The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-12-25
CHAPTER VII

After lunch he begged them to
leave the table disorder just as
IL was because he could not
wait another moment to show
them his paintings.
and they went to the big barn
studio and while Kelly dragged
out and busted canvas after canvas
Cherry and Fran were looking and
commenting. Neither one assumed
any knowledge of his art, but he &C
cepted their criticisms gratefully
and pointed out details Of technique
with no thought that he might be
leaving his audience somewhat be-
hind him.
Presently Fran drifted to the
great north window that had been
cut down to the floor, and stood look
ing obviously between long home
spun curtains at the now steadily
falling rain. Kelly went over to stand
beside her, and after q moment
Cherry returned to the house thrilled
by the mere nearness of their emo
ton and realizing what this moment
alone might mean to them. For she
had not been blind and deaf to the
apparently casual phrases and
chances that had been sprinkled
through the luncheon talk; she was
not unaware that Judge Marshbanks
was Othello; she had even heard
Fran at a moment when she sup
posed herself out Of hearing in the
kitchen answer some remark of KEEL
ly's with patient: Because he
may find out about it and it'll be
all right IL ! say she was along!"
and then, in another second: mo.
but I did promise, Kelly, and I'm
breaking my promise"
Cherry had heard no more, and
what she did hear had not surprised
her. She had surmised from a
quick, open remark or two made in
the car that Judge Marshbanks had
asked his wife not to see Kelly, and
that the two had met by chance
and were risking a discovery that
might have been extremely uncom-
Portable for them both.
And when she found herself alone
in the kitchen, she began to feel a
certain shame and discomfort in the
part she was playing in their secret.
She felt ashamed for them and for
herself.
When the kitchen clock said quar-
ter to four, she went back to the
barn. Fran and Kelly were still
standing at the window looking out
at the rain that was mingling now
with an early dusk.
It was raining steadily again when
they went out to the open car. Fran
had refused Kelly's suggestion that
they telephone for taxi. She had
said, ''We're late now! Wen be
home in twenty minutes; let's make
a dash for it'll"
y The women were bundled into
snug raincoats with bandannas tied
over their heads. They packed them
selves into the wide seat and raised
an umbrella close over them. A
quarter of a mile down the hill there
was bad turn and Cherry felt the
horrible sensation of wheels skid
ding, and instantly they were
wedged in ditch with the engines
nose stuck into a dripping bank.
When repeated efforts had proved
that the car would not move with
its load, Cherry and Fran got out
and stood still, laughing philosophi-
cally under their umbrella.
"Don't hurry. I'm just as good
as divorced now," Fran's voice with
its poignant note of laughter and
tears said calmly.
'This'n only take minute" Kel-
ly struggled CALAMITY for fully ten
minutes, his arms wrenching at the
steering wheel, his face red. Damn
it'll" he muttered under his breath,
as the wheels spun around uselessly
in a deepening groove of soft earth.
s.We'd better 60 back, think, and
telephone for a taxi" Fran said.
ssLord, I'm sorry about this" the
man said alphabetically. 1.-THE old
bus never let me down beforel"
Sausalito could supply NO taxi but
San Francisco obligingly offered to
send one.
While they waited Cherry tele-
phoned Emma; she had come with
friends to Sausalito; they were de-
layed by the storm; they would be
home in an hour; please tell Mrs.
Porter that she was sorry. Emma