but no further words came. He
saw that hsr eyes brimmed with
tears.
Darling he said. moved as be