The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-31
SYNOPSIS


 EE1NOR STAFFORD, 90, falls
 Iu love with 86-ycar-old BARI
 RIFT COLVTN. who has return
 ca Co New York after years
 abroad. Barrett haf made c
 name for himself as an archeol-
 oEist- He fs about to ask Elin0r
 co marry him when her jealous,
 1cheming mother, LIDA STAF-
 FORD, infeFferes and succeeds
 lu breaking up the romance.
 When ElinOr's aunt, wealthy
 MISS ELLA SEXTON, dies she
 leaves her entire fortune, tO Bar
 rctt. Then drunken VANCE CAR
 TER shoots BENTWELL STAF-
 FORD, ElinOr's father. Barrett, who does not want the Sexton
 fortune, tells Elinor that fl she
 will marry him and live in his
 home as q guest for . year he
 will rive the entire sum to her | to divide among the relatives.
 EiinOr agrees, knowing the
 money may save her fathers life.
 The marriage takes place next
 day. Barrett still loves E1lnOr
 but, believing what Lida has told
 him, he will not admit this love. z CHAPTER XXX
 One warming day in the middle of March Barrett decided he would ask Elinor whether he had any chance at all to make their marriage something more than an unsentimental business arrange ment, to make 1t not merely for the remainder of the year but for always. His faith in her had been growing. Even to his critical eyes her conduct had been exemp- 1ary since the day he had brought her to his home.
 She was docile, sweet, gay. "And Lord. but you're dear to mel" he thought frequently as he looked at her across the chess table or listen ed to her music.
 He had fallen into the habit of indulging those small gestures which indicate a comradely affec- ton - hand on her arm, a pat on her shoulder. a shoulder pressed to hers as they watched the un- folding of some play. Even, once and again, a hand beneath her rounded chin, raising 1t to ask anx- 1ously, Now what's wrong?"
 Slowly the conviction had been growing in Barrett's mind that she was fond of him, that she really cared. She had followed him into the hall that morning as he was about to leave the house. "I'm go- she said, "but I'll be back in time for tea. That is-I will if you'll be here--''
 He was engaged on a research job, a rather demanding piece of work that had kept him away from the house more than he liked.
 "Wouldn't miss 1t for the world" he assured her.
 "Then I'll be here" she said. smiling. Almost at once she had looked away and before he could reply Higgins appeared to say that Mrs Radnor wanted to speak to Mrs Colvin.
 Just moment. Higgins" Eli nor answered. Barrett, stopping, kissed her lips.
 'Tor Higgins benefit" he ex- plained as the butler disappeared. Then for a moment Barreett eyed her steadily. 'No," he said. T lied. kissed you because l want ed to-"
 She said nothing but her smile was a little .tremulous, her eyes misty. He kissed her hands sud- denly as he had never kissed her lips, then turned huriedly toward the door.
 She stood where he had left her, hands above her heart. eyes closed. For weeks she had known something of his growing feeling for her. She had heard it in his voice which softened as he spoke to her. She had seen it in the hungry eyes that followed her. It had been charted, too, in his concern for her entertainment, in the flowers and books and music that had come to her from him. Almost daily there had been some offering.
 "Oh = make it come true"" she prayed. "I can't live without him."
 Mrs Radnor is waiting." Hig- gins reminded humbly.
 "Oh, yes!" she laughed un- steadily. She had forgotten. "Yes. Marcia ?" she said breathlessly a