The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-22

words.
l suppose I'd fee resentful. too.
oherry thought, if Mother inter-
Tered in my affairs as she has in
vars And she would interfere. if
/ wanted to do anything that
didn't fit in with her ideas. She
never seems to pay much atten-
ton to Val and me until some.
thlng important comes up. Then
suddenly she wants to take full
charge, decide everything, as
though we're still children, in a
way, l don't believe she realizes
we have grown up, that we're
thinking individuals, capable of
making our own decisions and
with the right to make our own
mistakes
Sherry's thought broke, as the
record player automatically click
ed off and silence took the place
OF thrilling sound Leda's brilliant
dark eyes opened, giving instant
life to her tired face. Then she
saw Sherry, standing there in the
doorway, and she smiled.
Hello. dear. l didn't hear YOU
come in
Hello, Mother
On a sudden impulse, Sherry
crossed the room and sat on the
arm Of her mothers chair. lean
ing to press her young cheek
against that of the older woman,
She said. "You looked 50 tired,
sitting there with your eyes clos
ed. Are your"
Leda shook her head. mot par
ticularly. But l have no makeup
on and that's a mistake at my
age. I'm going to bed soon."
But you do work awfully hard
Sherry insisted. And it ism t real.
ly necessary, darling. Val and l
could take over, you know - we
could get jobs"
"Of course, you could Leda
said, patting her hand. But
there'd be no point in it. We have
plenty of money, dear, over and
above my salary I've had good
advice and made some very prof
table Investments"
Roger Bedloe, Sherry knew, was
her mothers advisor in matters
financial. She asked, "But then
VIII. do you go on working so
hard? You simply drive yourself.
You live and breathe your job,
day after day you haven't any
time for rest or relaxation"
Leda objected, But, Sherry, l
love my job! That's why l live
and breathe it, as you say. I'd be
lost without it. The constant give
and take, having to think fast to
get ahead of the other fellow-it
keeps me on my toes, alert. And
[ enjoy every minute of it. How
strange that you shouldn't know
that. dear"
After a moment Sherry said. 81
suppose l did know it. I guess I
just forgot how much your work
means to you - more than any
thing else, really
What a thing to say" Leda re-
preached her. "You anda Val mean
more to me than anything else.
you know that. I've always tried
to do everything l could for you,
to give you the best in life. !
1880. .,,,oh fo. x,o,, hoth RI be
happy"
ayes, ! know, Mother"
Leda asked as the silence
heightened, Did you have a nice
weekend?"
Sherry nodded, her heart lifting
at the memory. Lovely. Mother,
it's 50 beautiful at the farm, like
another world. You should have
gone, too"
Leda said ruefully, ut makes
me SILVER to think of it. The wind
sweeps about SC. Heaven knows,
it's been bad enough in town. How
are Steve and Aunt Pen ----
Fine. Just the same as always.
They we're sorry you and Val
could not come out. Darling, ! had
such fun"
.sWhat did you do?' Leda ask
ed.
.'Do?" Sherry repeated. Why
nothing much, l guess
1t would have sounded silly to
saw I'VE sat in front of the fire.
Aunt Pen played the piano-lovely
old songs Then Lex couldn't sleep
so he ana l drank hot milk IN fhe
kitchen and talked till two in the
morning. And we slept late and
had n of Aunt Pens enormous
breakfasts. We barely got to
church in time the sweet little
red-brick church with the steeple.
Later on. after dinner. Lex and l
and Kippy took a long walk IT
was like walking through fairy
land-the snow. all white and un-
broken. on either side of the path
and crunching under our feet IN
that soueaky cold way. And the
sun so bright it was almost bind
inc and the sky couldn't ever have
heen so blue before. Lex was easl-
ar with me today-as though we
were old friends. And that's me
wav | want it. Just to be MS
friend. to have him like me; l
Lnou, he loves another girl, that
he,11 marry her someday. But we
csn still be friends. Lex and i
that won't take anything from
No, you couldn't say things ike
(To Re COntinued)