The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-21

ages plleQ On III seal. An AMY
blanket lay on them. Her hand!
went out to take it up, but IRE
sistibly fell on Rufus arm. He die
lot look as though he had slep
like a log! He vas getting out O.
the d stiffly.
RUFUS, you dear why do you
bother so Cor me?'
He looked down into her up
+urned face, away from it. Mere
ly my good deed for today, lady
Nothing moore" He shook off hel
hands. Quicker we get this stuff.
in the sooner we'll have some cot
Zee"
She took the blanket and ar
armtul of packages, thinking, re
gretfully: He isn't going to lei
me thank him for last night! Fol-
this!"
Carrying their load to the kitch-
en-, dumping it or the table there,
she was suddenly reminded of her
and Bills homecoming after their
honeymoon and she leaned
against the table, shaken and
weak before this thrust of reality
On it came swiftly the realization
that Bill had read her note, hours
ago, a long night ago.
Fill something with water
commanded Rufus from the oil
stove in which he had managed to
light a flame. "Coffee's in one OF
those bags-measure it out"
Diane reused gratefully. to do
his bidding.
They drank their coffee sitting
on the doorstep where it was
warm in the sun. They drank it
almost in silence. Along the wind
ing creek the willows made a deli
cate framework of gold ad here
there on the hillside were sa
and there on the hillside were spots
OF brilliant color, but they did not
see it. Rufus said, draining his
cup: GIVE me your tickets, Di.
I'll do something about them"
"Oh," cried Diane, starting in
djsmay. There's Dad! He'll be
expecting a telegram"
"Your father didn't knew"
The color deepened on DANES
cheek. "He thought I was going
to Tim O'Neale's ranch-I really
was going there-and he thought
! Vas going for a rest, that I
needed a rest"
Rufus retrained from saying
what his expression indicated he
was thinking. Instead he growled:
Write to your father and I'll take
it with me-"
ct haven't paper or pen"
"You'll find both and ink in one
of those packages"
"Rufus!"
Logical, wasn't it, to think you
might need 'em?"
She found the writing mate.
rails, cleared an end of the kitch-
table and wrote briefly to her
Of her whereabouts. She
added: "Your promise must still
hold" Underlined it.
When she took it out to Rufus
he was standing by the car. "Di,
it's too crazy, your staying here
alone. Come along with me now"
She shook her head. "Last night
l was frightened, when you went
away. But I won't be again, not
that way. No, I am going to stay
here. And Rufus she put firm
in her voice and manner,
''you must not worry about me or
think you have to come out"
His laugh was short. "You over
look that I am responsible for
your being here! But for my inter-
ference you'd be on your way
west at this moment. What's that
old saying about fools stepping
He got into Eis car, started
il, without waiting FOR her answer.
Diane heated water, found rags,
the %cupboards clean enough
TO stow away in them the provi-
sions Rufus had brought to her.
She busted the parlor. She would
sleep again, tonight, on the settee.
She had nj feeling of ownership;
her hands went over the old chairs
and table and whatnot mechani-
cauy. And before the work was
cone she threw down her colths
and went out Of the door and
1lung herself flat on the grass,
her face deep in it, her hands un-
Ger her, hard against her breast.
somewhere, somewhere in it. was
real feeling, the strong thread
m this wretched tangle!
But her fingers felt only numb
cess thai had Seen SO long in her