The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-31
CHAPTER TWENTY

light frosting of gray, was
swirled in a shining crest. TIL e
deep purple of her well-cut dress
gave her a regal look, augmented
by the pearl choker she ore and
the pearl clips On her ears.
Roger said, his eyes a%pprecia-
tive as he leaned back on tn e
divan, a brandy goblet in his
hand, you're looking very lovely
tonight, my dear"
why, thank you, Roger" Leda
She had just seated herself in
said with pleasure.
a chair opposite the divan when
Roger spoke. Now she settled
back comfortably and let her eyes
rest on his face above the rim
Of her glass .as she slipped tn
warming amber Ii d. Roger
was looking well, too, she thought.
But then, Roger always looked
we'll. He was of medium height,
with good shoulders and no tend
ency toward fat. The gray hair
receding in two sloping points
above his temples gave him a dis
tinguished look. The blue eyes be-
hind his rimless spectacles were
intelligent and keen and his
mouth was firm, if a little lack
ing in humor.
He said now, "a few months
back I thought you were looking
tired, rather disturbed. I thought
O were probably working too
hard. Now you seem ore
rested"
Leda smiled. 81 had no d e a
you noticed, Roger. But it wasn't
my work. love that. For a while
I was rather worried over Val"
Eyes, l W" Roger Bedloe
nodded. children are a great re-
sponsibility. Sometimes I've been
lust as satisfied not to have had
any. Then again. He left it at
that.
Leda said, oval went through
such a miserable time-but now
that she's married everything
seems to be fine with her. She
and Wade are very happy-n o t
that l see much of them, they're
30 busy all the time with their
own friends a they've been
away a lot"
ut must have taken quite a
load off your mind to e her
settled, after all that other tragic
business"
"Oh, yes" Leda said. Her eyes
grew thoughtful. oval was quite
q worry to me for a while. She's.
different than Sherry-harder,
more reckless. Sherry's an agree
able child, she tries to do what
/ want. Val never cared-and
after Rick died, she grew ever
worse. S h e resented my having
talked her out of marrying him
before he went away-altnough
everything h q certainly worked
out better than it possibly could
have if l hadn't interfered. She
see that now, too, I'm sure.
She's been very sweet-the few
times I've seen her since her
marriage to Wade :" Leda's
- voice trailed off.
g.. Roger turned his brandy goblet
around and around in his fingers.
"You've been a wonderful mother
10 those girls, Leda. l hope they
appreciate you. Working SO hard
to give them every luxury, devot-
Ing your every free thought to
their welfare"
why Rogers, what a nice thing
to say"
"Sometimes,' the mar or IL e
divan went on slowly, his eyes on
her face, 1--WE thought you gave
too much time n thought to
your work and Dur children"
Roger Bedloe set his glass down
on the coffee table and leaned for
ward a little, his elbows on his
knees. He said, sometimes,
Leda, it seems to me you hardly
have time to remember yourself
that you're still an attractive
woman, with a Woman's natural
needs and desires. Sometimes I
think you've lived for your work
and your children to the p point
where you haven't had a chance
TO tIlfi1 your personal destiny"
What an odd idea, Roger"
Led said after a moment.
Never had he spoken to her in
this vein before. She didn't like
it-she didn't like it at all! Full
fill her personal destiny, indeed!
What did he mean? What more
perGonal destiny was there for a
woman than marriage, children,
work that she loved? The a It
that Tom had died fairly young
didn't alter anything. She still
had her children, her work. She
wag still quite satisfied with her
life. What had got into R g r,
:, Lda wondered.
: He was staring at her, too, in
4 way she didn't care for. There
: was a kind of warmth back OF
:. his blue eyes she didn't wholly
' understand. Or maybe she simply
didn't want to understand.
d. Roger said quietly, "Leda, you
. needn't pretend with me. w e
know each other so well-and I'm
: 80 very fond of you"
: I'm - fond of you, too" Leda
: said. Your friendship means a
' great deal to me, it always has"
: Roger leaned b a k again and
I the warmth of his glance was
. guarded, controlled. L e d a could
= almost convince herself she h a d
4 imagined it. He seemed his usual
: self again-the self Leda liked so
much better!-sitting there re-
Taxed and easy once more, reach
ing out for his drink.
K. He said, "Of course. you're
right, my dear. For a woman in
z your position and a man in mine,
discretion is absolutely necessary.
Friendship is our only possible re-
{ lationship and it's better not to
Z tnk z,,rcat,,or foroof - o1,an in rri-