Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-05-17
CHAPTER 10

tween her old life and her new. March
wondered idly how it would appear IN
summer. Furniture of chromium and
leather, perhaps. And lots of small
tables. And highballs in frosted, tink
ling glasses. There would be people,
too, of course, to drink the highballs.
Cay, laughing people, sun-browned
and casual in smart sport clothes.
March turned around to look at the
terrace, the better to picture it crowd
ed with these animated, imaginary
figures.
Leaning negligently, against the
wall of the house, smoking a ciga-
rette, was tall young man in grey
Aannels and a pull-over sweater. His
crisp, fair hair shone in the sunlight
and his eyes, which were brightly
blue, studied March gravely. And
then, apparently liking what he saw,
he smiled.
March smiled, too, feeling rather
silly.
The young man advanced across
the terrace toward her. Cigarette 2"
"Why-why, yes, thank you."
She took one from the thin case
he extended and he lit it, continuing
to study her with disconcerting thor
oughness. He sat on the balustrade
beside her, his back to the view, his
arms crossed.
"I'm Griff Morgan. I done believe
] know you"
March agreed ruefully. Il don't
believe you do. I'm March Randolph.
And I hope you'll forgive my taking
such liberties with your terrace. You
see, I had no idea the house was oc-
cupied yet"
"The house isn't" Griff grinned
at her. His teeth were very white
and even and he looked younger
when he smiled. Although, March puz
zled, he didn't look particularly old
anyway. Just surfeited and as tho,
having decided long ago that there
was nothing new under the sun, he
had given up expecting it.
"I'm camping out there" Griff
motioned in the general direction OF
the hanger Brent had told March a
bout. 81 just flew up from Kansas
City this morning. 1t must have been
spring or somthing-anyway, l had
this unaccountable urge for the open
spaces. But I've already begun to
grow bored with my own company, so
I'm glad you dropped in"
March laughed. She hadn't felt so
much like laughing in a long time.
She accused him, "You don't sound
in the least like an irate property
owner whose right have been tramp
led upon"
con the contrary, Pm grateful. l
didn't now anyone else ever came up
SO early" Griff's glance was warm
~ personal. "Who did you say you
were?"
March Randolph. And I didn't
exactly come up"
"I'm sorry" Griff interrupted. Il
must be getting deaf. 1t sound to
me like you're saying March"
81 am saying March. But, after
all, first names aren't particularly i'm
portant-"
"Ah, but you're wrong there" de-
clared Griff sententiously. First
names make all the difference. l
met girl once and she was perfectly
beautiful. Almost, but not quite, as
beautiful as you. And then I found
out her name was Bedelia and from
that moment on 1 couldn't bear the
sight of her. You see, had poodle
once and it's name was Bedelia. And
the little beast bit me, for no reason
whatever, mind you. It was very sad.
But a. man simply can't work himself
into a romantic fervor over a girl
who reminds him of a poodle that bit
him. And she had red eyes, too. The
dog, mean, not the girl. But I like
March," he added cheerfully. "It has
ND unpleasant associations whatever.
can't seem to place the Randolph
though. Are you new people at the
lake or are you visiting someone? 2"
March shook her had. Her tone
was conspiratorial. "I'm native"
"No! You don't mean one of those
hardy souls who hibernate in the win
ter? But it isn't possible! Ali the
natives have chilblains and wear seal
skin caps with ear-flaps-"
"Not," March interrupted, laugh
ing, Gin May. All the sealskin caps
have been laid away in mothballs long
before this. AS for the chilblains.
they haven't had time to develop yet
Won raa I haven't hean a native very