The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-27
o,.pTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAT 1A'
OH IGNORED his aunt, his eyes
.:I1 DlIl On Cathy, and said gently:
SUI ..poor darling, it's been an Or
,.oI hasn't it? But it's all over
os~-' You run along and get a
~" "d nights rest, and tomorrow
So9T S,1l take the world into our
We ~nfidence, and then we'll go
0ol la,- for a nice long honeymoon.
%t s"t' trial honeymoon this
.',,'o Nu' but one surrounded by all
w. w. fanfare and publicity you
want.
rothv made a little helpless
"vou Just can't believe that a
.on7an could fall out of love
with you, can you, Bill?"
Bil! flushed with anger at
"1t's little hard to under
.+ond lust how you could change
~ much, Cathy-overnight," he
told her curtly.
Cathvs eyebrows drew to-
,otber in a frown and she said
e,ite honestly, "That surprises
No W. too, Bill. I think-well. I
.bink a | was just so in the habit
" loving you and thinking that
VI ever wanted was to be
carried w. to you. And 1 think that
while I was away-I-well, we
both changed."
"T think it's because you are
angry with me, and you ar e
tidd;ng yourself, that you're let
+no vour pride blind you to the
truth. " said Bill. "I've groveled
if not sufficiently, then I'll
erovel some more. I still think
was right to try to guarantee
vour future, but if you're willing
N take chance on it, we'll
walk out of here this minute
and try it on our own"
Neither of them had heard the
,ound of a car in the drive, and
nov, Elaine was in the doorway
At the hospital Cathy, if you
saving swiftly. "They need vnu
feel up to it,
She looked from one to the
other of the three in the room,
standing stiff and white and
tense.
"sorry, 1 seem to be intrud-
ing at a very crucial moment
but after all. you said if they
needed you--"
"Of course-I'1l be ready in a
minute" said Cathy and, ignor-
ing Bill's protest, turned from
tbe room and went running up
the stairs.
Elaine followed her. and as
Cathv went into the room as:
signed to her, the other girl said
CASUALLY, II brought you a uni
form from the hospital, know
Ing your slacks would hardly be
proper go~b."
Cathv thanked her and slid
out Of the white chiffon frock.
"Cathy. are you in love with
Mark" Elaine asked abruntlv
"Certainlv not" Cathv a1ro oct
snapped, having grown ex-
tremelv wearv Of this question
in the last hectic hours.
Sure"
"Of course I'm sure!"
"Then, Cathy, will you prom
ise me something?"
"Of course" "
"Then-don't tell Mark anv of
the fool things I said at the tea
shop. Gosh, was it onlv vester-
day afternoon? I don't believe
1t. 1t must have been a million
years ago" Elaine marveled.
"Wasn't I the double gosh
darned fool, shooting off my
prettv little mouth about I
didn't believe in love and all
thst truck? I didn't even have
sense enough to know that love
is like lightning and that you
don't have to believe in it. If
1t wants to strike you, it does,
and the heck with your silly lit
tie beliefs "
Cathy, buttoning herself into
the crisply starched uniform,
looked questioningly at Elaine.
Are you trying to tell me
that you are in love with
Mark" she demanded.
Flames grin VISA abashed,
like child.
I'm trying my darnedest not
to tell him-to give him a
chance to tell me. Only, Cathy,
I'm scared to death he won't!
Alter all, why should he? He's
such perfectly swell person
and Pm - well, I'm strictly
combat. How could I expect
anybody like Mark to care two
pms for dumb little drip like
me?"
She drew long, hard breath,
I1ted her pretty chin and said
o,reathlessly, "Only if he
ooeSn,t, Cathy, I'm all washed
up I'm - I'm so crazy about