Show P 01 I 1 id ltv 0 wo two keys ays to baca a caan in B Y L I 1 D A L A R R I 1 M 0 R E 0 MACRAE SMITH CO SERVICE CHAPTER XIV continued 21 and with all of those deeds your mother has tied you to her for the rest of your lives you john and sarah at least interrupted gay oh of course ashes been splendid I 1 mean that sincerely but its a sort of selfishness too she resents me because I 1 can do things for you which she cant ashes afraid of me for you for your work for debby mainly because she wants to be the source of all giving like god like youre uncharitable gay im honest ive seen it if I 1 gabriella graham if I 1 had no money she would welcome me for your sake I 1 being who I 1 am she fears and resents me lack of security breeds fear when you are obliged to consider the possible result of every move you make you are cautious youre afraid too she said barely audibly as though the words had been forced through her lips you dont trust me he turned to look at her miserably you tell me I 1 know her voice steadied the things ive been thinking are true the things I 1 thought tonight while I 1 was waiting here for you what things gay that it possible we hurt hurl each other love enough oh gay I 1 do love you his arms reached for her passion flamed through the dark misery in his eyes 1 I adore you since I 1 first met you when you were fifteen years old ive worshiped you no dont touch me she slipped away from the sofa went to stand leaning against the wing chair beside the hearth he left rose to follow her dropped back sat with shoulders drooping his hands swinging between his knees it its S just biology it she asked with a little brittle laugh 1 I hoped there was more than that I 1 had the naive notion that biology was only a part of it that there could be companionship too and faith and security gay he groaned im beginning to understand no not that I 1 guess ive known but I 1 admit it do you remember christmas eve in new york when suki announced callers you asked me what you should say to them I 1 think I 1 asked you what you said to me you said 1 I tell you I 1 love you the only thing we can say to each other without quarreling what will we talk about when but if when were together we wont be here or in new york there wont be people getting in the way your family mine ive told myself that but it true we cant escape our environments well take them with us wherever we go well quarrel and make up and quarrel again but each quarrel will leave a scar lets not spoil it john he started up from the sofa gayl gay do you mean he asked hoarsely she held him off with an instinctive gesture uncle john may have known she said steadily her hands grasping the back of the chair but he was dying we must live john you and I 1 we cant let something that was beautiful become tarnished and scarred lets stop hurting each other lets end it now neatly and definitely he stood beside her at a little dis tance his lips moving his eyes 1 searching her face she glanced away do you want to do that he asked quietly yes her reply was as controlled as his question had been 1 I want to go home tomorrow and start to forget you it will be difficult but IU ill manage it you forget anything dont you in time do you mean that look at me gay her head turned she looked up at him through a film of tears 1 I mean it her voice faltered cilingin Cl ingin 1 I to the back of the chair she swayed as though her strength was gone he caught her held her for an instant they clung together urgently despairingly then she broke away that change anything john it oh cant we gay I 1 love you so his arms held her again her face streaming with tears lifted to his face when im with you like this darling how can we I 1 dont know CHAPTER XV kate sat up straight in the chair beside the long triple window in kitty camerons drawing room and closed the book she had been reading as gay and todd came into the room hello she said removing her reading glasses hello gay returned her greeting cheerfully hello kate todd said smiling kates keen eyes regarded them speculatively where have you been she asked driving in connecticut gay dropped into the chair opposite kates its a heavenly day grand summer at last todd stood beside gays chair looking especially handsome kate thought in a light flannel suit and a green shirt with a darker green tie which accented the lights in his hazel eyes what are you reading the dictionary anthony adverse since 1 can no longer get a kick out of telling people I 1 read it I 1 thought I 1 might as well but riding in connecticut kates eyebrow lifted arent you working these days this was business todd grinned at kate with a lighthearted light hearted air which raised the eyebrow higher an estate the bank may risk a mortgage on we were looking it over gay must have been a great help kate said dryly moral support gay said smiling ive got to run along todd said will eight be too early gay just about right I 1 should say gay smiled lazily up at todd tell your dad I 1 think its a safe risk except that the well sweep though picturesque is a fake ill remember that todd started toward the door bye kate goodby good by gay see you at eight you should learn to control your voice todd what big ears you have katie bye eight gay dont move you look too comfortable I 1 think I 1 can find my way out his footsteps sounded along the hall the grill of the lift slurred blurred and clicked kate looked at gay leaning back in the chair beside the windows hats are getting crazier and crazier she said yes arent they gay pulled off the scrap of straw to which kate referred that one looks like a fez without the tassel are you a shriner no im an elk you know gay spun the hat on her forefinger any word from mother e ra none youre going out for dinner yes and dancing afterwards well thanks for this fleeting glimpse of you do you mind I 1 wont go it you do I 1 know I 1 been home with you much and it was nice of 1 A t I 1 we could go away now tonight down into maryland you to come in and stay with me while katty and robert are away go on I 1 dont mind I 1 have anthony here for company quite a 2 lad too ive gathered from the portion ive read thus tar far do you mind really you sound oh go on kate regarded gay in in silence for a moment then 1 I suppose you know what youre doing she said what do you mean gays glance turned to the windows through which showed a glimpse of blue sky and early june sunlight you know what I 1 mean dont pretend that you dont todd understands if he does its more than I 1 do you break your engagement upset the entire family and then you proceed to spend a part of every day with him dont scold me when im cheerful todd and I 1 are just very good friends which I 1 suppose is the reason he comes in here fairly dripping moonlight and roses theres nothing like a good friend to put a song in the voice and a shine in the eyes theres no pleasing you gay laughed when I 1 stayed at home you urged me to go out now that im following your advice you scold me you have no sense of proportion you either act like a hibernating groundhog ground hog or a slightly intoxicated oth youre going too hard kates rows drew together in a frown youre so thin you scarcely cast a hadow and your eyes are too big or your face it makes me interesting look 0 o ng oh nonsense I 1 dont like what oure doing to todd that should be todds dodds concern it 1 I know you tell me none of my business im sorry kate its all right todd rodd has gotten all over being in love with me kate looked at her with an expression of studied derision which did not conceal the concern in her eyes 1 I suppose you hink its charming modesty to pretend that he more in love with you than ever kate waited then burst out what mat has happened what about john nothing gays eyes fell from kates anxious face to the hat in her lap excuse me ive wondered but youve been so stately that I 1 dared to ask questions have you no nothing thang really I 1 hear from him hes well and busy theres a chance of his getting the soil of work he wants in boston he particularly interested in general practice and the doctor for whom he has been substituting has returned I 1 ought to start to dress if im going out were having dinner at the heron club the food much but the music is good denny oconnor is there again I 1 adore his songs right change the subject act has something happened I 1 was afraid you were right it it worked out gay lifted shadowed eyes dark with pain which contradicted the half smile trembling across her lips east is east and west is west as mr kipling pointed out that about the rich young man and the camel and the needles eye you with your rectory training should understand it applies to young ladies who have too much money as well she sagged down in the chair her hands falling in a gesture of hopelessness im so tired kate dont go out go to bed ill bring you something on a tray she sat erect forcing animation into her gestures her voice her smile 1 I want to go when im dancing where there are people she sprang up from the chair oh how I 1 hate good times gay kate rose and went to her theres no sense in this you know go to bed youre as white as chalk gay stood by the windows looking out into the clear atmosphere still bright with the afterglow after glow of the sun june she said barely audibly its lovely at the cabin now there are wild strawberries in the meadow across the road and the ferns are uncurling along the lane 1 I wish never seen the cabin do you I 1 dont I 1 have missed it im grateful youre half sick gay kate c ried cried desperately please go to bed im going out to dance she turned from the windows not looking at kate it if it takes the rain to make the pretty flowers she sang a little off key have you heard denny oconnor hes marvelous well if a sample are you criticizing my voice she swayed toward kate dropped her head against kates shoulder it just takes time it kate how much time does it take the music stopped todd lea gay to the seat against the wall upholstered in peacock blue leather are you having fun he seated himself beside her has anything happened since this afternoon 1 I am she turned to smile at him brightly no nothing has happened why do you ask youre so quiet I 1 thought you enjoyed this afternoon 1 I did she raised her glass did you tell your dad that we thought the property was a prey good risk youre unhappy gay very ungrateful of me when a gentleman takes a lady dancing the least she can do is to be bright and merry 1 I dont care about that todds dodds face above the conventional black and white of his dinner clothes was very grave Is there anything I 1 can do she was silent for a mome 50 y then 1 I must do it my myself self said slowly listlessly 1 I should have made it a clean break three months ago ive always disliked loose ends gay he bent toward her do you think of what I 1 told you of what ive been telling you all spring very often her glance lifted then fell to the table her fingers twirled the slender stem of the glass will you he asked very low her eyes lifted again met his eyes steadily 1 I do that to you todd but it if im willing to take a chance well neither of us have any peace she said thoughtfully until he john she paused glanced away 1 you know that you c can an talk him to me yes I 1 know youve been n 11 her voice faltered 1 I cant tell you you do lik like e me gay you are my best and my dearest friend then why not you say that he that john hall half expects it it be the most simple solution we could go away now tonight down into maryland you cant keep on like this youre making yourself in ill I 1 know you love him but you love me too in a different way and it if hes it would be a simple solution for him for me too perhaps but you todd youre too fine to have anything but the best be sacrificing yourself to have you even the part ot of you that has always belonged to me not a sacrifice its pure selfishness gay im conceited enough to think that in time and youre probably right I 1 dont know weve always come together again after either of us has strayed he smiled you remember when I 1 was pretty crazy about julie I 1 woke up one morning while visiting her ir charleston and wait to get back to you I 1 had myself all primed for abasements and declarations and when I 1 burst in on you at southampton all you said was go change your clothes todd were sailing in a race this afternoon 1 I remember A faint reflection of his smile curved her lips encouraged by the smile he went on eagerly persuasively and y you were running a tempera temperature tur t about that aviator what was his name 9 TO BE CONTINUED |