The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-04-12
CHAPTER III-Continued

s.
Not that problems were pressing.
They seemed to retreat farther into
the hazy distance with each day
that Gay spent at the lake. She
was active from the hour of their
early breakfast until the inevitable
moment when her eyes dropped over
a magazine, the parchesi board or
the word games which Kate insti-
gated to while away the after-supper
interval when darkness fell over
the woods and the lake. She slept
soundly, without dreaming.
It was the air of Maine, she sup
posed, and the simple life she'd been
living for-How long? Five days, she
calculated, surprised that it had been
that long, equally surprised that
time had passed so swiftly. She
hadn't realized how tired she'd been
until she began to rest. 1t was for
this she had come to the cabin, she
thought, the contentment she felt,
her pleasure in the sun and wind,
the daylight hours of activity, the
long nights of restful sleep. But
would she have stayed if John had
gone? Would she be so contented
now, lying warm and drowsy in
the sun on the rocking float, If he
were not there in the cabin potter
ing with his test-tubes and micro
scope in the room that had been
Mrs. Dills?
But he wasn't there. At cheer
full hail from the shore Gay rolled
over and then sat up. He stood on
the boat-landing in swimming trunks
and jersey, an arm raised in salute.
SIS the water cold?" he called.
"Frigid. I have icicles in my
ears
''Think I'll paddle over"
''Sissy!" she tainted. 81 swami"
"You were showing off," He
dipped his toes into the water and
withdrew them with a grimace.
pure exhibitionism."
Superior stamina"
"Oh, yes?"
Thank heavens they'd gotten over
being so terribly polite, she thought,
watching him take a shallow dive
from the end of the landing. The
first day after she and Kate had
arrived it had been pretty dreadful.
They'd watched each other warily,
suspicious of the meaning behind
every gesture, all defenses stoutly
guarded. It was different now. Each
day that passed brought them closer
together in an impersonal compan-
ionship, based on experiences
shared, household chores squabbled
over and gaily performed, great
deal of laughter. Kate'S presence
was safeguard. Her wry humor,
her resourcefulness, her energy and
enthusiasm kept them occupied and
amused. Gay, sitting on the float,
her arms hugging her knees, won
dered what would have happened
if Kate hadn't been there. She was
glad, really glad, that Kate was.
'Perishing?" she asked as Johns
head bobbed along the side of the
float.
practically" He pulled his long
body up on the planking, shook him.
self, scattering shower of drops.
"Hey!" Gay said, ducking.
Sorry" He sat beside her,
opened the pocket on the belt of his
trunks, produced matches and ciga-
rettes. ''Will you light one for me?"
he asked. my hands are wet"
She Lit cigarette, placed it be-
tween his lips. The brief contact
was closer to intimacy than they had
been during the past five days. For
an instant their eyes met and held,
then Gay glanced away.
'Are your germs behaving well?"
she asked, when the light quick beat
ing of her heart had subsidized.
t'Abominably." He stretched out
on the float beside her, his hand sup
porting his head. ''I've just buried
the whole lot under pine tree. The
odor of the cabin is vastly inn
proved"
''Oh, what a shamel" she said in
sympathy, surprised that he seemed
so cheerful.
That's the way it goes" he said.
You've got to have the patience of
job"
Aren't you-?" An altered tone
IN his voiee saught her straying at
tention.