New Britain herald., 1925-06-13
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didn't understand rom the upoka he was forever reading.
 He shrugged hts shoulders, Tt doesn't natter he said, But know, myself, that we can't go on living this way. It's impossible, zee it. too."
 Gloria dropped, She braced her self against the side of the garage door.
 "Well. what are VIC going to do about it?" she asked, Do you want me to leave you? Do you hate me as much as that, Dlck?"
 He did not answer at once. He took hts old pipe from his pocket and filled 1t.
 Its like thia, Glory" he said finally. T don't hate you, at all. But Wayburn ... he's there, be- tween us. somehow. You see. l cant ever kid myself again that you care about me. know that you'd be in New York with him now. If he'd wanted you to be there. !. A man doesn't forget thing like that. No one but boob like me would ever have had you in his house again. on any terms. .".s s
 But I didn't do anything wrong." Gloria defended herself. What are a few silly kisses!"
 Dick sncered. 5 r.
 "Yes know that's the way you look at it," he said. but no decent woman would let any man but her husband kiss her, Glory. She wouldn't soil herself that way Gloria tossed her head inpatient ly. "Oh, you're so old-fashioned,' she answered. Think of all the betting that goes on at wild par ties. And it doesn't mean thing"
 That makes it all the more rot ten, then" Dick pointed out. Love I isn't a game or a toy. It's bigger than any of us. v
 He broke off abruptly. And when l he spoke again his voice was quite cold and matter-of-fact. Come on, let's 20 into the house. The mosqui- toes are beginning to bite out here." He stopped to scratch his ankle.
 They went in.~ Silently Gloria cleared the table, piled the dishes on the sink, and put the clean milk bottles out on the back porch.
 Then she went into the living room to join Dick. But he didn't look up. He went on reading as 1T he were all alone in the house. |. He was utterly unaware of Gloria
 We'll" she said after ten or flf- teen minutes had crawled by, You treat me just as if l were a piece Of furniture or something"
 Dick closed his book and laid 1t on the table. Did you want to talk to me?" he asked.
 Yes" Gloria answered. Her words came with rush. i've been thinking over what you said about Stan Wayb having come between you and me. :. And yet you keep Miss Briggs working in your office when you know she's in love with you and that I want you to get rid of her!"
 Dick gave short laugh. He picked up his book and opened it.
 If every man. whose wife want cd him to, would Ase his stenog- rapher, half the girls in the country would be out of job tomorrow morning." he said. No, I'm not go- ing to fire Miss Briggs. Why should I? =. She's a good worker. I'd have a hard time filling her place. There was a flick of fnality in his voice.
 Very well, you keep her." Gloria answered, T should worry. I'm go- ing home to my mother tomorrow anyway"
 Dick made no sign that he had heard her. ., You don't care if l go do you?' she asked, hoping he'd say hs did , care.
 q want you 10 do whatever you think will make you happy" Dick said gra,ely. You know you car , stay here as long as you like. But it you'd rather live with youl mother and father, I'll take care oi you. I'll send you all the money , can spare, every week. So do as vol please"
 Gloria tried to smile .. a poo little smile that barely lifted th' P corners of her mouth. Herd throa
 swelled, and her eyes ached witt unshed tears.
 "AIl right. old dear" she said . irving to make her voice light am
 careless. But high note of agon
 ran through 1t.
 n Incredibly she went straight t il sleep, her worn-out body throbbln
 in every nerve. And at dawn tn e next morning she awoke. il She sat up in bed and locke V around her room -. the famllla
 room with it's wide window-seat. II f lowered cushions, and silver pic l- ture frames.
 Tomorrow morning she'd be wah ,e ing up in the shabby little bedrooI d in her fathers shabby little hous d shuddering. Gloria thought Of it. .
 the brown spot on the ceiling wher A inc rain had leaked through tn k. roof, the blistered woodwork. tn le battered iron bed.
 h How she had always hated th'
 little room that was too cold in tn n winter, too hot in the summer! An te how utterly glad she had been ,- escape from 1t, when she had maj ,s ried Dick Gregoryl
 m A tear slid down Gloria's chee Ii as she thought of all the morninI Ii. of her future ... the lone
 ayakenings in that little room Ip She lay with closed eyes an s ,..-a ntrk stirring in his room