Evening star., 1951-05-01
CHAPTER NINETEEN.

for few days., Tanla reminded
Bill Reynolds.
Sorry. I forgot" A mockint
smile played over his firm mouth
They talked very little aftel
that. and well before lunchtime
he dropped her at the Lake Mi.
nerva station. When the hote
|bus picked up Tania and severa
Others on their way to the resort
and drove up the winding noun.
ltain road Tania forgot her trou-
bles momentarily in the beauty
Iof the white, snow-covered noun.
tains.
Everything seemed clean ano
pure, the white snow, the greer
fir trees, the clear blue sky anc
the dazzling sun. 1t was like
being reborn into another world
Forget" she thought. Forget
for few days! Try to be happyP
In her inconspicuous dark
clothes. with her drab hair and
glasses, no one paid undue atten-
ton to her. For the first time
since last Wednesday she felt
safe. No one had bothered MARY
White" No one had followed her
when she'd met Bill the night
before, or when she met him this
morning.
Since Bill had told her he ex-
Ipected to be busy all afternoon
interviewing the champion skiers
from the West and Canada, Tania
amused herself by trying on his
sisters clothes. The royal blue
ski suit fit her perfectly. also the
wool socks and sturdy boots.
There were two pairs of we'll
cut slacks and gay plaid shirts
which also fit. She smiled a
little as she saw that he had even
brought long woolly ski under
wear and warm flannel pajamas
and robe.
She wondered how a man Sc
big could have a sister so little
and he envied the sister having
a brother like Bill. It was lonely
being an only child, especially
when your parents had died and
your nearest relatives lived ir
Europe.
In the middle of the afternoon
she ventured out to the beginners
ski run and tried out her skill. II
had been years since she'd been or
skis, yet in a short time she was
back in the swing of it again, bal
ancing herself with the expert
dancers grace.
Just the joy Of pure physical
exercise made her forget worry
and brought rich red color to hel
cheeks.
At dark, when she followed some
other skiers into the big lounge
and sat warming herself before
a roaring fire. she wished she
might stay here forever and never
Igo back to New York.
Bill came into the lounge with
several other men. He nodded to
her politely, and said. Hello
Mary" his manner indicating they
were casual acquaintance. She
moved to a farther couch in a dim
corner, away from the fire, and
sat quietly. watching him.
He wore red plaid shirt, a rec
kerchief tied around his throat
and navy blue ski pants. Some.
how, in sports clothes, he seemed
much younger. and oddly boyish
AS he talked to the group oi
men he smiled often. his blue eye.
sparkling with wit and humor
and now and then his big laugh
doomed out in the room. A LITTLE
boy came running into the loung,
and up to one Of the men.
Daddy. Mommy says time fol
dinner" he caroled. Then hi.
glance found Bill and with a CRY
lof delight he climbed up on Bill.
lap and flung his arms arounc
Bills neck.
Bill laughed down at him. "Well
Roddy, I didn't think you'd re-
member me after a whole year,
The boys father smiled. RE
member you? He's done nothing
but talk about Uncle Bill since
last winter"
AS Bill talked to the youngste1
his face relaxed into happy lines
and his blue eyes held longing ano
tenderness. Tania thought, why
Bill loves children. You can see
lit. He'd make a wonderful father
And she wanted to cry. Her heart
felt dissolved by her overpowering
love for him.
Il can't lose him." she thought
mo matter what happens, I can't
lose him. If I do, I don't care il
I live or not. I don't care if
ever dance again or mott"
A few minutes later the men
and the little boy left. Bill promis-
ing to meet them for dinner. Then
Bill strolled carelessly toward the
couch where Tania sat and
dropped down beside her. offering
her a cigarette. How did it &c
this afternoon?" he asked in a low
voice.
so good I never want to leave
here" she told him. II was skiing
all over the place."
His glance drifted thoughtfully
over her face. II saw you once
from the top Of the rum" he said
II never realized what a beautiful,
figure you have, or how completely
graceful you are. It was a delight
| Meet.