Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-05-23

wreckage was Mars-high. Dear Rudd,
bravely ignoring the shabbiness of his
one flannel suit.
So, a few weeks later. her swift, hot
jealousy Of Rosalind was merely a nat
ural reaction to the other predatory
women. Susan was not afraid.
Rudd was too silly. Getting up at
four A. NJ to play golf and waking
ments. Dumping Binky in swing while
he shot like rocket TO the country
club for luncheon.
Susan ironed jumpers. shorts. and her
best looking linen skirt (wishing 1t
were pique) and she was wroth.
Cousin Grace consoled: Don't fret,
Susan. RoSalind Burney just wants to
keep her hand in
Susan scorched her yellow linen skirt.
"Damn"
Cousin Grace advised: Hang 1t in
the sun. Do you now what elementals
are? No. I don't mean some kind Of
vitaminS. Didn't you ever read old books
on black magic? Something that isn't
human. That is what Rosalind might
be, if such things were true and not
mythology She would never care much
for a man without money. Rudd hasn't
even a real job"
ouoalA llao GA SoAy eAASeoAAs ~ sAA-~S'
1t was comfort, too.
Cousin grace went on serenely, "SheS
to men what catnip is to cats. What
they crave. But, still, cats like milk,
too"
Very comforting. Susan got rid of
the triangular scorch and felt better.
At the moment, ex-senator Sorlby
was dying in Switzerland. The evening
tina headlines nf his
death. When Rudd arrived, he was
sober. He had lost friend.
Neither he nor Susan expected leg
acy. John Sorlby had horde OF rela-
tives, mostly needy. Over the weekend,
RoSalind did not monopollZe Rudd. An
elderly oil man had arrived. BY this
time, Susan could get the fine points
OF Rosalinds way with a man. The
quiet soothing voice. Simple gown. Inc
odd electric allure OF RoSallndS tossed
back young hair.
In time, Rosalind was to gain tech
nique and more speed. But even then
she was good.
Rudd's laugh was heard by Susan,
past a rose trellis which looked like
a misty stairway to the moon. RoSallnd
was lightly deriding elderly rich men
who played around.
Rudd went back to New York, re-
turned in a rush on wednesday. john
Sorlby had left him three hundred
thousand dollars.
In that year, the sum was equal to
ened to faint. Rudd talked SO fast no
one understood him, except that he
was walking off the ground.
Cousin Grace was congratulatory, then
she looked sober. Later, Susan rerlem-
bered.
Later-when across a warm dance
floor she caught the faint pleased eX-
preston on RoSalind'S face. Pleased
like kittens with little pink mouse
in reach. Famt-like professional
card players unconscious flicker OF re-
vealment.
Susan felt a colo and Shiny fear-as
if a spoonful of vanilla sherbet had slid
down her spine.
Would Rudd argue to himself that
RoSalind had liked him when he was
poor, even jobleSs? Would Binky have
a stepmother before she learned to
count her tanned toes?
Impossible to believe that Rudd
would do this to her and the children!
SuSan's teeth chartered She remem-
bered that Rudd had not been the one
TO suggest a quick marriage. Later he
had explained that he thought she was
Susan wished feverishly that John
Sorlby had lived or left a meaSly five
thousand to Rudd-Ah! She would
want to die.
Rudd dashed back to New York. And
RoSalind went, too. And she did not
return to Lake Lilas for the remnant
Of the summer.
Rudd wired Susan on three Saturdays
that business kept him in New York,
too. Susan pictured him in RoSalindiS
small apartment, slipping from tall gay
frosted glasses while RoSalind got in
her best work.
Cousin Grace was rather silent.
Peaches yellowed and so did roadside
grass. August was its usual languid.
over heated self.
Susan made trip to New York. Il
pressed eloQuence.
Even today, in Regina Dowen's over
furnished living room with its expen-
sive view of the park, Susan chilled.
That train ride! The hot hateful rumble
Of the wheels. The cold perspiration In
her two palms. Later she had had to
throw away her gloves, disdained.
And the hateful silver and gray color
scheme of Rosalind's small apartment
The stabbing taunt Of Rosalinds faint
" surprised eyes when the door opened
for SuSanl
Susan said. II thought perhaps to
find Rudd here.
AT noon2" Rosalind laughed. This
evening, perhaps"
Rosalind had been very sure. Susan's
hands were cold. But Susan's voice was
steady.
Il am sure Rudd has told you Of
the-ths leeacy.'