The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-26

| shnoke rose lazily into the heavy air. He had had no intention of telling Geraid's story to Elinor, yet he did not want to promlso Mar cia that he would never tell her. 4 time might come when. Elinor would ask questions and have every right to know the truth.
 ''She would - talk!" Marcia went on, her voice low and puls- ing.
 ''No, Marcia. She wouldn't"
 The woman laughed acidly. 'No?' she murmured with a lingering up- ward infection. She lay back. q hope I shall die" she said. q think I can easily by not wanting | to live. I do not want to live un- der this threat which you continue to hold over mel"
 "1s that quite fair?" he asked, knowing he was acting a fool in trying to reason with her.
 Again she sat upright. 1t Is fair" she demanded bitterly, "for me to pay and pay and pay for the fact that was a child - a trusting child craving warmth and held down by an old man who knew nothing of the needs of my nature? And believed you," she ended with a change of tone, when you said you would help mel"
 Haven't I tried to help you?' Barrett asked.
 "Go! Go now and tell her!" Marcia exclaimed. She began to tear at the small cushions with hands that found strength in her frenzy. Wrenching sobs shook her. She clutched at her hair, tore 1t and set teeth on her wrist. Barrett caught her hands and held them. It was no easy job with her maddened struggling. "Hush!" he ordered. Do you want to hear what I'm going to say to your"
 Not unless - unless --." She walled.
 You win!" he said loudly Her sobs died. "You are so ill., he began, that I can mt let you Work yourself into one of these frenzies. You are i'll because you have indulged your wish for heat and tdleness but that doesn't change the matter. I have to give in to you. And do, but against my will. I promise you that will not tell Elinor the trutf about Gerald no matter what she thinks of me. Does that satisfy your"
 He dropped her hands. stood away.
 "Darling" she murmured, smil. ing up at him with lips that trem' bled.
 He shook his head. She hat forced him to make a promis, that might do away with any pos sibility of understanding betweer him and Elinor. He had wanted above all things, that Elinor should respect him. She might now, mis understanding, learn to loathe him to think of him with a shudder.
 Ut is most unfair of you, Mar cia," he said slowly. He moved to ward the hall.
 "Barry!" she called, appealing For the first time in his life h, did not answer that call. Sh, rose as quickly as she could tt follow him.
 Where are you going?" sh' exclaimed.
 "To my wife," he answered pl sternly.
 l maven bdlu OH0 WOTQ dDOu your happiness" she mur mured. He smiled grimly. Sh, had, perhaps, said several word about his happiness. Time would prove that.
 Marcia was weeping when Dicl 1; arrived. She had felt very i'll al day, she confessed. She wa : frightened. He drew her into hi arms. Somehow, she added, voic breaking, Barrett's marriage ha' upset her.
 Dick Radnor muttered his com ment as his hand moved ove Marcia's hair. T understan, that, dearest" he confided. "You'v, hated the Stafford family's dishon esty, paraded in the way they triet to deceive old Miss Ella Sexton 1T order to get her money, haven't lyou?"
 She sobbed deeply and he held her closer. We don't understand that sort of thing, do we, dear? he ended.
 | Her "No!" was hysterical; toe loud. Then suddenly she smiled relaxed. Barrett never broke a promise and Barrett had prom ised her that he would never tell Elinor the truth about Gerald.
 (TO Be COntinued)