The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-28
CHAPTER Z29

ASSA be called a white night" It was oAack and gloomy. for the realization that bad times loomed ahead for Car 1otta and me didn't leave ma ro1,cp placld1ty or power to indulse in sleep. - got up very early and was dressed Tor the street before eight. Then T set tray with the coffee and toas, d made between whiles and carrie1
 IL III to Betty. She awoke with the oazed air of child, smiled at me vaguely, made one or two ineffec+,.I passes toward the tray and then urn ed around and composed hersedf to sleep again. For a moment r fe1t t+ my duty to arouse her and fo1.rarl.ra some plans for the hours to co,,a
 Inen realized that perhops this is the first time since Terry's death +ba. Betty has slept sweetly and serene1xy without resorting to narcotics. So went out of the apartment withour disturbing her.
 Fortunately had no trouble in pe+- t1ng taxi, so I managed to arrive at Carlotta's ahead of our ,,su.I breakfast hour. I slipped out of nv nat and coat and when Carlotta came Into the breakfast room, there I was W'a1tlng for her as if nothing unusual had taken place. Her unsusnecrrn.- race told me that Bertha had kent her own counsel and that Carlotta had no knowledge that I'd deserteo her roof for the night
 Good morning. she said "yo, are the earliest bird I ever saw. con sidering you weren't in last night when I arrived"
 Good morning." replied. wtthouy oHer1ng amendment or cor7,action
 My open door told you I was out-"
 Yes. it did" agreed Car1otta. "Ana was terribly disappointed, for I wanted to-come in and cry on your shoulder
 : Then the evening wasn't a suc- cess /! I ventured.
 1t was frost.'' said Carlotta f,ft terly- I couldn't touch Tony or move him or even find him He u,os encased in tarnor. He told me erfrn1x- mat when he saw you with Lacy and we went out to his car and he thought of poor Betty-he just hated for being selfish enough to go off like that and let her be rnfs- erable and alone. You'd almost think he knew about her coming to you and and -"
 Wait. Carlotta." I interrupted, ai- most grin1ly. You must be careful how you let Betty affect you. don't.
 Z any temporary bitterness means any, thing. But if you lot your feelings warn you. that will be dreadful It won't leave you the wonderful radf- ant, warm, vivid Car1otta we all love-
 What do I carer" stormed Car otta. How can 1t matter who loves me if Betty Winston is coming be- tween me and who I wanted?"
 
 need is making what you want thing of the future But you can wait You must wait -
 1T must wait rnumb1ed Carfotta. Waiting wouldn't be so bad, but I've ] terrible fee1ing-a prem ohition, if you like-that she's going to cost me I can't get away from thes1a ceiling that she's going to take every hing from me-"
 ''Carfotfa." I protested. You're morbid. 1ss bad enough for Tony to Ion't you see the coil you're going to .reate ?" -
 Lets not talk about me-" said staring into my face with onn etl1fng like hostility in the deep y yes that gazed over the rim of her ,offee cup. '"Te11 me what kind of a ine you had last night"
 'T didn't go,' I said. knowing that he time had come to tell Car1otta what her mood was making it so ard to convey. Is
 You didn't go? But you said --''si5i
 ''I said what I felt I had to say to z. nsure you the evening with Tony" ep1ied.
 .'So that was it," Carlotta mur- aured as if to herself. and I noted ow peculiarly she smiled at her own yords-or mine. Then she added, in
 voice noticeab1y softer and gentIer ham her previous tones had been. You were ready to jugg1e the truth nat Is always so precious to you and put yourself in a very peculiar po- ton to assure me the evening with ony. I call thak very friendly or ou. Anne, We'll. what did you do?''
 (To Be Continued.l