The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-01

toeS-you didn't remember me,
OF course. But you were some
thing very special in the lives
of that outpost. None of us could
ever forget you. Boy, did you
have nerve? What I mean,
nerve!"
Some of the gang made book
bout you, Darling" said one of
the others. We bet you'd quit
the service and take out for
home, but fast"
Cathy laughed. Haven't you
boys learned yet that Uncle
Sem is boss you don't just
quit when you get tired or
scared"."
The tall boys face bsrdeaed
a little. we heard a few ru-
mors to that effect" he admit
ted.
But what are you boys doing
here in New York, all togeth-
err" demanded Cathy.
We're staying at Hotel Hal
loran for a few weeks, or
months or years." answered the
tall boy, touching his leg a n d
grinning. Until the medics can
be sure we know how to use
these little gadgets they
whipped up, without falling flat
on our kissers.'
"Look, Darling, how's about a
dance? l can prove the gadget
works - I can even jitterbug,"
said one of the others.
"Darling's going to dance
with me first.''
And then the tall boy, who
was obviously the ring leader,
noticed Bill and said casually,
'Hiya" And added with a dis
arming grin, You see, we call
her Darling because we don't
know her other name"
Cathy, remembering Bill tar
lily, turned to him, but before
she could speak Bill said Jelly,
''Her other name is Miss
Layne.
She caught her breath as
though he had struck her. She
had been about to say, Boys, my
husband but Bill had intro
duced her as Miss Layne. HI
had denied her in front of thes.
boys. And she saw that his eye.
were blazing with anger ane
that his jaw was set and hard
He was angry! He bitterly re
sented these boys and thei1
exuberant greeting of her. HI
was, of course, jealous - anc
that stiffened her spine more
than a little.
And Miss Layne is tired anc
doesn't care to Dance" Bill
went on curtly, his tone a dis.
missal so abrupt that it made
Cathy's own eyes flash.
"Nonsense - I'm not tired al
ALL" she said swiftly, ano
turned to the tall boy. "Prove
to me that the medics did &
good job with the gadget. Shall
call you Darling, too, because
don't know your other name?'
She laughed teasingly.
Hank Bowers, from Texas
Only why bother with it I like
Darling fine" said Hank hap
PLY, and put his arms about hel
as the dance began.
She looked over his shoulder
and saw the other three boys
settle themselves at the table
with Bill, all of them watching
her and Hank. Bills face was
grim and angry; the boys were
ignoring him, talking among
themselves, and Cathy had g
feeling as though suddenly she
had stepped out of a warmed
and lighted room into bitter
cold darkness.
The fact that she and Bill
were secretly married created
a tension that would not have
been present otherwise. Cathy
had known all along that Bill
had been humiliated and self
conscious because he had stayed
home on a war job, while she
had been the one to 60 over
seas. But she had not realized
until this moment that his hui
initiation had bred a secret, hid
den jealousy of her work; that
jealousy had flashed out now in
the face of these young men
who had shared with her some
Of the service denied Bill.
She made herself respond to
Hanks eager chatter; she
danced with each of the other
three boys, while Bill glowered
and waited, and while the bit
terness and the darkness grew
in her heart. And when she fl
nally came back to the table,
after dancing with each of the
four boys, she smiled uncertain
ly at Bill and said, "Your turn,
Bill?"
"Thanks-1 think not, it's get
ting late," said Bill, and there
was no arguing his tone.
"You'll come out to the hospi-
tai and see the fellows while
you're in town, won't you, Dar-
ling?" pleaded Hank.
OF course I will,' said Cathy
sincerely, her voice made even
warmer in an effort to counter
act Bills grim silence.
How's the captain, OAR
ling" asked one of the other
boys innocently, with a sly
glance at Bill; and Cathy knew
k1,ok 1~I Dill