The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-07

he Girl Scout, who finds fun in fix
Dme," in preparation for the activi-
Homes Week, April 24-30.
something 1 could do for him."
There is" Symes told her.
"You can be brave
Il know" she said, raising help
less, childish eyes to him. Pm
I'm trying but if only nay mother
would get here"
The man hesitated, cleared his
throat, looked with infinite pity at
the little figure before him. He
drew her, unresisting to the sofa
beside him, cleared his throat and
again fell silent. AT last he spoke.
Your mother isn't coming"
"She's not coming?" Ellen re-
peated and felt cold hand on her
heart.
What is ito" she cried in loud,
strange voice. 'Is it my brother?
Is he worse? Is that what you're
keeping from me?"
Her hands trembled and her eyes
were pits of horror as though she
| could not bear this second calam-
ity.
mo, it's not that" Symes was
quick to reassure her. Your
brothers in no danger. I asked
Fergus not to carry out your re-
quest because l think it would be
better if l took you to your mo-
ther.'
Ellen shook her head as though
she could not understand what he
was saying.
my place is here with my hus-
band" she insisted, cl2sping and
unclasping her cold hands.
MY dear child" Symes said
painfully, you're making this un-
commonly difficult for me, but l
must tell YOU
Again Ellen felt herself in the
grip of rising horror. Symes' eyes
frightened her.
Go on" she whispered.
Her bravery wrung the mans
heart. He had not known it could
be so hard.
There's technically about the
marriage" he muttered in an I'M
certain note in his voice. 81 think
it would be best for you to avoid
reporters for few days.
! IF it's about the money" Ellen
said slowly, her pale cheeks flush
ing, II told Steven and told you
too that l don't care about it. He
dod SO much for me before. 1 don't
want any more. I just want to be
with Him till the-the end"
1T isn't about the money
Symes said, avoiding her eyes. His
glance was on the tips of his trim
immaculate boots. SITS about the
marriage"
Ellen's bewildered eyes We're
watching him.
| Il don't know what you mean,
she said in a nervous effort, "but
| if it's something about the license
we didn't get one. The minister
was going to mail it later
Symes resisted with difficulty the
pleading, frightened glance. He
felt the girls cold, desperate fin
gers tugging at his wrist.
II tried to reach Steven yester-
day." he explained fumblingly
cursing himself for his lack Of
ease. Il tried all last evening but
he wouldn't answer. the telephone
He didn't know what I wanted
| Yesterday Leda Grayson had Ste
ven's divorce from her set aside
Ten days ago she slipped down to
the Mexican court that granted it
bribed someone and, well - that's
all. l only heard the news yester-
day afternoon but the papers last
night and this morning We're full
of it,
THAT means" Ellen whis-
pered, whitening. "Oh, no - ii
can't mean that" she cried out
| tnJ,
rfed in a church, he and l, by a
minister. Mother was there and
Myra - so it can't mean that. 1t
4 can't"
I'm afraid it does" Symes told
her YEARLY. There's liable to be
an ugly scandal and 1 can do moth
stiff upper lip. Well do all we
\ can, of course"
/ But l don't understand at ALL"
Ellen said brokenly.
Steven secured Mexican di-
vorce," Symes explained patient
ly. ut was against my advice,
against the advice of all his
friends and advisers. He wanted
to protect that woman he married
He could have divorced her in this
state easily but he chose Mexico.
Mexican divorces are recognized in
| New York only if both parties con-
sent to them"
But she must have consented, !"
Ellen said, steven wouldn't
have"
"She did consent" the lawyer re-
sponded. "She signed the papers
releasing all claim on him for
ever"
Then why
Those papers have disappeared
I from Stevens safe. In some way
Il don't know how-anyway she
got hold of them. She went to
Mexico, had the court records lifted
and swore she'd never had service.
There's no legal proof she did be-
cause she's done away with it,"
But | - l don't understand at
all!' Ellen said painfully. feeling
this burning humiliation, this final
| indignity would kill her.
you must understand and be
brave. If Steven were living the
| whole thing could be fought out in
court with him to stand back of
you. AS it is, you stand alone.
| Unless the papers are found, and |
doubt that they can be, Leda Gray
son has the prior claim. I'm
afraid the courts will side with
her. New York courts always
frown on divorces obtained outside
their Jurisdiction"
you mean everyone will thiA,x
Steven knew or / knew all the time
he wasn't free?" Ellen heard her