Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-08-28
CHAPTER Xxx

One night late in June he found
himself sitting beside Lily in the hall
at the high school, Lily surprising
~ decked out for the occasion while
on the platform sat Katie in new
white dress, very composed and look
ing entirely grown-up. Not only
grown-up. When she got up to re-
ceive her diploma, he realized that
she had become very pretty girl.
She was more slender than she had
been, and her hands and feet We're
small. Katie, he thought idly, was a
miracle in her anything so
young and lovely out Of that back
ground Of hers was surely a miracle.
Beside him Lily was twittering with
excitement.
It's the best dress there" she wits
pered. Miss Barker made it out Of
the money Dick left me.
And it was that night, with Katie
brave in her new finery and Lily in
the kitchen preparing a supper by
way of celebration, that the girl
walked into his office and confronted
him with his engagement.
Chris looked up to find her staring
at him with redeemed eyes in a small
white face.
Engaged? Who told you that?
And why don't you knock before you
come in?"
Il heard it. That's all. Is it true?"
1T is true, of course. That needn't
make any difference as yet to your
mother or to you, Katie. And you
looked very sweet tonight"
Katie, however, was past compli-
ments. care you in love with herr"
"I'm very fond of her, Katie"
"And you're really going to mar
ry her?'
He kept his temper, although his
color rose ct hasn't come to that.
Maybe a long time from now, when
/ can afford it and you are grown
up and married yourself"
"Grown-up! Listen, Chris Arden,
I'm eighteen now, and I'm more
grown-up than she'll ever be. She's
been pampered all her life, and I've
had to look out for myself. Oh, I
know I'm dirt to you, but she's all
wrong"
THAT enough, Katie. Stop it."
"What are you going to do? Live
off her? Or turn us out and bring
her here? ?"
Il can't discuss it with you, Katie.
It's not settled anyhow"
"a doctors wife!" said Katie "run-
ming to answer the telephone and
trying to catch you some place for a
baby case. How long would she do
it?"
II don't need any help in manag-
ing my own affairs, my child" he
told her stiffly. Lets forget it. AS
l said before, you looked very pretty
tonight"
"And much you care!" she said,
and banged out Of the room.
1t was the next day that she asked
him for a letter to Miss Simpson at
the hospital. He was startled into
speechlessness.
why shouldn't l be nurse?" she
said sharply. eff you think I'm go
ing to stay on here now and live off
you, you can think again. Anyhow,
if you're going to be married."
Listen, Katie. If you think a
nurses job is to smooth pillows and
stroke foreheads-"
Il know all about it. Don't be
funny, Chris. Pm no brow-stroker,
but I'll do the job all right. You
won't be ashamed of me. But if
Beverly Lewis is coming here to live,
I'm out, and that's flat
1t was long time that night be-
fore Chris slept One thing was GER
tain. He must get Katie out of the
house and out of his life as soon as
possible He had no illusions about
her. But she was young ana aIIfac-
tive, and she was undoubtedly danger
Gus.
He went to Miss Simpson the next
day and laid his problem squarely be-
fore her. She listened carefully,
watching him.
What sort of girl is she?"
"She's straight, if that's what you
mean"
"And she's fond of you?"
"She thinks she is. She'll get over
it."
81 Ton't like it, Chris. How do l
know she'll behave here? Pm par
ticular about my girls. They're
straight, and they're ladies'
"She has good stuff in her. She's