The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-04

dlytIllng Sne had ever heard II
all her life.
Maggie was frankly and heart
eningly glad to have her back
But she peered at Cathy sharp
ly, once they were back in the
neat little white house. "Looks
to me like your vacation didn't
pan out any too good" she sale
sternly. "You're looking m ore
peaked than when you left
"Civilian travelling is hare
work." Cathy answered.
"Could be at that. Me,
wouldn't know" said Maggie
"All the travelling I do is from
here to town and back, ane
that's the way l like it. Just ;
hick at heart.''
Later, when they were having
supper, Cathy made herself ash
the question she knew Maggie
was waiting to hear. Mentally
she braced herself, and her tont
was elaborately cool and casua
when she spoke.
"Has Bill come homer"
"Not so far as I know" an
swered Maggie, and her owl
tone was more casual thai
usual. 'Way I heard it, the Dow
ager Queen has gone up to Rich
mond to meet him and driv
home with him. Taking alon
her house guest, Of course"
Cathy was a little puzzled b,
Maggie's tone.
"Oh, has Mrs. Kendall hous
guest?"
"Sure-I'd say sne was tn
Dowager Queens selection for
wife for Bill-a suitable wife.
Maggie waited for Cathy'
answering grin as she empha
sized the word.
For a moment Cathy sat yer,
still and felt every drop of colo
drain out of her face. Maggi
locked at her and then away AM
went on hurriedly.
Zone of those society gals
with a capital S that the Dow
ager Queen dotes on so much
A blonde, with figure built fo
a sweater, and blue eyes an
long golden curls hanging dow
on her shoulders-and a dispo
sition that would cut glass-s'
gossip has it. Seems she cut u
quite a shindy in the drug stor
because Allen didn't carry tn
kind of perfume she wanted-a
fifty dollars an ounce"
Cathy had herself under con
troll now, and Maggie breathe'
a little more easily.
"She sounds-quite a person,
said Cathy.
ooh, she's a locker. Knocl
your eye out, and all that ad
mitted Maggie. "But I'd fee.
mite sorry for any fellow tha
married her-especially Bill
/ Cathy's face tautened.
"Oh, 1 doubt if Bill will MARI.
her." she said, and caught her
self up swiftly. "Bill is quit
capable of looking after himsel
in matters of that kind, I shoul
Think
"He's a man, isn't he? An
what man is capable of protect
ing himself in the clinches from
a gal who looks like spun suga
and altar of roses-and behave
ike-like stinkweed?" demand
ed Maggie.
Cathy made herself laugh ant
said, "Oh, well-that's Bill
business. You and don't hav
to worry about it"
81 don't want to pry, chick,
said Maggie after a moment
'But-well, have you and Bill
quarreled?"
Cathy was still for a momen
and then she looked up at Mag
gle and said honestly, "Bill ane
are through, Maggie. All wash
ed up-finished."
Maggie looked ready to burs
into tears. But she studied th'
girls white, set face for a M o
ment and then she said gently
"Well, knowing how Graz!
you've always been about him
chick, I'm sorry. But I cam
help feeling like maybe you're
better off in the long run. Witt
Edith Kendall dominating Bill;
life, and not liking you-beinl
married to Bill would be dog!
life"
$50 let's just forget it, shall
we?" said Cathy huskily. 'I's
rather not talk about it any
more"
"Well, of course not. Silly sor
of subject anyway" agreed
Maggie, and as she rose to cleal
the table, she put her arm
about Cathy and gave her a LITTLE
hug.
Cypressville was dead and dull
and empty without Bill, withou
even dreams of Bill. But Cathy
realized that any place in the
world would be dull and empty
to her now. She would have
shaken the dust of Cypressville
from her feet and never come
back again, but for Maggie. She
barely remembered her OWL
mother, and her father had dice
when she was too young to re
member him. Maggie was he1
family, her beloved and adorin&
family. And having Cathy a
home for a while meant a grea'
deal to Maggie. For her to leave
now would be cowardly, and il
would be cruel to Maggie.
She looked forward with al