The Washington times., 1930-12-05
CHAPTER /

Rad been in and out the house.
The telephone had been ringing
with important insistence. Con-
Yie's wedding dress, a gorgeous
heap of white satin, did not
vet satisfy the nimble, tireless
fingers of the gown-maker. Al
ready Comics nerves t1ngled
and jumped. tomorrow she
would be married, unless
unless
When she talked to people
she couldn't help thinking about
the letter. It stuck In her
mind like a burr. It was bruta!
monstrous falSe!
yet. somehow, the vicious mis-
stye smacked Of truth. A sick
eninr tide of cold fear ran In
her blood and would not De
stilled.
She was irritated because Jim
kept hanging around. Why
didn't he go off with his best
man and some Of the ushers?
AIT. not was like Jim Tracy
"a be everywhere under her
feet which ever way she turned
on this, her last day Of
freedom.
Hidden Letter
After tomorrow they would
belong to each other forever,
and TODAY she wanted to be
alone, wanted quiet privacy
that she might think, and
think. He even stayed that
night for dinner.
The meal was served outside
on the stone-flagged porch, over
looking the beautiful rolling
Connecticut country. AS they
ate, Connie had the letter in
the breast of her dress and was
conscious throughout The meal
of its feel against her body.
She looked at Jim and found
him wholly satisfactory. Her
husband would be young, hand
some, athletic. His manners
were charming in a boyish, in
formal way; toward the Serv-
ants he had an indefinable
hrusqueness, but it was scarcely
noticeable.
MRS. Calvert, Comics mother,
adored him; her father, too.
had he been alive, probably
would have liked Jim. Every
body, almost, was attracted to
him for his clear, gray eyes,
the clean skin of his wellfea-
tured face, the soft luster OF
his black hair and his pleasant
speech with its slight, hesitant
note in everything he said.
His folks were honably poor,
but Jim, as he approached 80.
was said to be doing 3ery well
financially in the brokerage
firm. Connie knew a dozen
girls who would have leaped at
the chance Of marrying Jim
Tracy, but he had preferred her
of all others, and she loved
him; it would have been too
cruel to thwart his eager, per-
vading charm.
Happy Vision
Yes, they were going to be
happy-happier than any cou- :
pie Connie knew. His eyes, now,
studied. her face with some
slight discernment Of her Sc
cret. Naturally, she was a bit
upset, but Jim Tracy sensed
something else, too.
whats the matter, Connie,
dear?" There was q smile in
his voice, but the gray eyes were
perturbed. YOU'RE not feeling
si1aky, or anything?"
She smiled at him with a
flash of her own huoyant self.
Don't be silly, JIM feel
like a raillion!"
Mrs. Calvert-the three Of
them were dining alone-smiled
o little nervouSly. She was
white-haired and frail, strangely
old-fashioned to be the mother
Of such a modernistic girl as
Connie. The pep, the vigor had
all come from the other side OF
the house and Mrs. Calvert still
looked upon marriage as a sacri-
ficial rite. To give Connie up in
marriage was a little like q
funeral.
You'll be good to her, won't
you, Jim?" she said, and her
voice almost quavered.
"You know I will, mother"
Jim told her. earnestly. I'D
give my life-honeStly-to make
her happy"
They had talked all this a
hundred times befora and Con-
ME felt she could not stand
it another instant. Abruptly,
she got up from the table.
"All right, Jim-I'm going to
take you at your word if you
want to make me happy-right
now-you can trot along home.
I'm simply worn out with all
this hullabaloo and my nerves
are in a flutter. Be q good
boy, Jim, and ramble along
won't you?"
Right"
Jim came UP to his feet,
Instantly. The ready smile was
on his lips but his eyes were
still perturhed.
Its an awful strain on the
girl," Mrs. Calvert murmured.
kiss me, then. till tomorrow
at high noor." Jim said, with
q thrill in his voice. "Just
think, dear, how glorious it's
oil going to be. When I come
walking down the aisle I'll be
tEeading on air! I can hardly
SNar To think Of il. dear. b.