The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-24
SeCret H@nGYmO0rl
nation was threatened, if not
actually wrecked.

NASS~SA~ " 80 sAAA CotSAACNs IL 1lOL
actually wrecked.
During dinner, Elaine and
Mark answered Bills questions
about the storm and the dam
age; Cathy sat almost COM
pletely silent, knowing nothing
save that Bill was here, and
that there was no longer any
barrier to their marriage. She
SHOULD have been exultantly
happy, but she only felt a vast
WEAKNESS and a lowness of
spirit.
Bills hand closed warmly
over hers where it lay in her
lap, and his eyes upon her were
ardent and eager.
"Sure you were in there pitch
ing. NOBODY needs to tell me
that, darling,' he said huskily,
when Elaine had spoken of Ca
thy's work.
Cathy looked up and met
Marks eyes upon her. He
seemed to know that, beneath
the edge of the table, Bills hand
held hers tightly; there was an
odd look in Marks eyes that
Cathy could not quite under
stand. Was he contemptuous of
her because after all that had
lain between the three of them,
she was once more tremulous
and confused by Bills nearness,
by his tenderness, by his ca
ress?
Elaine said suddenly, almost
sharply, her eyes following
Marks long, level look at Cathy,
'Well, hadn't we better be get
ting back to work? I've an idea
they'll be gald to have all the
help they can get in town this
night" "
Mark thrust back his chair
and rose.
Right" ne said, and smiled
as he looked at the fragile din
ner gown, the upswept curls, the
silver slippers. "Were you plan
ming to work in that?'
"Of course not, silly. It'll take
me five minutes to tumble into
slacks and a jacket. Wait light
here for me, darling" she told
him saucily, and ran out of the
room.
For split second, as she
spoke the endearment, her eyes
were upon Cathy, with a trace
of defiance. AS though she said,
you didn't want him when you
could have hinl-and now that
want him, you can't have him.
They moved into the drawing
room while they waited for her,
and Mark kept up a polite,
meaningless flow of conversa-
ton, almost unaided. Mrs. Ken
dali was obviously not listening.
She sat with her hands in her
lap, her fingers picking at the
edge of her handkerchief. C hy
tried to follow Marks words and
to answer them, but her whole
inner being was III such turmoil
that she was scarcely consci is
of what he said. AS for Bill, he
was quite frankly waiting for
Marks departure so that he
could speak his thoughts to Ca
thy and Mrs. Kendall.
They were all relieved when
Elaine came down, slim and
trim in navy blue slacSs. 3
white shirt, and a soft blue
sweater slung carelessly ABOUT
her shoulders. She slid her hand
through Marks arm and spoke
to the others.
"We're off to the mines. chill
dren.' she said impishly. 'fLook
for us when you see us coming
and even then il NAV not be us?'
Cathy said quickly, ''I'd better
20. too"
"No, Cathy," said Bill shar-
ply.
Elaine cut in quickly. "The
Red Cross is here. Cathy. and
thev seem to be in control of
the situation. I'll find out if Won
are needed, and if you are, I'll
come straight back for YOU
cross my heart"
Cathy nodded, her hands
clenched in her lap. There was
a situation here that had to be
faced, and the sooner the better.
She could report for duty an
hour from now if she was
needed. and meanwhile this
thing that now Law between her.
Bill and Mrs. Kendall would
have been settled.
fTn Re COnfinued)