The Wilmington morning star., 1942-09-11
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wRITTnIFo
HRlrEN For AND RELEASED RY CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

en- and sat down at the table where
Barbara, was scooping spoonsfu,
of fresh shrimp salad into nests o1
crisp lettuce. She finished, picked
up the platter, started for the re-
frigerator, came back and picked
up a bowl containing biscuit mix.
ture.>
eff you had roller skates, YOU
| could move faster," the nurse saiG
dryly. Her eyes rested upon the ta
! BILE with its two cups of custard tt
be chilled, its two slices of cante
loup, and went on to the golf bas
propped against the screen door
ST take it that you're getting sup
per for-1ater.'
Barbara slid the platter into the
refrigerator and closed the door
Toms picking me up at half-past
six. He's giving me a golf lesson
Well have supper here when it's
over. About half-past eight"
Ruth said, "Only the two oil
your"
Barbara nodded. "Pam's stayed
away longer than she expected to-
She was only going to be gone for
the Labor Dav weekend, but she's
stayed a week"
Ruth folded her arms across her
ample bosom. 'tIt's none of my
business, my dear, but don't
you think it would be more dis.
Greet to put off your golf lesson
until Pam gets back?'
Barbara put down the knife with
which she was going to slice a
loaf cake. II can't see why" she
said.
Ruth shrugged. Gas 1 said. it's
none of my business WHOM you
see. or when, or how often.''
Barbara ran her finger along the
blade of the knife, avoiding the
older woman's glance. Ruth. YOU
know it's all right for me to &c
with Tom. We're not 4 mean
there isn't anything anyone could
say about us. We never do any.
thing clandestine. Other women
play golf with men Who aren't
their husbands"
AS I was saying" Ruth contin-
ued as if Barbara had not inter.
rupted her, 'it's none of my bust
ness. An it is no business of anv.
one else in South Wintridge. but
that doesn't prevent other people
from thinking it isl
But what can they Think"
You've got two strikes against
you, Barbara; you're young. pretty
and successful-and a widow. Thai
alone makes you romantic and
dangerous to tae average woman
don't know where it began. but
the term young widow has al.
ways been red flag to married
women"
Barbara laughed. That's be.
cause you're old-fashioned, Ruth
That went out long ago. PEOPLE
talk about fun and freedom and
understanding now. That's new
too, to most people. Fun. I mean
l know it is to me. Oh, I've been
having such good time these last
few weeksl"
Il know" Ruth said She didn't
add that she knew what snatches
OF song meant, the ready. light
laughter that was always on Bar
bara's lips, the little trill. in her
voice when she answered the tele.
phone.
And that's ALL it is" Barbara
was saying. Fun with Tom and
Pamela-and Tony-when he can
get away to join US. What do we
do? We only play tennis, and golf
and swim and and eat at each
others houses"
"And Tom Kilcran," Ruth said
relentlessly" known to every man
and child in this town, drops in
here during the evening when he's
Just passing by He takes your
son riding in Pam's old pony cart
which he's had fixed up purposely
for Sonny. He goes to church and
walks home with you. He Just hap
pens to drop in at the Yellow Can
die Tea Shop where you and Ellen
lunch. And he's been lunching at
the Downtown club every day for
ten years."
Barbara felt color rise in her
cheeks, because she knew this was
all true and had been pushing the
knowledge away from her that 9TH
ers knew the same thing.
(To Be C0ntinued)
The geographic center of the
u. S. is in Smith County. KaS