The Republican., 1932-09-22

her right hand to the left hand then
back again, thereby confusing the
man, hidden in the sumac, who
watched her avidly.
His painter eyes loved the set. A
grove picketed by tall trees, a will
'lowy girl in white reclining on a
bright blanket.
He completed the picture, he with
his shock of jet hair against the fam
ing sumac, his bright blue eyes riv-
,eted spellbound on the unsuspecting
girl. Under the sustained pressure of
his mOccasined foot a twig snapped.
The girl swung around. They stared,
their tense poses shattered only by a
startled blue-jay screaming through
the woods.
II thought you were in Europe"
she spoke in throaty monotone, her
creamy cheeks and neck hotly tinged.
I'm not" The man stepped from
behind the sumac, softly tread the
thickly packed pine-needles. "Nor
am I shadowing you. 1 thought you
were in Reno"
81 was"
There was an awkward pause.
Can't we reminise awhile? 1t can't
be called collusion now that we're
nicely divorced"
She hesitated. "What is there to
reminise about?"
II can think of something" plant
ing himself squarely on the blanket.
'F'irst, who told you I'd gone abroad"
"Andy." She chose tiny corner Of
the quilt.
$50 you still see him?" he snapped.
Don't be ridiculous, Ronald. Andy
is my adopted brother"
"He forgot that" he reviewed past
events "All right-the man loved
you-he couldn't help it. But he could
have helped lettering around! He
with his legal mind framing situations
and buttoning them on me! Then
goading you till you saw things that
weren't there. Why did you seek his
advice? If you wanted to lose me
why didn't you tell me?"
She ignored this. "By the way, I
haven't received your announcement"
The man was non-plussed.
'Yours and Gert's," she explained.
"Surely you remember Cert? Long
fair hair and the best back In the
country. You said so yourself"
Little idiot! The man roared up
at the clouds. "How can you pretend.
uouor ho,,o rrot ob,,ro
my with my models. Why the unre-
lenting spotlight on me when Andy
led you around by that funny little
nose? Andy was lawyer, darling, you
shouldn't have believed all he said
Didn't he just tell you I'd gone to
Asia?"
No answer.
because he wanted you himself he
imported fabric Of lies to hoist over
your vision and dstOrt it. He picked
his time when I was slaving on that
fresco order, spending every minute
with my model! You should have
been your usual sane self and real
lied an unknown painter doesn't reap
orders like that every day.
"You might have let me know when
you flung me back to the worlds other
women"
"What do you mean"
"Isn't it customary to let a fellow
know when you're through with him?
When the matrimonial bond is severed
shouldn't an impressive document go
forth? Suppose had wanted to mar
ry Gertrude?"
"Never mind" he continued ten
derly, his tone sent the blood surging
up her neck, 81 never wanted to
know"
He sighed and rose heavily to his
feet. Maybe you're right. Remin-
fsing isn't so good. Instead of switch
ing that poor ring around why not
throw it away? Why, Ann! You're
crying"
In an instant he was on his knees,
had gathered her Quivering form
close. "'Annsome pit was his pet
name for her-''darling, don't heave
like that, you'll wear yourself out"
'Tve done something terriblew she
sobbed.
He took his big handkerchief and
mopped her eyes. Sweetheart, we're
both in fog Pull yourself together,
dear you're marrying me again to-
night. don't want to take woman
to the altar who's crying her heart
out"
But Ann, muddled up in her own
straining confession, hadn't heard.
"Ronny, 1 couldn't get it on non-sup-
port. You provided beautifully. You
actually spoiled me-"
He stroked her hair. ''Tll provide
better in the next world. Artists
aren't appreciated till they die"
II couldn't get 1t on cruelty! And
knew it wasn't another woman. AL
though I could have clawed out that
Gertrude's eyes the way she oogled
you"
His voice was soothing. "She only
oogled me, dearest, because was the
only artist who hadn't oogled her.
Why did his honor take pity on you"
She lifted woe-be-gone eyes. "I
went all the way to Reno, went
through all the motions, and then-I
couldn't accuse you unjustly, could I?
And 1 couldn't make up anything hor-
rid, not about you. Ronny-sO didn't