The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-26
SYNOPSIS

society girl, 10 left penniless when
her lawyer speculates with her
money and loses. Stanley. however,
cares little fer the money, feeling
that she has everything in the love
Of fascinating Drew Armitage. But
when Drew breaks their engage
ment saying Il would be impossible
70 u arry On his income. she 10
heartbroken. Rather h q accept
Aid from her wealthy friends. Stan.
ley rents IN inexpensive furnished
room and disappears from her ex.
elusive circle to try and make her
ewn way. Her friends agree that
. better way would have been to
marry handsome Perry Deverest,
eut Stanley cannot forget Drew.
One day. she meets John Harmon
Northrup. struggling young author.
4 strong friendship ensues and
they become very necessary to one
another. John Harmon is in leve
with Stanley but refrains from tell.
ing her because of Drew. Stanley
loses her position. John Harmon
wishes things were different" %
she weuId not have to work, but
will net commit himself further.
Stanley assures him she does not
care t. 60 back to her old life be.
cause Of the terms marriage or
charity.
CHAPTER TWENTY.SEvEN
Il wish you could stay here,
Stanley. right here in this room,
before this fire, alwaysl"
John Harmon buried his face sud.
denly in his hands, his hands were
trembling. He hadn't meant to say
it, heaven help him. he hadn't meant
to. The words had tumbled out Of
his heart into the room.
It was very quiet for . space.
The log In the CRATE crumbled into
. thousand scarlet fragments, the
clock on the marble mantel licked
mechanically. Stanley sat very still
and stared 1t John. Harmon's bent
head. She thought that his hair was
like : very little boys hair, soft
and sort Of shining, and that Il
chung to his head thickly. She want.
ed to lean forward and run her
fingers through it, she wanted to
lean forward and take his head in
her hands and draw it back until
it rested on her breast She wanted
to hold It there and lift his face
in her hands and kiss his lips; not
- she had kissed Drew-with pas.
sion and desire and young abandon,
but gently. with tenderness and
wistfulness and . sort Of beautiful
understanding.
why don't you ask me to, John
Harmon7" she said softly, her voice
quite steady. her eyes on the fire.
John Harmon dropped his hands
from bis face. He looked at her
slowly, his eyes filled with . sort
Of frightened joy and shy disbelief.
and Il ! did ask you 70, Stanley Z"
His voice shook ridiculously. but
bis eyes chung to hers unfalteringly.
r think I'd like to stay here IL
this room. before this fire. with
you, John Harmon-always." She
gave him her eyes now. and her
hands.
~You mean-what do you mean,
Stanley1" He took her hands. bald
them tightly.
II seem to b asking you 70
marry me, darling"
"You mean - you'd marry ne,
Stanley?"
"Kiss me, John Harmon ~ and
don't look like that. ! can't bear it,"
He reached up and drew her into
his arms. Kissed her mouth hun.
grily but with . certain sweet re.
straint. "Pleass heaven, III never
m axe you anything but happy,
Stanley. ] couldn't bear It any other
way!"
1T won't be any other way. John
Harmon" She stirred in her arms.
held him away from her gently to
look into his eyes. "You understand
about Drew? This hour ought to
belong to just-us. But i have to
be sure you understand about him.
{ can't give ycu what | gave him,