The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-07

! oI0W w OAC0s AAO oh&PPOu sAAS AA5 heSA ] shut; slipped it into pocket. She
 felt that his eyebrows were drawn
 close although just then the moon
 was kept from shedding light by a l dense bank of clouds. Was he already regretting his gentleness, she wondered. A keen.
 bladed knife seemed plunged into
 her heart and drawn slowly out 1 again as she considered the ques. ton. ,r
 "I want you to stay as long as you want to-" she said with a
 coolness of which she was proud
 T want from you only what you can give-without regret" T shall regret giving you noth- ing' he said quickly, If you will
 remember our bargain"
 What bargain, Barrett ?" "We agreed, you remember that neither of us was to indulge
 in a irritation during this year." "But, Barrett, I never have,'
 she answered. T couldn't! I never did-before our marriage" For a few minutes he could Nno' trust himself to speak. Did sht | think him a complete fool? he ask.
 ed himself. "Elinor, know you are very at l tractive. You must have had lov' Iaffairs," he managed to say al
 length without betraying the deeI
 anger that shook him.
 But I never appealed to men Barrett That's a brutal fact.
 don't like to admit it; but it is the fact"
 The moon had shaken herself ire from the mask of clouds.
 "Older men?" Barrett question ed slowly. i've heard they liked you?" He was looking down at her, his eyes narrow.
 "Yes," she admitted and smiled. To him her, smile seemed cyni-
 cally and cruelty amused. He drew a deep. rasping breath. One great storm cloud slipped over the silver moon and put out it's light. Barrett put his hands
 upon Elinor's arms to draw her close. His motion was rough, he
 knew afterward. Brutally rough. "All older men," he confessed
 unsteadily, "are not so old as they
 seem. It is not fair -, the thing you do to us. I can't help my feeling for you even though l know what you are-or aren't" 'I don't" she began. but his hot lips pressed against hers to
 stific the sentence.
 He held her away. laughing. Again he swept her close. When she at last struggled free he sagged back against the bal
 ustrade, breathing hard. She touch. ed her bruised lips with trembling | fingers. She too was breathing hard and crying a little. 1T know you better than you i think, you see,' he stated. He had not seen her tears. T hap
 pen to have known of some .ot your affairs for some time. I'm sorry I lost my head. But don't
 pretend surprise and fright! You | see I wouldn't be fooled!" She turned abruptly and, head
 high, moved toward one of the long French windows-an oblong
 lemon square in the blackness. Her knees were shaking, her heart | pounding. She had learned love and hate and their possible blend. Something made him follow her. In the living room he over took her to lay an arresting hand upon her arm. She turned to him,
 head still high. By God" he whis- | pered staring down at her. They were real tears-real--
 | Don't! Let me-go!" she ap- pealed, voice :. breaking. He fol- | lowed her, humble and utterly | shaken, to watch her make her way up the stair.
 After a long moment he fol- | lowed her. "Elinor-?" he whis- pered.
 Don't" she begged, T can't talk now"
 She went into her room\and he l into his. He heard her turn the key in the lock of the door be- tween the rooms. He stared long and duly at the door, The slight | sound hurt almost as deeply as the fright he had seen in her eyes. Would he ever again have the trust. she had once giveE him? He | remembered maxim an eastern | priest had quoted, ITO know ,t the
 value of a thing you must lose it.r
 He heafd her moving in the ad- | joining room as he sank back lin a low chair. He did not sleep
 and knew she did not. He saw
 the light in her room go on at
 three. printing a slit of yellow beneath the door. The light re-
 mained there for two hours. Elinor lay perfectly quiet. If
 Barrett had loved her how she would have welcomed that mo ment! But he had said only that | he understood her and her af.
 fairs. Sho would have trusted
 him anywhere! He could believe
 as he liked. He had had the I chance to know her. Never would
 she say a word to defend herself I What would be the use? She had denied her, guilt and he had
 laughed at her denial.
 I The night was endless. She looked at a small clock that ticked merrily beside her bed. The
 hands pointed at half past four.
 f''o rr Snfi''nuef)