The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-09

"If could kiss you" he thought. "and know you kissed no one elsel"
 must be , tired"
 "You're very. good to me-" she said in a drugged tone that Is the result of pain and shock. .
 "1 love you" he told her.
 The small French clock struck two sharp notes. Elinor slept and then woke with a cry to sob anew. He soothed her. felt her relax, and trembled, knowing that his touch could comfort her. At four he put her into bed without waking her. Then, lowering the night light, he settled in a small chair that stood near. The fire died; the room turned black. It seemed to him, waiting there for any need that she could have of him, that he had never been so close to a human soul as he was physical touch. Perhaps, he req time he was thinking only of an | ObAACts
 When she woke he was sleep ing and the first dim morning sunlight was printed on the floor. As she looked at him Barrett opened his eyes and stared at her wonderingly for a short space and then remembered.
 He rose from the chair with a stiffened jerk and, hand on her shoulder, looked down at her. "Elinor," he said, T want you to know that I'll do everything can to help you"
 He thought of those mornings after his fathers death when he waking, wondered first what trou- bled him and then remembered with aching suddenness. l Her eyes brimmed. He dropped to the edge of the bed and drew her into his arms.
 ''We'll get through this, dear. est" he promised. She was cling ing to him. He felt a sweep of dizziness, a surge of blood that made his ears ring.
 You sat here-all night?" she asked in a whisper. He closed his eyes. Her hand moving on his arm!
 "Where else would I be?" he answered as steadily as he could ESQ long as thought you might need anything I could give you?' He held her away a moment, lock- ing down on her. You know love you" he added. but not how much"
 Again he held her close and knew that she was crying.
 Remember what said. II need not bother you" he heard himself assure her, his voice a little roughened.
 T love you," she said hesitat- ingly. But I loved you before and it did pothing-but hurt me"
 "I'll make you very certain that it won't hurt you from now on," he promised. "I'll give you all the time you want for the test. And now I want you to get up, dress and get out of the house into the sunshine with me. Will you, dear?"
 "Yes," she answered. She had drawn away from him. T do love, you" she said, "but give me time. I'm afraid! I'm afraid of love!"
 Then she kissed him.
 Refreshed by a cold tub, Bar rett dressed. He fel: a content ment he had not known for weeks. Of course he was deeply sympa- thetic with Elinor in her suffering but he had the knowledge that throughout the ordeal he had kept his head. He would give her time and with time perhaps as much trust would come be- tween them as there could be be- tween a man and woman. He breakfasted, wandered out of the house and short half hour after she joined him. She looked worn and spent. He wrapped her in rugs and tucked her into a desk chair on the terrace, her back toward the hushed, gloomy house.
 Her hand sought his and rested there.
 "Mother is coming by plane" he heard her say :. Barrett's brows drew close. For some req son beyond his dislike for her he dreaded Lida Stafford's coming. (To Be COntniued)