The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-17
CHAPTER xL1

heart just then for anything but the terrible, aching fear. Dan hurt
 -perhaps dying! Why, 1t wasn't possible! Only last week seven days ago-she had received his lea ter. He had written that he loved her. He had said that and Monnie believing him, had rushed half across the world to prove 1t. Now this! What was she to do? Where
 Mrs o'Dare and Kay stared at her with stricken faces. The younger girl usually so non- chalant. so cool, was shaken.
 You won't go to him, Mon- ne Kay half-whispered. You couldn't-now that-'
 Monnie passed her hand across her eyes. What had someone said minute ago? The world still rocked around her. An, yes, she knew. "Sandra and Dan were married by justice of the peace last night" a voice had said. Was 1t true-could it have been? Non. sense! Ridiculous! Just one of times.
 She wouldn't faint, she told herself resolutely. You didn't do things like that-frighten people when there was no need. You were strong and brave as long as 3you could bear things. But. she was in sort of fog now. Things, Eoices, came to her only dimly. kind eyes looked at her sorrow Ifuliy, compassionately. There was new face in the room. Who was that? Oh, Charles. How good he was = how strong! She went to him slowly across the how it seemed so right!
 Charles" she said fainlty. "He's-he's-"
 T know" he soothed. "I know." Then, in the tone one might use to an ailing child, "It's ell right" He repeated 1t quietly. fIt'S all right
 She answered Kay's last words. Charles holding her hand.
 No. won't go to him." Mon- |nie said brokenly. Don't be |hfraid." Of a sudden her voice took on a note of harshness. |strange to her. Don't be afraid F'll do anything to get talked about. We're all 50 terribly hfraid of that, aren't we? As if It smattered when someone's 'dy. 4ng. But won't. My place isn't | |there. Hers is." There was blackness in her (nind now. It was, she imagined | |what you felt when you were | drowning. Only she wasn't drown eng. She had Charles to cling to. (He would save her from utter dark | |r q o1 nA Aoor1ot tfnn 2hn <n1k hA ,,,. | |derstood.
 Don't talk like that" Kay |said, eyes wide with fright. "You | know that isn't what we feel | We're just so worried about you | -how you're taking it."
 Monnie laughed, and the sound wasn't pleasant. "Sandra' will be there," she said without stirring. 'Sandra will hold his hand and smooth his pillow. Won't she ?"
 Kay shook her head. ''She can't" she said faintly. "She's badly hurt, too"
 "Oh. is she? Is she. indeed ?" Monnie turned a white, sleep walkers face to all of them. Her | mother. looking small and aid. be- gan to whimper. a frightening sound. Monnie felt a dreadful caImneSS.
 Don't do that. Mums," she said in a more natural tone than she had used since first she heard | the news. "I'm all right. Really I am. I'm sorry to worry you all so. It was the shock--!"
 She was grateful to Charles. Ills presence seemed to give the scene some reality, some sub- stance. Good girl" he said gently. You're a real soldier. I'm proud of you"
 The telephones ring split the silence of the little hall and Kay flew to answer 1t. Monnie listened apathetically, almost dreamily to tn eone-sided conversation.
 "Yes," Kay said and again ''Yes" and "Yes" and "Yes". Mrs O'Dare's frayed nerves could bear the suspense no longer. She went up to her daughter and plucked nervously at her sleeve. 'What is it?" she asked tensely. ''What?"
 Kay hung up the receiver and faced the group. head erect. Hes