The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-14

Besides, it was wonderful to
think that Andrew had brought
her his gift, as if he felt her
to be a more important person
than her lovely young daughter.
He remembered Nancy's tastes;
he tried seriously to please her.
The way he sat and watched
From the first, his interest in
her now. sent little quivers along
Nancy's spine. She was a wom-
an to Andrew, not just Nom
as She had become to Malcolm,
and to the children.
Nancy had been exciting, He
was, she knew, a man of many
affairs, of a cultivated taste in
women And now she was his
taste, his affair, and that knowl-
edge was exciting. It wasn't
that he had ever sought to make
love to her; he was much more
subtle than that. But each time
he saw her-not often-the time
seemed important; as if he
made a gay and delicious rem
devious with her. Today, sitting
beside him on the chintz-cov-
cred l%ove-seat, with Jerry and
Nikki in the same room, she
felt the gay Importance of this
occasion.
They were two sophisticates
in a regrettably humdrum
world. With Andrew, Nancy was
not old, not even middle-aged-
she was rather a mature wom-
an who was interesting to a ma
ture man. Neither took their
companionship too seriously.
Either would move to halt their
emotions before they reached a
dangerous - or embarrassing
stage.
She felt her cheeks GO hot.
Embarrassment would be the
worst. Embarrassment would
ruin everything, spoil the deli
cate balance of their friendship.
Nancy did so enjoy her oc-
casional meetings with Andrew,
their infrequent walks together,
a cup of coffee at the Huddle
little things to loom so large
upon her horizon.
But she cherished each meet
ing, and the way he seemed to
make her come alive, her per-
ceptions sharpen, her feelings
deepen. Andrew made her feel
important, and attractive, and
she did love to feel so. Any
woman did!
The music finished, Andrew
left, quietly explaining that he
was due at the Hospital for
rounds. Jerry went with him to
the door, and they heard him,
later, stumping down the steps
to his room. Nancy sat on,
dreamy-eyed, before the fire,
continuing to examine luxuri-
ously her feeling for Andrew. A
thread of the music fingered
like perfume in her brain.
Nikki uncurled her legs, came
over to the hearth, set the
screen aside to place a fresh
log across the irons. The fire
!, light Illuminated her face ane
Nancy's; still kneeling upon thu
rug, she turned a little to lool
at her mother. CDR. Woodward
was as perky today as his red
| spotted brown bow tie" sh'
said lightly.
Nancy looked up. She wa
wearing a blouse of very sof
white stuff, lace-set and EN-
broidered exc uisitely. 1t was. be
coming to her delicate coloring
I her pale, shining hair brushed
| upward from her neck.
| EDO you see much of him
Nanny" Nikki asked c~uriously
| ct know you jelly with him oc
| casionally."
Nancy smiled at the term. :"
I like D. Woodward very much,
| she said softly.
I Nikki's brown eyes hardened
eff you were 10, I'd say 20
! had a crush on the guy"
Nancy's face went dead-white
her eyes hardened to the brlgh'
4 mess of cold steel, her han
drew back, and for the frs
/ time in their lives, she slappe
1 her daughter. Slapped her hare
the sound ringing through tn
quiet room, the marks OF ne
fingers showing red agains
Nikki's cheek.
Mortified, the two wome
faced each other for a minut
that seemed more like e p, hou:
f Then Nancy moaned a it'll
S reached toward Nikki, and tn
girl was in her arms, both
: them terrified, sobbing Wild.
! clinging to each other. But j
5 that long minute, a trap doc
had opened between thel
: yawning, dangerous
(To Be Continued
Some insects "sing' by Y
!. brating wings; some by saving