New Britain herald., 1930-07-02

imploringly. "Oh, Alan, you cant believe that I would touch one of your letters? Surely you cant be- lleve that? Why, l didn't even see letter."
 Never mind the high minded stuff,' he snarled at her. The time for that is past. It only makes what you've done more hideous. Look at you. White an1 gold and clean! You ought to be black, black, black! As black as hell. Oh no. you wouldn't touch a letter that didn't belong to vol. Look at your hands,"
 His voice was stingingly sneer- irg. They're lovely, aren't they, your hands? Who'd ever think they could turn. themselves to talk ing bread and butter out of a baby's mouth? Oh, no, you wouldn't tou2h letter. You wouldn't erase the name Berna- dine wrote and put in one that's joke on the market, would you? You didn't know that I'd fall for i. because she got q tip from a man that even you know by h;s initials, did you? You haven't heard me mention him by them, have you?"
 He broke off, breathless and panting.
 Natalies face was regaining it's color under the smart of his words She understood now. But rot clearly. Her mind jumped to false conclusion. Bernadine had done this, she believed. How, she did not know she would need time to think it out. But Rernadine Lamont had done it. She had used her genius for evil to turn Alan into a blind fool, q mad blind fool, He was Berna- dlne's 3ow. heart, mind and soul.
 Natalie told herself this with sickening despair. She saw that it was useless 10 try to convince him of her innocence at the pres cnt time Perhaps - when his anger had abated - the thought held little of hope. A cold chill was rreeping into the very core of her heart. Knowing how hate fui was the thing Alan accused her of, she was beginning to feel that he could never have loved her, 10 believe, for one minute, that she would be guilty of such a crime.
 Her soul seemed dying within her. as though his words lay upon it with crushing weight. She put out hand and groped for physical support. Oh, no, no, no, she must not show Alan her wounds. They were for her only to know about.
 Alan laughed at her tottering progress 10 chair He did not know her sic9t had left her, that she was literally blinded with pain.
 Good acti' g." he applaudei. ITO had 10 waste if on me alone. Fut you always were good at everything Everything, that Is, but matrimony. You've made a fine mess Of hat"
 Natalie reached her char, anl slipped Imply into il. She '4td not see Alan go, but she heard him. dimly, as though the sound came from a world rot her own.
 Darkness descended upon her. engulfed her. Her body dropped over the arm of the chair. She wah very still.
 Alan went directly 10 Bernadlne's house. She WIS at home Dr. Wag- nall had positively forbidden her 10 cc to the club. She was both relieE cd and alarm d to see Alan.
 "You look like well, never mind" she greeted him
 "I know. Like nobody's hus, ness" Alan finished for her. And this time that's not just slang, Bernadire. Nobody's busl- ness is just what I'll get if this Keeps up. I cant stand it."
 "No,' Bernadine said sootn- ingly. q know you cant. But don't try to be funny, Alan. This jas got into you too deep for that. But come and sit down and let mo make you comfortable,'
 She was, herself, barcly able 10 stand on her feet, but she made lhe effort for Alan's sake, She did not want him to guess that the financial blow she had just suffered had cost her much n physical strength as well.
 Have you any idea who di1 lt?" Alan flung at her when she seated him in her living room.
 She looked at him with Oriental .nscrutability No" she lied,