New Britain herald., 1928-06-29
y! :! 6. q. A!!Gim!:i!. k !!!e YES

Shed have preferred not to return
to New York until the end OF her
year of freedom.
1t would be easier to be parted
from Nathaniel by distance than
by a love grown cold.
But the day came when the ship
was berthed in the home port. There
was the red tape that delayed inn
mediate landing, and then Virginia
was back again, filled with mingled
yearnins TO rush to Nathaniel and
reluctance TO See him at all.
She had not written to him. She
could not write in the vein he had
employed. silence would help to
maintain the impression that she
was growing Indifferent toward
him. For these reasons she had
stifled her longing to reach him by
mail.
He could ascertain easily enough
when the Agena was due to arrive if
he wished to know. she consoled
herself when she thought Of the
welcomeless Homecoming she was
inviting. But she did not expect to
See him at the pier.
She was long in leaving the ship,
having remained to speed her
guests" and to receive their ex-
pressions of gratitude for pleas
ant voyage.
She walked listlessly down the
gangplank without a glance at the
pier which was nearly deserted
now.
Suddenly pair of arms opened
out before her and she walked
blindly into them. They closed
about her. held her with her face
pressed tight against a rough over
coat while Nathaniel, confessed his
JOY at having her back.
Happiness surged over Virginia
like an ether that wiped out every
thing but this great this indescrib-
able. relief of being with Mel
again.
But trouble does not vanish until
it is conquered. Nathaniel knew
nothing OF Nirginias momentarily
overwhelming JOY. He only knew
that she broke from his embrace
before he was ready to release her.
and looked at him with eyes al
ready wiped of truth.
How good OF YOU she muir
INJURED. Il didn't expect YOU"
Nathaniel clamped his lips close.
and scanned her face through mar
rowed eyelids for a few seconds.
Il know you didn't" he replied,
with a short. rasping laugh. But
I'm such a poor fool that l came
anyhow"
Coming up to my hotel?" she
asked indiftcrently.
NO, I'm not" he growled. 1--WE
had enough. But Ill take a taxi
with you, and drop off at the
studio
He was furious with himself be-
cause he could not resist lingering
in her company.
He had come because he could
not keep away. He had meant to
greet ntr WIFI no IlloIe "dIlItu
than she herself displayed.
He'd take his cue from her. Her
silence had proved her love was
gone, but he wanted additional
proof. That everything was at an
end between them now was incon-
trovertible.
He wanted to turn on his heel
and walk away. And he hadn't been
able to do it. He took some pride
in his refusal to accompany her to
her hotel, but 1t hardly made UP for
his weakening enough to go as far
as his studio.
Virginia was mired in a strange
mixture of emotions. She was elated
one moment because his love had
endured despite her casting him to
The spell OF her rival. and depressed
the next because she could not re-
veal her citation to him.
No matter now what he said or
did she would know that he loved
her. That one moment when he held
er in his arms with unrestrained
fervor betrayed him. He was her
man, her man!
Her heart sang the words in a
paean of enchanted ecstacy. But 60
accustomed had she become TO liv-
ing one character in her heart and
another for the world to see that
Nathaniel never heard the song, or
even suspected it's existence.
To him she was just a cold, IN
different, uninterested girl whom he
had kissed against her will.
They rode to his studio in a
silence that WAS broken only by an
occasional remark from one or the
other. Nathaniel did not invite her
to enter though Virginia both hop
ed and feared that he would do so.
She drove away with little nod
through the door ne had closed be-
hind him-a door he had closed
with a feeling OF having stepped
forever from a paradise to which
there is no rc-entering.
Heartless. cold, unreal--call her
what he would, he loved her. Dis
respect, Late. contempt. all had
failed him when he sought to use
them TO tear her out of his heart.
Her face was sweet. her voice
and body lovely. Nathaniel de-
spised himself because they en-
thralled him, but he had not sue