The Washington times., 1928-10-06

CHAPTER xviii
Masie hardly left the flat the
two weeks Curtis was away. Il
never know when there's going
60 be a special delivery letter or
q telegram or somethin'." she ex.
planned to Miss Harvey. II never
see such q fellow for sendin'
things. win you look at these
Iris Elegants in November? An
yesterday 1t was these here choco-
lates have one, Joan won't
care : an just look at that
box win you? I tell her we'll
have to save It. it's too good to
throw away. -
And every night when Joan
wondering what he had sent.
Like Christmas every day!
She just loved his letters, too.
Warm. friendly. brief little letters,
written in his square, heavy
hand. Full of subtle humor, and
something else. something you
could feel, something that seemed
70 beat through the words, in q
sort Of rythm ST love you
I love you"
But OF course. he doesn't
feally.''
And then, before she had had
half enough of the letters. before
she was really ready to see him
again, he was hack. Meeting her
after work in the roadster, driving
her home, searching her face.
with his smiling light brown eyes,
laughing as ne asked. "IIave you
been true to me while I've been
gone? Have your"
So nice to have him back again.
20 nice > and yet and
yet she brushed the bright
hair ansrily hack from her fore
head. What was the matter
with her? Why wasn't she hap
pier?
Ruth was happy. She yawned
10 work in the morning always q
ee wminutes late. Whispered in
corners with Maudie Murphy
Long, intimate conversations.
He said l give you
my word / didn't, get to bed till
half-past 5 the most won.
derfuI dancer breakfast at
the beach ." Joan overheard
scraps of it. Heard their long,
stifled peals of shaking laughter.
Knew they were talking about
Bill.
In tho long, quiet nights, when
the house was dark and even the
cable cars had stopped running,
Joan lay in bed feverishIy tossing.
thinking about Ruth and Bill and
curtis TRYING 10 thrill to the
memory OF Curtis kiss long
Ing crying for Bill.
And then when she was really
beginning TO forget, when she
could leave his name without
ouivering. and see him with Ruth
without wanting to cover her face
with her hands. when she was
learning to find comfort in Curtis
then Bill came back.
IL was Maisie's lodge night.
Heavens" Joan thought when
she had finally gone, what a
fuss, just 10 see the very same
old ladies she sees every week.
and a few old men"
Then the door bell rang. Naisie.
Of course, she'd forgotten her
gloves! What shame TO have
come all the way back, with those
terrible high heels. and her feet
hurting so.
But it wasn't Maisie.
1t was Bill. Bill with the Gear.
dark head, the blue eyes, and the
little trail OF freclles over his
nose. that would keep him from
ever quite growing up. Bill 10
whom she had given her heart
and tears. Bill. come back like a
ghost. to haunt her. to torture
her. and then slip silently away
again, leaving her TO forget
II she could
They wavered in the doorwav Y.
tall, awkward Bill, and Joan still
with Maisie's kitchen apron tied
around her neck, and the white
gloves in her hand.
Come i'm she said. United the
apron. set the gloves on a table,
carefully as il they were made
OF glass. and would break.
He wandered around the small
crowded room, gingerly avoiding
floor lamps. footstools. silk cush.
ions. occasional tables.
81 don't know where to begin, "
he burst out at last. Joan, /
had to see you. 1 couldn't go on
this way" He broke off and
pointed TO the closed door to
Maisie's room. as there anyone
fhere?"
She shook her head. mo. no
enc
Joan. you're making il so hard
for met
You're not making things easy