Henderson daily dispatch., 1946-01-17

her. Albert looked so un-dea1 in his
The two women stood looking down
at him. There were a great many
flowers.
They said nothing until they
were in Bernice's large closed car
with its gray plush seats. Then Ber-
nice said: Il wonder. would you
mind going with me while l shop
for the baby's la%yette?"
isn't 1t a little premature? ?"
asked Victoria.
They went to several Of the big
stores on Wiltshire: Bernice cooed
softly over rufiy pink bonnets, tiny
shirts and gowns. Il LOVE babies"
she said.
All through the orgy Of soft
pinks and blues, Of fluffy blankets,
Of cribs with ducks and Dummies,
Victoria thought of Albert in his
casket. Bernice bought a woolly
white lamb which she carried home
with her. Victoria held it on her lap
In the car; she was to have dinner
with Bernice and Walter.
Dinner vas served by candlelight
In the large dining room. Walter
sat at the head Of the table, Ber-
nice at the foot, Victoria halfway
between them. Mrs. Buxton served
an excellent meal in utter silence.
Bernice looked lovely. She had on
a soft blue dinner gown. There was
something changed in the relation
ship between Walter and Bernice,
Victoria saw at once. Bernice was
submissive, almost adoring, and she
laughed Immediately and warmly
at all Walters little jokes.
Over dessert Walter waXed a lit
tie Io%quacious. well, it's been a
bad time for you. Victoria" he said,
but you'll weather it,"
He added. slowly turning the
stem OF his wineglass: You career
women interest me; you have a
sound practicability, an ability to
take care Of yourself which l must
say l admire. Most women are, to
some degree, parasites. Not their
fault, of course. Legally. they were
regarded as chattelc in the most
civilized countries Of the world un-
til very recently" His gaze fell for
a moment on Bernice, returned to
Victoria. Victoria wondered for the
first time If there were a streak
of cruelty in Walter.
Il found the loveliest white lamb
today, Walter" said Bernice, from
the foot of the table.
His eyes went to her fondly and
to~lerantly. Did you, my dear? And
what did it cost. this wonderful
lamb"
Bernice said: Eighteen dollars.
It's SO sweet"
Walter looked at Victoria.
"Would YOU pay eighteen dollars
for a white lamb?" he asked. hu-
morously.
Il have no particular fondness
for lambs" said Victoria.
Il don't think you would" said
CHAPTER Ill1RTY-SIX
IT WAS while Victoria was walt
Ing for Tuck to arrive that AL
bert's birthday gift came. She had
half forgotten that he had ordered
something for her that last night
Of his life, and the small. much
stamped package was at first a sur
prise, although she realized almost
Immediately what it must be.
Hazel, who had opened the door
and had received the package. how
cred close while Victoria tore off
the Irvine. the wrappirgs. Inside
was a white box. and inside that,
wedged with tightly stuffed tissue,
was a jewelers. box. = small, hump
backed one OF black velvet. She
pressed the catch with her thumb
and the lid sprang up. Inside was
the most beautiful ring she had
ever seen. A sapphire. her birth
stone, square-cut and OF a deep.
deep blue. 1t vas set In platinum.
and on either side glittered a clump
Of small perfect diamonds. A tiny
card was bent into the rounded ia
of the box. 1t said, not in his hand
writing, Love. Albert" The jew
eler's name was In gold on the
white satin Of the Id. The ring had
come from Tiffany's, from New
York.
She slipped the slim band on the
finger where her wedding ring
shone. 1t fitted perfectly.
oh" gasped Ha eel. "Oh. my
what a beautiful thing"
She heard Albert's dead voice
speaking in the hall. Send TO Mrs
Hime, above address" She turned
her hand. The ring cleaned and
elittered. He always said had
beautiful hands," Victoria said. II
q tight voice.
1t was Hazel who began to cry
She fed to the kitchen as the door
bell rang. Victoria admitted Mr.
Tuck. The impact Of the gem which
felt so strangely heavy on her hanc
was still with her. Tuck asked cour
teously. what has happened. Mrs
Hime?"
Victoria held out her hand tt
him. He took the tips Of her cold
slim fingers in his long, warm ones
bent his long head to peer at the
ring. "Albert wired for this. fol
me, for my birthday. 1t just came
Isn't 1t lovely?"
Tuck nodded his head. TITS very
beautiful" he said.