The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-16


 d when Barclay gives Mike . much desired bicycle.
 Iater Ellen and Barclay 70 driving and he asks her to marry him.
 NOW 60 ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XIX
 Ellen brushed aside all coquetry and pretense as she told Steven how proud he had made her. She tried to make him understand how much she liked him, at the same time explaining that she did not love him. She was more successful than she had hoped to be. She should, of course, have explained that she was already hopelessly in love with Larry Harrowgate.
 Pride, backed by q desire to hurt him as little as possible, for hade that.
 Because she had not told him steven felt he had yet Q chance to win her. He fancied that he had frightened her by being prema- ture, by rushing his suit. Ellen was. to blame for that. All uncon- sciously, she had hardened his de- termination to make her his wife. The girl was pleased and grate- full that he had made her refusal 50 easy.
 "wnl you do me one favor?" he asled.
 "rN be glad to-"
 'Then call me Steven"
 IAteven," she said obediently, Anshing. steven, Steven - 1t ssNnds odd for me to be saying tAAt."
 "It sounds rather nice to me-" hs amended boyishly.
 They parted as friends. Ellen would have preferred that they should see each other no more. but such . suggestion was ilnpos- slAle just as 1t was equally impos. sitie to speak to him of the gossip at the store. The inference would be too plain. The one step to pro- tect her from this gossip would be So obvious.
 As she said good night Ellen de- termined that in the morning she would resign her position at the store and seek another. In this manner she would obviate the pos sibility of encountering him each day. Another job would carry her out of the reach of wagging ton gues. Another job was the solu- tieN. She must leave Barclays.
 She was not surprised to find Molly up and about. At the sound of the key in the door, Molly ap- peared, a cold duck sandwich in her hand. She offered half to FL len, an offer which was refused, then perched herself on the arm of chair to demand an account of the drive.
 Ellen flung off her hat. "I'm too tired to talk" she said, nov. ing toward the bedroom. Moth. ing happened except that Mir Bar clay asked me to marry him"
 "Oh, Ellen! You cali that noth- "And I refused him." Ellen stated with serene finality.
 Moily's face was almost comic in its abrupt transition from de. light to complete dismay.
 "Ellen, you didn'tw
 T did. And Furthermore in tho morning I'm leaving Barclays fol another job"
 She was very tired. To have re. fused Steven had been hard enough in itself. How could sh, bear a recapitulation of that re- fusal? How could sine bear to mee' Molly's hysterical reproaches? Bu Molly remained unexpectedly calm
 "If you don't feel that you lov, him" she said quietly, you dit the right thing"
 The desperate move on whici Molly had rieked everything wal successful. Ellen's surprise mas tered her fatigue.
 "Mother! Then you do thinl I'm right?"
 "of course, my darling" sait Molly, as she relinquished he sandwich and came toward he daughter.
 She drew Ellen into her arms murmuring that now she was n, longer a little girl and must de eide her own problems. She wa so calm and reasonable that Ellel was treasured. Strangely enough she felt her own attitude veerine She began to wonder If she ha been unwise, to wonder if Larr were not the illusion and Steve the reality.
 T like him." she said wearily but just don't love him. You'v no idea how hard 1t was for me t refuse him!"
 T know I didn't understand i the first place." Molly said, feel ing her way. but I do now. To must make your own decision can't do it for you. You have { live with the man you marry, nc I. I'd have been pleased for man many reasons if you'd decided fo MT Barclay. he would be so goo to you"
 "I, know
 'sIt would have been so muc easier for all of us," Molly sighed
 Ellen began to feel selfish. Sh could not know, as Molly herse scarcely knew, that her moths wes laying a deep and subtle tral When Ellen went into the bed room. she was unsure of hefse and her wisdom.
 Myra was in bed with a book O her knees. She loked up an sratIed a welcome but she had ds foxrnined to let Ellen alone an not nsk questions.
 Ellen, however. wanted to cor fIdaute. She came over to the bet removed the book from Myra hands and at down.
 ssntoven Barclay asked me marry him." she said abruptly.
 H0s econ, Ellen!"
 s*Too soon." Ellen answsre 1art1y. she added. I shouldn h9re aald that. I really think ru16o6 mafters beeause he thougi Ue nDl doaperately needed a lif 3vr<. ha wne wonderful. wonder fuIl But I 6on't want to mars