The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-12


'That was fun" Maggie said
happily. you're wonderful
dancer, Mark. Anybody who
can push an old girl like me
around the floor and not step on
her, or get stepped on, is Paul
Draper's other self"
"Push an old girl my eye!"
protested Mark. "Who d, you
think you're kidding? You re
feather footed, lady. Any man
who couldn't. be a good dancer
with you as a partner was born
With two left feet."
go on-feed it to me out of a
spoon. love it," Maggie
beamed at him, happily
Mark looked down at Cathy
who was trying to match their
galety and asked quietly.
'Tired?"
''No, of course not" said
Cathy brightly. "I'm having a
marvellous time"
"Why don't you two 60 ahead
and dance?" suggested Maggie
as the orchestra struck up
again. "1'n catch my breath
and relax. I haven't danced in
years-but love it! The mans
good, Cathy"
Mark WINGED at the hlare of
the music and asked Cathv:
Suppose they could pla7 a
rur~ Na"''
I'm sure they could-only it
would sound just like a fox
trot," Cathy assured him as she
rose and slipped into his arms.
AS thew danced she found her
eyes sliding to the table where
Edith Kendall was once more
enthroned i all the proud mai
esty that was the breath of life
to her. She was smoking, with
ostentatious daintiness, long
thin cigaret in a carved ivorv
holder. Those at her table were
hanging On her words with DO
lite attention. AS the mazes of
the dance brought Cathy an d
Mark near the table, Mrs. Ken
dali looked up and give Cathy a
look Of such cold malignancy
that Cathy set her teeth hare
in her lower lip and turned he1
head away.
Mark, without seeming to dc
SO, had caught the swift ex
change of glances. His go o d
looking mouth thinned a little,
and his arm frightened about
Cathy protectingly.
"Stick your pretty chin out,
Darling," he said, his lips
against her ear. "Don't let her
get you down. Remember who
you are: Lieutenant Catherine
Layne, of the U. S. Army Nurse
Corps. Remember that she is
nothing but nothing'-a fat,
overbearing, domineering old
dame whose comeuppance is
long overdue, but likely to
smack her down any minute!"
Cathy gave a little shaky
laugh and said half under her
breath, mark, I love you for
that"
For an instant Mark almost
missed step. The next mo-
ment they were moving smooth
ly once more, and he was say
ing lightly - though there was
nothing light about the look in
his eyes - "Thanks, pal, but
couldn't you just make it 4 love
you-period'?"
Cathy caught her breath and
her eyes closed for moment
before she said s oftly, 81 wish
l could, Mark-I wish I could" :"
Mark nodded, his face sober.
"Oh, well, I didn't really
think you could. I've been
watching you when Kendall was
around" he said dryly.
She didn't dare to speak be-
cause her voice was not to be
trusted. And Mark said after a
moment, Don't let l. get you
down. After all, I'll get over it. :"
Warmly, eagerly she said,
"Of course you will, Mark-and
you'll find another girl"
"You dare offer to be a sister
to me, and so help me Hannah.
I'll turn you across my knee
right here i n public and wallop
the living daylights out of you, :"
said Mark so sternly that for a
moment she stared at him and
missed step herself. 81 mean
it," Mark went on. 81 will not
have you as a sister. III try to
be friends with you - but I'm
making no promises
Mark had gone on a fishing
trip with some of the men of the
Rotary Club who had welcomed
him officially to Cypressville;
Maggie was visiting a sick
neighbor, and Cathy was a
loose end a day or two later,
when she decided to 60 into
town and see a movie. She was
too restless to read; it was too
hot for her usual panacea, a
long walk in the country, a nd
so the movie won.
The Betsy Bug behaved beau
tifully, and Cathy parked in the
i