New Britain herald., 1927-06-27

not interrupt hlS thoughts. l When he came back to her he said. "All right. I promise not to marry Pat except with your con- sent. but I cannot help thinking 1t isn't quite fair to her."
 CHAPTER XLIX
 John Aukland and Mrs. Tracy Part
 T think it's very fair. Phillip" said Anne. quickly. If Pat really loves you, under the circumstances two years is not long to wait. !. Of course you will not believe it now. but I am sure you are both much more in love with love than you are with each other. You two met at just the right moment, but if you had not. am sure it would have been someone else with both of you"
 Well, wish ] didn't have to tell her. anyway" said Phil, boyishly. Still I do not think 1t will come to her in the nature of a surprise. for all the while she has said that you would not give your consent"
 "she knew. Son. that reasonably I could not"
 Perhaps I had better see her to- night and get it all over with. In the meantime" he said, slyly, you might tell the Major the conclusions we have come to-"
 ''Phil. you do John Aukland a great wrong. He Is really the finest man I have ever met, and I often wonder what my life would have been had I married him instead of your father"
 Don't. Mother, don't bring up that old idea again. I think I'd rather not have been born than have had him for father. Get on l your wraps, we'll go over to the legation the first khing. I'll have to work fast if IM discharged be- fore the Sorbonne classes break up.". 1 legation Anne found that Phil would be able to get his discharge papers on that side. but 1t would probably be a week or two before he would get them.
 At a branch of the London tailors on Due de Opera it took some time | for Phil to order six suits of clothes and then Mrs. Tracy was ready to go back to the hotel for dinner. It seemed to her when Phil bade her goodbye st the door of the shop be- fore getting into the taxi, he seemed much more carefree than he had in the morning, and although she was tired. her heart was lighter than 1t had been in many months. When she arrived at the hotel she l found John Aukland waiting for her. Until then, she had forgotten, as she always forgot, everything but his wishes when Phil askJ her to do a thing that she had promised to dine and go for a motor ride with him that evening.
 What have you been doing to yourself. Anne" he said, you are looking happier than you've looked for weeks"
 Phil is going to be discharged on this side"
 T shouldn't think that would make you happy. dear. Then you've given your consent to his marriage with this French woman?" "Not at all. He's going to return with mo to the United States, but I can't tell you about it now, dear John. Wait for me about twenty minutes while I get into a dinner dress. I'm really very hungry" Anne Tracy did not look into John Aukland's face, or she would have seen a film or sadness come into his eyes, However. he said nothing, except "Ill wait for you here."
 He thought she had never looked more beautiful than when she came toward him ip the hotel foyer. and something clutched at his heart, be- cause he knew that if Phil was go- ing back to the States with her, he had probably exacted from his mother the pl omise that she would stay single for his sake. However, nothing was said about 1t until they were sitting over their coffee and cigarettes in the lovely Le Doyen restaurant on the Champs Elysees. It was Anne's favorite cafe, so quiet and far from the maddening crowd. Her thoughts were particularly happy tonight un- til Major Aukland asked, When do you expect to go home, Anne?' "As soon as we can," she an- swered. T hope you will be able to go on the same boat.
 No. I will not"
 "Why are you so sure, John?" Because. Anne, I have decided that shall dangle no longer about you. You haven't been kind to me-"
 Don't say that, John."
 T must say it.
 You know I've been in love with you all these years. and you know for the last two years, love has al- ways been trembling on my lips, ahd when tonight l had determined to tell it to you again, and for the last time. I knew by your face that 1t was useless"
 "Yes, it Is useless. John," said Anne, with sigh. This morning Phil promised me that for two years at least he will not marry Pat. but he also eXacted from me promise that I would live for him alone" Selfish. arrogant young cub, !" said John Aukland. under his breath.
 What did you say, John?' asked Anne.
 "Nothing. dear. except that to- night I'm going to accept your dec'- sion. I have been putting off for nearly a week an answer which I was to give the Near East Expedi- tion, hoping against hope you would for O. nd Q