The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-07

over, 1t is hardly fair to Miss Mor- ley"
 Not fair to Chummy!" Judy cried. She was almost inarticu- late. To an outsider she might prise. But Chummy loves you with her whole heart and soul. She has loved you all these years. It is because of you that she IS what she Is because you went away and left her. oh, what can you mean?"
 In the young mans face was a determination to get something over which he knew would be very unpleasant. No man likes to look cad, particularly in the eyes or such a passionate little loyalist as Judy Grant.
 Miss Grant, he said, "it is very painful for me to have to say this, but 1 must, or else 1 should be sailing under false colors. am dreadfully sorry about Miss Mor- ley, but you must see that at pres- ent the idea of marriage in her case is unthinkable. And if she recovered, how do you know that she would have-even feelings or friendship toward me?"
 "Feelings of friendship!" re- peated Judy. "Oh, how can you? If she knew you again. 1t would be with all her old love-of course 1t would! How can you think any thing else?"
 "In those circumstances 1t would be different" Steyne remarked quietly. If, as you say, have the misfortune to be in way re- sponsible for Miss Morley's present condition"
 q say sol" interrupted Judy in- dignantly. Everybody says so. Ask anybody-Bastien Dumont. Michael Stone, Tony Leigh-any of them! When you left, she broke her poor heart. She had nothing left to live for. She just waited for you to come back, and you didn't come. Then she fell i'll and nearly died, and when she got bet ter she was-what she Is now. Everybody knew that 1t was for love of you!" Judy broke off with a sob in her throat.
 Steyne's eyes were fixed on Judy's fave beneath her shabby hat that the cheap vulgarity of its makeup. The single-hearted loyalty blazing in the big purple eyes, the laughing lips trembling over poor |Chummy's sorrows-they seemed to affect him strangely. He was pale under his tan, and for 0 moment or two he did not speak.
 "Why," Judy went on, her voice still quivering, "I thought when l heard you had come back, that 1t would be all right, that you would take Chummy away and marry her at once, and spend all your life in trying to make up to her-poor Chummy!"
 The young mans face hardened again.
 Miss Grant," he said, If Miss WcIS tO lSIoNCAt sAAu IA osAS really had feelings such as you de- scribe toward me, I suppose should be in honor bound to ask her to be my wife; but that, un- fortunately, does not seem to be at all probable. The specialist and Doctor O'Shane both give little hope. They talk of what they call permanently enfeebled vitality and say that in all practical things she is like child."
 But they do say she might get better" protested Judy. "Anl, oh, I am bitterly disappointed! con- sidered you were engaged to her. Do you think I would have taken that money from you? And now I've spent it. And you never meant anything at all!"
 steyne flushed.
 "As to the money. don't think about that, Miss Grant" he said. AS an old friend, I am entitled to help Miss Morley. It Is privilege; but you have been misinformed about our relations. We never were engaged to be married. Any such idea would have been ridlcu- lous. was practically starving. She had quarreled with her rela- tives, and was living on a pittance. We were very good friends. l was awfully fond of her. She was one of the brightest girls l ever nlet and very clever, but there was never any talk of marriage. We were awfully sympathetic. I ad- mired her and loved her-yes, loved her in a way-as we all did. knew she was fond of me, of course; but I never knew, never dreamed, that she would take 1t so much to heart!"
 Judy made no reply. Her big eyes were startled.
 'l do hope you'll Forgive me for saying all this." the young man added in q low voice. in which shame mingled with eagerness. "I know 1t all sounds horrible; but it's the truth, and-I wanted you to know"
 Still Judy was silent. She did not doubt Alan. Indeed, she knew