New Britain herald., 1926-08-26

Mons isn't Mrs. Locke any more. She married again. Hel names Hefflinger," Merry said when they reached the corner.
 That so?" Tony asked, and then there was another long silence.
 Neither of these two who had SC much 10 say to each other, could say anything but the most trivaI things.
 1 They walked on.
 It was eleven o'clock when they i turned into the dusty greenness of Watrous Park, and found q bench ! under some rather sad-looking, 1 dropping willow trees.
 "Jinny tells me you're not mar ried,' Merry said quietly. She had turned and for the first time their eyes met squarely. The look was almost like touch-like a meeting of hands or lips, almost. She looked quickly away.
 | For years I've thought you were married" she went on. I've won dered what kind of girl you'd mar ried. Your friend, Mr. Benson, told me you were going to marry a Miss Zimmerman"
 He shook his head. q didn't, ." he said. She married somebody else A friend of mine"
 He gave her no more explanation than that.
 Benny said you were engaged too" His eyes were alight now. and he spoke with sudden eager ness. He told me you were going to be married, five or six years ago."
 T know" Merry answered. q was going to marry a man named Erskine. He-he threw me down."
 She let him have the truth.
 She threw her head back with a kind of defiance, and told him the story of her life since she had walked away from him on a long ago night. She told him all of it--- without trying to defend herself. Even the story of Nonie Purcelrs attempt at suicide.
 You were right to break with me, years ago." she wound it up bitterly. T wasn't good enough for you! It's taken me years to see it, though. And I haven't been good all those years I haven't been bad, exactly. either Just-blah, That's what I've been, Tony! Just mo- good!"
 Tony Gaines never forgot how she looked as she made her mean little confession to him. White and shame-face and yet with a kind of honesty and nobility in her face that was the thing he had always missed in it before. Her green eyes were filled with the sparkle of tears.
 She opened her handbag and took out handkerchief and something else that she laid in Tony's hands. It was his old letter-the letter that Cassie had folded away and hidden from her.
 T found this two or three months ago." she said. Cassie hid it the day you sent it to me-the day you went away" Her voice broke on the words, and she put her face down into her hands.
 "Everything's happened all wrong," she sobbed. Everything everything" And then she felt Tony's hands on her shoulders.
 This? Is this all wrong?" she heard his voice asking her. He put one hand under her chin, and turned her wet white face up to his.
 Look at me, Merry" he said quietly. Do you-have you missed me, all this time?"
 Have I?" She breathed the words. and shook her head.
 But Tony knew what she meant. His arms that had been empty so long, went around her, holding her so tight that they hurt her soft flesh.
 Its nine years since I kissed you the last time, he said five minutes afterward, when she lay trembling and wildly happy, in his arms.
 She laughed-a little laugh that was almost sob.
 Docs it seem nine years 10 you?" she asked. Its only eight, you know"
 ''It seems like a million,' Tony answered, exaggerating as no ac- curate and well-trained lawyer should. "A million and one"
 Across the green distances of the park church bell rang the hour of noon.
 You've missed your train!" Mer- " cried, you've missed your