The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-03
CHAPTER XLVTTI

and the room was in dusk. The figure outlined in the doorway was indtstinct.
 One glance told Norma that i, was not Chris. "Oh!" she said. ssj -l thought it was someone elsel'
 She stepped forward and at the same moment the man in the door, way moved. Norma could see his race more clearly. Suddenly she felt as though the floor were sink ing beneath her. Her heart pound ca terrificaily and something hot ana burning caught in her throat. Mark! she cried historically. "It isn't you! Mark-?,
 T hope I didn't startle you."
 Marks voice! Oh, but there was no doubt of it. Mark staring at her his eyes.
 T telephoned, Norma, but they told me you weren't here. couldn't wait any longer and so I came" Mark!"
 The girl swayed. She put out one hand and felt Marks arm about her. A long way off she seemed to hear his voice. He was saying something about cold water. What was that blackness before her eyes? How was it that Mark was there and she could not see him?
 'Mark!" the girl cried again in a trembling voice. "You-have you come back?"
 He helped her to the davenport, rested her head against the pillows. Then she felt something cold on her forehead. Mark was holding a cup to her lips, urging her to drink.
 I'm all right" Norma protested. She could see him now. Across the room the table lamp was burning, Mark was on his knees beside the davenport. His face was close to Norma's.
 Better now?" he asked,
 The girls deeply fringed eyelids widened. She said in a voice bare- ly above a whisper, "How did you get here?"
 'I'n tell you. I'll tell you every- thing just as soon as you're feel ing better. It's not much of a story! Might have known the shock would do something like this. Idiot that l am! Here-can I fix those pillows more comfortably?
 Norma shook her head. 'It's as though I'm dreaming" she said softly. You'll go away when l wake up, won't you?"
 T won't go," Mark treasured her, unless you send me, I didn't know you'd been sick, Norma. You're thinner. You look pale, too." As the girl struggled to rise he added, Don't move. Just lie there and rest little longer.
 Norma objected. There was nothing wrong with her, she said. She wanted to know where Mark had come from? What had he been doing?
 I-I've never heard anything about you,' she said, 'since you went away. l didn't get any let- terS-"
 The young man sat facing her. "It's a pretty rotten story" he said soberly. T ought to be ashamed to tell it to you---and I am! Only I had to come to see you, Norma. I had to talk to you. All this that's been in the papers l didn't know anything about it until I got a letter from Hollis Stone. That was three weeks ago. I've been travelling ever since."
 But you didn't tell me where you've been."
 Didn't I? South America. Oh, I forgot--of course you don't know. Norma, I came to tell you there's nothing I wouldn't do to erase the injustices you've been through. was to blame for part of them. Oh, yes I was! Only 0 blind fool like myself would have believed the things the lawyers told me in Par is couldn't understand why you hadn't written"
 But I did write! So many let ters!"
 while I was in Paris? You wrote to me there?"
 Norma nodded. Mark said bitter 1y, "So that's another way they tricked me! Well, that about makes it complete. guess you've been glad to be rid of me all right. About as poor specimen of hus- band as ever lived! I don't expect you to take me back, Norma. didn't even come here with that hope. I only want to tell you I know you've been fine and square all along. I knew that even when l listened to their lies."
 For a burning instant their eyes met. It was Norma who was first to look away.
 'Tt's good of you to say that" she told him slowly. But you mustn't blame yourself for every thing. I've made mistakes-lots of them."
 But I do blame myself! You did more for me than anyone else in the world ever has. Those months with you were the happiest of my life and threw that happi- ness away" Tfavers went on after a pause, Seems odd finding you here in the old apartment. I didn't know where to look for you. tele- phoned because thought Chris might be here.''
 Norma said. "Im still living with Chris"
 Mark glanced about, noting the shabby furnishings. Obviously there was not much money here.
 Pm working in an office in the same building where Chris works" Norma explained. 'I'm secretary for a literary agent-Frederick Stuart. But you haven't told me what you've been doing in South America. When did you go there? ?"
 lover a year ago. I-well, I didn't want to come back when I thought you were gone. My father told me you'd run away. didn't know how to find you so went to South America with an engineer I'd met in the copper mines. We've