New Britain herald., 1926-07-14

enough 10 put her eyes out. But sh' loved this ring that had belonged to Tony's mother, too.
 "I love this one. I'd love it i it were made of tin and glass;" sht answered. her eyes on the ring, be cause you gave it to me-"
 Then, slowly, she raised hel eyes to his.
 Tony" she said. and her voice vibrated on his name. Irony, have something to tell would made up my mind not to tell it to you, but I guess I've got to-"
 In her own ears her voice sound ed queer and far away, as she be- gan her story.
 A thousand times afterward. she wished that she had never told it to him, that night.
 CHAPTER XVI
 She began her story by asking him a question.
 Tony" she said, do you re- member tonight that I was hurt and jealous because of something that Cassie said about you?"
 Worthless, he nodded.
 well. let me tell yor what she said" Merry's voice came jerkily with the effort of telling him what she had to tell him. Ut was last night, just after you teIe- phoned me to say you weren't com ing over"
 She stopped, sighed, and went on again:
 "shc warned mo not to let you | treat me the way Morley Kaufman treats her-kecping her in the background. never letting her meet his mother and sisters. She said that if you really meant to marry mo you'd have brought your moth CT over last night; she said you should have given me an engage ment ring, too"
 Even in the dimness she could see the look of relief that swept over his anxious face. It was in his voice. too. when he spoke.
 "Is that all?" he asked. q half suspected that Cassie had been working on your feelings when I saw you tonight-Cassie doesn't like me-" His hands frightened on hers.
 Cassie doesn't like anybody" Merry said slowly. but - that's only half of the story. Do you want to hear the rest of it?"
 "If he had said NO" at that mo-
 
 ferent for both of them for many years to come. But he didn't.
 He said simply, "Yes."
 "Well, after she'd finished talk ing to me, l was feleing pretty low in my mind" Merry took lip the broken thread in her story, "and decided to go over to Helen's new house with Mons Derrick Jones was going to drive her over"
 Shc couldn't go on. She dropped her head down 10 her hands, her shoulders hcaying. Now and then a smothercd sob came from her.
 And then?" Tony prompted her, after a long wait.
 Merry opened her lips 10 speak, | and then shut them again.
 q just cant tell him this" she | groaned to herself.
 And then?" Tony's voice insist ed with an awful gentleness, "and then what happened?"
 Suddenly Merry threw her head back and finished the story.
 T told you once before that | Derrick and I used to go round | didn't I?"
 If Tony remembered her telling him that-and, of course, he did | he gave no sign.
 Well anyway, 1 let him kiss | me last night!' Merry said. with a kind of hard defiance in her voice.
 When she had finished, they sat | there without moving while min utcs went by like dragging hours. Merry sat staring at a lamp post | beside her. glowing among the i bright green leaves of a maple | tree, like a lantern.
 At last she turned 10 Tony. He | hadn't moved. He was still bend 1 ing over the wheel Of the car. as he had been while she told him the sordid little story of last nights happenings,
 "I see" he said finally. "I see. 1 He leaned forward and threw the | car into gear. It began to slide | slowly down the street - away i, from the long white house where l he lived.
 He was taking her home! He ! wasn't going to take her in 10 meet ! his mother! He was taking her homci
 Tony" Merry said to him, and | laid one of her hands on his arm, | but he shook it off with a violent | 
 "Tony," she repeated, turning and twisting her hands, please let me tell you how it happened. | I hate Derrick, now! only did | it because l was angry with you! Tony, you've just got to believe just GOT to be believe mel" Her sobbing became great, tearing groans that shook her 1 from head to foot.
 She could only guess what was going on in the mind of the man who sat beside her in the rushing car.
 For he had nothing to say until the car stopped in front of her own house in Chester street. He got out then and walked with her to the front door.
 She stopped there and touched his arm timidly.
 Here's your ring, if you want | it." she whispered, looking up at him with fear and hope and mis- cry in her eyes. But without an-