The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-22

1Ilu WltIlOut w d1LlIlS IOI LllSIIl
to answer she turned and went
down the corridor toward the
servants quarters.
Don't mind her." said
Elaine, and her tired mouth was
a little thin. She hasn't been
herself since she discovered that
Bill had gone AWOL his morn
ing"
Upstairs. she showed Mark to
a room, and led Cathy across
the hall. She brought Cathy pa
jamas, a robe, slippers. and a
new toothbrush from the guest
closet, and assured herself that
her guest had everything to
make her comfortable hefore
she took herself off.
Cathy was too exhausted to be
more than aware for moment
that she was here where she had
never expected to be-in Bills
home, the reluctant guest of an
unwilling hostess. But consider
ing the circumstances, the fact
did not bother her too much as
she trailed into the bathroom
and set the water running.
She luxuriated in the steam
ing water and a cool shower aft
erward. She donned the pink pa
jamas, knotted the belt of the
soft pink robe about her slim
waist, and came into the bed
room to find a maid setting
down a we'll laden and very ap-
petizing tray on a small table
beside the chaise Tongue.
She had finished her meal and
was relaxed and peaceful, too
weary to make the effort to get
into bed, when there was a
knock at the door. Thinking it
the maid come to remove the
tray, Cathy called, "Come in"
And then she got to her feet
politely as Mrs. Kendall came
in.
sit down, do,' said Mrs. Ken
dali almost Grossly, her voice
slightly thickened and not quite
steady, her eyes red-rimmed.
Where is he?"
Cathy said quietly, "If you
mean Bill"
"But of course l mean Bill
who else could l mean?"
"Then I'm afraid l haven't the
slightest idea. I haven't Sc e n
him since last night, a little
while after dinner
Don't ie," snapped Mrs.
Kendall harshly, and had tn e
scant grace to flush a little be-
meath Cathy's look. "Oh, 1 kno "
the whole thing is put-up job
between you. His disappearing
like this is simply his way of
forcing me to consent to his
marrying you. He came to me
last night and said that he want
ed to be engaged to you"
Cathy caught her breath.
"Engaged?" she repeated in
credulously.
"Oh, of course he wants to
marry you," said Mrs. Kendall
shortly. ''He informed me that
he intended to go right away
with you Immediately, today,
and be married. But of course.
for a man in Bills position, and
social standing - well, that
simply isn't to be thought of for
a moment. tried to make him
see reason. We quarreled bitter
ly and he said he was leaving
for good"
Tears spilled down her con-
torted face and as she put up
her damp handkerchief Cathy
felt a lite unwilling touch of
pity for her. After all, she was
old, and Bill was all she had
to love; and if her love was pain
fully possessive and jealous -
then, couldn't one try to under
stand that?
As though she resented break
ing down before someone whom
sh quite frankly cnsidered her
she quite frankly considered her
self to measure of composure.
$50 I've come to tell you that
you must send for Bill and tell
him to come home. That I shall
give my consent to this marri.
age, much as I dislike to do do, .
she said with an effort at re-
capturing her old arrogant man.
ner.
"I don't know where Bill is,
Mrs. Kendall" said Cathy level
ly. 'And what's more, l told him
last night that I do not wish to
marry him."
Mrs. Kendall stared at her.
"That was very clever of
you, she said thlnly. because
of course that will make Bill all
tn more anxious. You must
have thought you were in dan
ger of losing him." .
Cathy kept her temper by a
genuine effort.
"No, Mrs. Kendall, merely
discovered that I do not love
Bill, after all"
"I don't believe that for a mo-
ment!"
"You should be very glad to.
1t means that you can keep him
for yourself, doesn't it,"
There was a little flash in
Mrs. Kendall's eyes and then
she sighed and shook her head.
"No, it only means that Bill
will be more determined than