New Britain herald., 1928-05-09
CHAPTER I

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 The man at whom the reckless speech di- rected smiled his disbelief.
 But mean it, Mel" the girl persisted
 'Yes, of course you do Just as you meant 1t with Berto last year and Harry the year before and ,.."
 Oh shut up l never prentended to care about them but you are different I'm crazy about you, Mel, The whole village knows it.
 The young man made gesture of wearlness with one hand His other busy at the table before which he stood, arranging the decorations for but fet supper.
 "Please stop being childish. Chiri, he said, and help me with these flowers.
 Chiri sniffed "Orchids. I suppose SHE sent them.'
 This time the paused in his work to regard her seriously.
 Why not? She sent this cloth too" touching the fine lace and linen cover, and these, lifting piece of sterling silver tableware. In fact she sent all this stuff, Chri, but what does 1t matter if she wants the things she's accustomed to? It's her party too, you know, and if hadn't the mural compet- tion and used it to celebrate down here we would be announcing our engagement uptown.
 Across the richly appointed table the girl called Chr drew back and looked at him scornfuly.
 You poor .. fool" she said slowly.
 "For heavens sake" he returned impatiently. stop trying to quarrel with me and get busy; can't you stick these candles up stra ght?'
 "l didn't come here to straghten candles. Every ones talking about you, Nie and this . what's her name? Brewster girl We all think you're mad. Why, Mel, dear,-she changed her voice suddenly from anger to tender peading-"cant you see it will ruin you to marry outsider such she is? Look. Linen! And used to bare boards, or Italian bro cade when someone is lucky. How will you like to sit down day after day at precisely the hour to pre- cisey the same correct table, The butler will sheer at you if you touch anything when you shouldn't and pretty soon you'll want to kill him; and what will you do when the call you to dinner just when you've caught the thing you couldn't get into your work for weeks and weeks .. .'
 Good lord Chir, you don't know what you're talking about. doubt if you've even seen butler off the stage and besides We aren't going to live on Park Ayan I hnro f,l-, tir.r;r and imagine we'll be able to find meet ing ground for our tastes
 That kind of imagining has ruined many artists. Mel, and you know it. Oh cant let you do it. can't
 Chirl came like whirwind round the table and threw herself into his unwilling Her hands chung round his neck and her ragged bob brushed his lips. He disked her perfume. It struggle to free him. self without hurting her.
 "Chiri" he began firmly. "1 want you to stop this You know you're only acting and that you aren't wor- iied about my career.'
 Chiri smiled straight at him and threw pretense to the four corners of the big studio.
 Well, what if I'm not? l don't want you to mar ly, and one reasons as good another.'
 Then please save your acting for a better sion. The only thing I've ever liked about you Chri, IS your defiant thfuness.
 But you don't like it when say I love you.''
 Because you're lying. But Id be sorry if it were true as honestly believe I'm homogeneous Anyway, I've never loved any, girl but Virginia and have an idea that never will'
 Chiri ete peculiar little sound that meant too bad escape her lips You're talking like bourgeoise already, she declared responsibility. That's what her influence has done for you. Homogeneous. My God Aint nature wonderfulo'
 Must you be vulgar?' Nathaniel asked quietly
 "Oh, l don't care what l am' Chri cried with genuine tears in her eyes. They however tears of evaporation. "Youre the only love and you nave to go homogeneous.
 Nathaniel laughed. You talk as if that were a political platform. Chri I'm ashamed of you honestly am Do you think even if loved you i'd let myself he l,,l+D be afraid of you
 The trouble with you Nel you ought to have more conceit. Why should you care what brand my affections bear? It's my love I'm talking about and I guess know about it than you do I'll guarantee it's interesting.
 "Aot to me, Chr: please believe that And there the doofbell. A nice mess if it's Virginia. It It Is, for heaven ; sake behave yourself.
 lie moved off to answer the summons and the girl looked after him with mutinous eyes. She could not have him. Not now. She knew that. But men change. Things change And nothing could make her stop trying. There hadn't been another man like Ma thanel Damn. If only she could make him say. just once, ''1 love you
 Suddenly, like q cat sprnging she reached out and grasped beautiful purple and white orchid in her slim. nervous fingers and crushed it spefully It gave her the feel of hurting the girl who had won forever what she desired and could not have for even one hour
 Between her and the door stood d screen. She glanced at 1t with eyes made X-ray by her obsesson Nathaniel was kissing his loveshe knew that and if she hadn't known already she would have when she saw the girls face It ladianty beautiful as only the face of woman happy in love be- Niels kisses seemed to finger in the shining tenderness of the clear gray eyes and the curves of the smiling lips.
 Chr hated to look at it when Nathaniel ntro- duced her to Virginia And the voice that greeted her