The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-08
Secret H@nGY1NOON
dkny. .Id %.S1.4

Maggie, no woman could be that
dumb, no matter how rich she
lis "
Edith Kendall can-ard is"
snapped Maggie shortly. and
thrust a plant so deep into the
soil that its fragile, threadlike
roots were crushed into a lump.
Mark watched her, affection
and tenderness in his eyes as
her plump, work-stained hands
lifted the abused plant. and
with the gentleness ofta mother
with child Strengthened the
roots and set the plant
more gently, firming the earth
around the frail roots.
Meanwhile, Bill had swung
open the car door, and Cathy
had climbed in beside him. They
greeted each other with aloof
politeness untouched by the
faintest warmth. But Cathy sat
withdrawn from Bill as far as
the limits of the seat would per-
nit, lest he discover that she
was trembling.
She knew where they. were 60
ing from the first. Their favorite
rendezvous. The friendly live
oaks that bordered the old duel
ing ground, above the wide lazy
yellow river.
Bill brought the car to a halt,
switched off the motor, and
turned to her. his face set nd
white.
$50 you couldn't even remem
Der what he looked like. and you
had so complete'y forgotten him
that you overlooked telling me
about him." he began harsh'y.
II was an surprised to find him
in Cypressvil]e as you we're"
she began, and stopped because
her shaking voice threatened to
betray her secret turmoil at
Bills nearness.
"Then you weren't too much
surprised" said Bill dryly. 81
admit that for a moment l was
bowled off my feet when I saw
that item in the Banaer-and
then I realized that l should
have suspected something like
this when you smashed our
honeymoon to rush home
alone"
Cathy stared at him, her heart
like lead in her breast. She
loved him so, and she knew, as
women must know such things,
that he loved her; and yet they
seemed fated 0 do nothing but
hurt each other.
"Our honeymoon never had
the slightest chance, Bill" she
told him. "It began with three
strikes against it-as though it
was something to be ashamed
Of"
"But you understand all that,
Cathy-I tried to explain" :"
ooh, I know, Bill. The money
was so important.
"Money is important, Cathy-
I know!"
"More important than love?
Than having our own kome?"
"Have you any idea what kind
of a home we'd have, Cathy, if
Aunt Edith kicked me out-as
No, Cathy!"
she certainly would? Two fur
nished rooms some place-may-
be a shack of a house in Frog
tcwn-a place where you'd have
to work yourself to the bone,
and always be tired and run
down. And I'd have job I
hated, and I'd have to watch you
work yourself to death and be
denied the smallest comforts.
His voice was bitter Cathy
lifted her hands in little ges-
ture of dismissal and said quiet
ly, "This is where 1 came I'M"
He turned suddenly, So swift
ly that she had no idea what he
meant to do until she was in his
arms, held close and hard
against him. She made a little
movement Of rebel
lion, but before it could be more
than a gesture her heart had be-
trayed her. and she was limp
in his arms, her own going
about him. They clung to each
other, breathless and shaken,
like two swimmers who had bat
tied racing tide until. in the
moment when utter exhaustion
swept over them, they had
found each other.
Cathy, Cathy-oh. darling
sweet, I've missed you like the
dickens!" he told her huskily,
when he had kissed her and
found her cheeks wet with her
tears.
"I've missed you, Bill" she
and kissed him again.
For a long, lovely interlude
they clung together and let their
kisses, their murmured endear-