since our marriage. This time he was making the trip by plane and would only be away several days, so decided to remain at home.

On the second day of Granger's absence I lunched with the wife of one of his man friends. She lived about a mile north of our home. I hadn't driven to the luncheon engagement because it was such a sun-spangled day and I wanted to walk.

About three o'clock I started home. My friend offered to drive me, but I insisted upon walking. No one guessed that when I appeared to walk alone, I was ac companied by the ghost of Jan. Don't laugh. People who are part of our hearts but who are separated from us in life, do have ghosts. And these ghosts have the power to haunt us every time they are remembered.

I was about half way home, when I saw Bob ap proaching. I intended to say "Hello" and "Goodbye,' and keep on walking.

But Bob was determined to talk with me. "Hi, Melba! On your way home?""

"Yes.""

I could see then that he had been drinking. In fact he was quite drunk.

"I was walking in to Monterey," he said. "But instead I'll turn around and walk back home with you. Maybe you'll give me a drink-or at least coffee."

"I can't have you visiting me when my husband isn't home," I said quickly.

"Oh what a moral little Mrs. you turned out to be!" Bob snorted. "So you won't let me in the house without Granger being there. So okay. At least I can walk along with you."

"I-I suppose so.

Bob attempted to take my arm but I shrugged away from him. He merely laughed, and made no other attempt to touch me. For a few moments that is. Then his attitude changed.

We were taking a short cut along the dunes.

Bob said, "I heard a rumor that your aging husband would like to hear the patter of little feet around the house."

"I don't care to discuss anything personal with you." I quickened my pace.

Bob glanced up and down the road to be sure no cars were approaching. Then he caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and twisted it.

"Don't snoot me. You pretty package of taboo." Temper fired his voice. "I stepped over the boundary with you once. I could do it again.'

The pain in my arm was growing. I tried to wrench away from him.

"I said I could do it again," he repeated threateningly.

"I hate you!" I jerked away from him and he let go of my arm so suddenly it threw me off balance. I fell face downward in the sandy dirt beside the road.

"Eat dirt!" Bob said. Then he shoved my face deeper into the dirt.

Sputtering and choking, with indignation sending a searing flood through me, I struggled to a sitting position and wiped dirt from my face. "I hate you!" I repeated above a sob.

"To hell with that!" He kicked at me. "See here, you little lesbian, I'm the boy who knocked you up once. And I can do it again.

"I won't listen to you." I put both of my hands over my ears. But to tell you the truth I could still hear every word Bob said.

"You'll listen. What if I do knock you up? Your old husband would be all pepped up with pride, wouldn't he? Sure! He'd take credit for being a father. Say! That's an idea. Let's us get together and make good old Granger happy."

Bob leaned over, and dug his fingers into my shoul-