The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-01

aDIoOm with I yellow light IN
the downstairs windows.
Gail felt a little tug of home
sickness at her heart as she
saw the house; the almost pas
sionate tenderness with which
one greets an old and faithful
friend whose shabbiness d o e S
not in the least affect ones
love.
II hope the Harper boy got
the message to Them" said
Norah, as the car slid to a halt.
GAS soon as we were sure we'd
found you, we sent a telegram
to them. They are the people
nearest here who have a tele-
phone, and the Harper boy said
he'd ride over with word that
we would all be back tonight.
So they know we found you"
Gail said wryly, "I'm terribly
sorry to have been such a both
er, but of course I didn't ex-
pect LISA home so soon. I
meant to have a letter waiting
for her when she reached New
York"
"It didn't matter that we
would be half-crazy with worry
about your" demanded Greg
sharply as she stepped out of
the car beside him.
II saw no reason why you
should give a second thought to
whatever might happen to me-"
she told him Jelly
1t was too dark for her to
guess at his expression, and she
did not wait for him to answer.
She was already going up the
steps and into the house before
he could answer.
He and Paul did not follow.
She and Norah went alone, and
as they stepped into the hall.
LISA was coming swiftly down
the stairs, her tumbled hair
gold on her shoulders, her pow
der-blue taffeta housecoat re-
vealing a feathery foam of
shell-pink chiffon above the tips
of her blue slippers. In the
lamplit gloom of the hall, she
was like a Dresden-china lady.
"Gail!" she cried, and ran
toward her daughter and
caught her in her arms. "Gail,
darling, I've been out of my
mind about you. Are you all
right"
Kate and Charles stood in the
doorway to the living room,
both still completely dressed.
Behind LISA, Martin was max
ing a 1eisurely descent of the
stairs, his dark maroon robe re-
vealing pajamas of heavy white
silk. He had a lighted cigar in
his hand, and he smiled at Gail
and waved a little friendly greet
ing.
"Of course I'm all right, Lis
sa," answered Gail. embarrass-
ed before them all. "And I'm
terribly sorry to have caused
you all so much bother"
LISA, her anxiety ended, was
resentful.
"Well, I should think you
would be. What in heavens
name were you thinking of,
Gail, to run off like-like a juv-
emile delinquent? And even
you found life impossible here,
which I can readily understand,
why didn't you 60 straight to
the Dillinghasts? They would
have been glad to have you"
Gail cut in quietly, because
I wanted to find out, once and
for all, whether I could stand
on my own feet and earn my
own living. And I can-and I'm
very pleased about it."
LISA stared at her, still re-
sentful, now puzzled.
"But why on earth should you
want to, Gail? It's not neces-
sary. It never has been,
really" she protested.
Gail looked across her moth
er's shining golden head an d
straight into Charles eyes that
smiled at her warmly. And her
heart twisted a little at the bag
gard look of him, which proved
how deeply concerned he had
been during these last days.
IT felt that it was, darling"
said Gail, and it was doubtful
whether she spoke to LISA, to
Charles, or merely to herself
give wanted to know, for a
long time, whether I was just
a useless member of society, or
whether I could earn my keep,
single-handed. And knowing
that I can is a great comfort.
like my job and my boss S a
darling
LISA shuddered delicately.
60 Be Centlnued)