New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-09-17
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dlSO Bays ne Sd" you,
Larry said that" she sounded
rather than angry. We'll,
then it's his word against mine,
isn't it,"
Brsvado had come to her aid. Her
air was almost saucy, her tone al
most gay.
Buck was annoyed. How could
she treat such a serious matter so
Bunny dear" she said, ~ can't
let you go on like this! And, too,
before you go any further, there is
else / must tell you.
love you, darling, and I want you to
learn to love me. I want you. to
promise that when this awful affair
is all over, you will let me try to
win your heart, try to make you
see how / adore and worship you,
and try to win your love in return.
How about it, little sweetheart"
The fact that no repulse had met
his overtures made Toddys heart
leap high with joy, and he caught
the girl to him.
But she draw away, her hands
gently pushing off his eager arms.
Don't she whispered, lat least
not new,-not yet. You don't know,
oh, To-day, dear, you don't
you're going to tell me all I don't
know" he caught her f1uttering
hands and held them close. you're
going to let me be your father con-
fessor and your guide, philosopher
and friend, as we'll as your slave and
adorer and-and, my darling, your
future husband"
She sighed. and for moment he
thought she was going to surrender
her sweet felf to his embrace, then
she turnedsaway from him. and with
tears in her voice she said: mo.
please don't touch me. lob,
don't know what to say or do. And
now. I must-I must go through
with it! ! have to,-oh, I have to-
Yes dear, but I'll go through
with it, too. I'll be with you every
step of the way. You can depend
on me,-oh. Bunny. you can depend
on mel"
II well believe that,--but, no, !
must go alone-alone."
And with that she left him and
valkde slowly back and into the
house.
CHAPTER XXXVII
Buck locked after Bunny, sorely
to follow, but concluded
not to, feeling it was better to let
her think things over by herself.
He went back to his chair on the
porch, where sheltered by the clus-
.ering vines. he sat and smoked
cigars.
His aunt came out and said, in her
crisp way:
Come, Teddy Boy. It's late, You
ean think about her in your dreams
instead of catching your death of
cold out on this porch. Come along
NJ
NO, Aunt En-. You run along to
bed, and I'll go up when I get ready
Leave the door open, I'll lock it
when I go in"
ooh all right, have your own
way, but if you get hay fever, don't
blame mel"
"I won't. Good night, auntie
lear"
Good night, Boy. You'll find
anything you want in the pantry-if
90 be, you can think of anything SO
presaic as food"
Buck smiled at his aunt's intui-
lion, and left her ralliery unan-
;wered.
He sat there for hours, unheeding
he flight of time. He ceased smok-
ing, and sat, almost motionless, CIV
ing himself up to dreams far re-
moved from detectives and murder
mysteries.
How sweet and dear she was! And
that little wistful smile-that alone
petokened her utter innocence. If
she had a secret, it was that she was
somebody else-from some
mistaken sense of duty.
well, he would ulSCoNef iei sc
,ret-he had right to, for his mo-
lives were all for her good, his In
terests only hers, from now on and
forever.
Some day. this awful investigation
would be at an end, some day she
would be free to go or come as she
pleased. Then she would go home,
and he would follow. He would meet
her people, interview her father, and
all would be shipshape and proper.
Whether it was the mental picture
Of the wedding feast, or the increas-
ing chill of the night air, something
turned his thoughts to the pantry
his aunt had so casually referred to.
He was just contemplating move
in that direction, when he saw some
one coming out of the front door.
The door had been Closed. though
not locked and the one who came
it was Bunny-yes, surely,
Bunny!
He sat very still, his eyes almost
starting from his head. Was she,
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