New Britain herald., 1930-07-07

He seemed to thrust the qucs- ton at her as though he dared l her 10 answer ii. And his heart pounded furiously as he waited 10" her 10 speak, because if she sad yes she believed he had been in love with Bernadine," then all his disappointment of moment ago had been uncalled for.
 She nodded.
 Then you thought I was bluff irg2" he went on eXcitadly.
 Again Natalie nodded.
 Alan hesitated He lost his de- sire 10 hurt her. But the truth hal 10 ha told. # she suffered over 1t or if it left her Cold-What could i. matter to hjm2
 He did not look at hor, Callanl'N denying himsal& a chance 10 meas ure her feeling for him. T was rot blufnng. Natalie" he said quiet ly. "Thcre was a glrl-and it was not Bornadine."
 Natalie did not cry ont. but this this time it was not disbs lief that slenced her. The uneNpectedness of Alan's admission had come upon her with crushing force
 Alan would not look at her, but he heard her breath llutter through her lips.
 "Thcro was a glr1--.' the words - f.,.r.,, d -r,., .be-,,ea1y-sS 15OO0 h ar' brain while she sat frozen to life . lessuess. There was q girl-' Her hands flew 10 her lips when { her anguish could no longer be con- tained in her breaking heart. The paralysis Of shock had left her. She felt herself slumping down in her chair.
 But what did ir matter9 What did it matter? Bernadine or an-
 ether? She had lost Alan long ago, This suffering was not new. Omy "a new stab on an old wound. She
 ought 10 be able to bear lc better
 than this. Buc she never had heard
 Alan say it before that there Was
 a glrl-hc denied loving Bernadno
 I,amonts She never dreamed what
 i- would b. like to hear him say
 it himself that he loved someone . else
 She prayed he would give her time to recover before he spoke again. BHndly she fumbled in her handbag for q Handkerchief. Alan
 saw the movement of her hands.
 but his gaze did not folio" them
 to her face.
 God. this vas awful. But there , was no rotreatms now. This was } the price Of jealousy and temper that they had put impossible bag riers between them.
 H. felt suddenly driven to talk
 to Natalie as he would to a friend. = I. might make il easier for both
 os them. He began quietly though clearly with suppressed feeling, 10 tell her about Phillipa West. How . she had been an understanding
 companion 10 his loneliness. , And Natalie." he paused 10 ln- , tariecr. that is not a joke. that sympathy racller. l. jed 10 my a.king PhuIipa 10 marry me when . you got the divorce. She didn't demand that must be in love WltL herr But shes a good kid, Ani
 she'll be kind to Bobby. l had tc . think of him. but 1 had talked about marriage to Phillipa before : that. I don't remember exactly ? how ir happened. Tut shes giving up a lot for me. She could hav5 married we'll and she'd had trou- bIa with her family over our ... ! or. engagement. You see how ''
 was when you came back wit Florence :''
 - "Oh. why didn't you tell me?' - Natalie moaned
 T didn't dare to." Alan replied and Natalie vinced under the un l equiyocaI implication Of his words l "But l dId hope that Phil.ipa Woull ! see how matters stood and put q, 2 end 10 the situation. I think sh' . might have. too. but % h. } stopped stammarIngly. r "Rgt l spoiled ir," Natalie ended , for him.
 "Yes," he said bitterly, "yor g spoiled it, Na.alie,'
 2 And you're going to marry Phil :, lipa West" Natalie asked. "You'y Q made mp your mind 10 go throug!
 with it?'
 { Alan nodded, gI9omiiy. 1T SCI . no reason why I shouldn't" h . answered. I'd be a rad 10 har' 4 out, and Phtllipa has done nothial P to deserve such treatment" t Natalie's pale face flushed Sa V was thinking that he believed sh
 merired very harsh treatment in
 deed. She was reminded that tn - finger of guilt still pointed at het r What if Alan should find a way { y break his engagement to Phlllipa Q would it bring him back 10 her
 She was obliged 10 confess thu s in all probability it would not.
 She mad2 a gesture of acceDtanc- 2 weighted with weariness. She VI suddenly very tired. T. was all s Il hopeless, so useless. so futile. Sh t didn't know where her own respon
 slbility began, or where it end n Perhaps, when she had time { Il think
 g She got up. and held out he [ hand If you should wish to hav