The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-07

him at once and cast herself upon
his mercy. She could do the re-
pentant act very beautifully, she
told herself, and then Gaylord
might buy her something especially
nice.
These thoughts were sandwiched
in between remarks to the store
clerk. She had bit of difficulty in
not giving her identity away but
she was agreeably excited over her
new plans and did not like it at
all when Derry appeared.
He came in. flushed and sparkling
of eve. "Well," Irene said as they
climbed into his car, "you don't
seem to have had such hard time.
You wrote that you were worn to a
shadow"
But that's all over now that
you're here,." Derry laughed. "Oh,
boy. am happy!"
He turned and threw an arm
around her.
stop" she said sharply. Some
one will see u.s.
what does it matter? You'll be-
long to me in just little while"
"Oh, it seems a little while to
your"
Derry was puzzled. ''Say, you
didn't come all the way out here to
quarrel with me, did your" he
asked.
Irene squirmed out of his arms.
"Have some sense" she admoE-
ished him. "Have you forgotten
what Gaylord will do If he finds out
we've seen each other?"
II hoped you'd fixed that with
him." Derry said anXionsly. II
thought he might have consented
to your coming back"
you did," Irene said scornfully,
"Then you're certainly stupid. Why
should I get off the train here at
Old Town if had Gaylord's per-
mission to come back?"
II thought of that" Derry de-
Tended himself, land I thought 1t
might be so we COULD drive in to-
gether and decide what to do. I
thought you might feel a little en-
barrassed perhaps"
you mean people have been
talking about me?" Irene asked.
Derry evaded. But you'll be well
glad to have you"
Irene broke into a jibing laugh.
you don't suppose I've come here
to stay, do your" she asked. DERRY,
don't be an utter fool"
II was to glad to hear your
voice to think much of anything"
Derry told her. I've told Mother
we're going to be married.
DERRY, you didn't! What did
she say?"
Pm afraid she didn't like it. at
first, to tell you the truth, but"
Eyes, know" she cut in.
you've always been allowed to
have your own way, Derry, and
now you think you can do as you
please and make your parents
like It."
cts my life." Derry insisted.
eyes" Irene agreed, but you
won't live long If you don't start
driving. I've a bunch that kid in
there knows who I am"
"Kid?" Derry repeated. That's
Asa Crewe."
"Well, and who is Asa Crewe?"
Ellis father owns the store. It's
a habit I guess. because they don't
have to bother with place like
that. They struck oil out at Scar
field last year."
why. thought he was just a
clerk"
"Was he there when you tele-
phoned to me?"
Eyes, but I called myself Miss
Everett. CUnless he knows lot
about the Premises he'd hardly
know my real name"
\ ~ he
recognized you.''
eff he knew you it's no wonder"
friend of Gaylord's."
'Then for heavens sake hurry
and let's get away from here"
Irene implored. "We'll probably
freeze to death If we stay out long
in this weather, but I think we'd
better drive down to the park by the
river. It's sure to be deserted"
Don't you think we'd better go
homer" Derry protested. ut will
soon be dinner time. Aren't you
tired after your trip?"
"There's plenty of time to rest"
Irene said in tone that carried
with it a rebuke, land I've some-
thing very important to tell you,
Derry"
Her voice had changed. Its irri-
liability was gone and in its place
there was a note of tenderness
which was none the less sweet to
Derry's ears because 1t was false.
Irene was especially good at pre-
tending emotions she did not feel.
Derry was so relieved to find that
she was no longer cross he did not
worry over what she wanted to tell
him. 1t seemed to him that they
had a world of important things to
say to each other. In fact, he had
something especially important to
say to Irene, something he'd been
going to write when he composed
his daily letter to her after dinner.
This new habit of staying home at
night to write Irene had been one
of the arguments he had used to
bring his mother to agree to his
proposed marriage to Irene.
Did she want him to be foot
loose again, running around with
first this girl and then that one?
Wasn't it better for him to be
at home? When he was married
and settled down he would get
somewhere in life. A single fellow
had a hard time. People wouldn't
let him alone q. and so on.
So they drove to the river, Derry
and Irene, each thinking of some
thing important" to tell the other.
I'm. -. Co~<tnuodN