The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-06-12
CHAPTER XII

woodtire and dried lavender 5and
1.-THE faint odor of drugs drifting
lin from Grandfather. Siddal's
ROOM Through the double doors
Minnie could be seen setting the
table for supper.
| Donna laughed nervously, pull
led off the snow-covered hat. re-
moved her coat and shook it;
then crossed to the fireplace to
warm her stiff, chilled hands.
'If she lies I'll know that
damnable, letter is true" Bill
Thought. "But she won't lie.
There is no reason why she
should. Anonymous letters are
always vila untruths." Neverthe-
less he waited.
Tm late" Donna said. "The
drifts are something awful for
such a--what's the matter, Bill?'
Noticing for the first time his
curious palor and tight lips, she
went on, as Grandfather
worse?" .. ....
II was worried. That's all"
! She turned her back so that
he could not see her face as she
spoke. al stayed longer than |
intended. Mrs. Adams"
sob, you went to the Adams
es?" ~. ..' ... ~.
! "Of course" She lifted her
hat and fhcked it with her fore
finger. II told you | was going
there" ..........
~ know, but when you stayed
SO long l. thought perhaps you
had changed your mind" His
voice was harsh, as cold as the
air outside. .
mo. I'm sorry if you were
worried. You said you didn't
mind my going"
- az didn't" His fist clenched
and unclenched in an effort at
self-control. Thought maybe
you might have gone to town. "
mo. Why should l 60 to
town."
"No reason that I know"
Supper Minnie announced.
T'll-Tll change my shoes"
Donna said hastily. They're
Wet"
Bill looked at her feet. The
shoes were sodden. "Why didn't
you use the robe?" ..:
81 did, but l had to get out
there's a knock in the car and
/"
Z His laugh rasped. "And you
got out to see what caused it!
Funny thing for you to do in
this weather when you can't tell
one piece of machinery from
another"
Donna's eyes widened. Her
lips parted but. noticing Minnie's
stare of curiosity, she left the
room. Her heart pounded with
agonizing intensity as she climb
ed the stairs.
"He can't know-not so soon
Unless Mrs. Planter telephoned
"him-and / don't know that it
was Mrs. Plenter who saw us.
Bill wouldn't listen to anything
she said. Perhaps l should have
told him | went to town. Maybe
he telephoned the Adamses. Sup
pose he phoned! Oh Godw
The room reeled about her and
waves) of nausea rose in her
throat. She braced herself against
the dresser with the realization
of her folly. The mesh was
tightening with every step she
took. Every act of hers seemed
to lead to conviction. Even her
shoes were evidence against her,
proof she had waded through
snow when there had been no
necessity. ..
! How hard Bills face was! Like
granite. If he found out about
this lie and reacted so bitterly
what would he do when he learn
ed their whole married life had
been a lie?
! When she descended the stairs
Bill and Miss Perkins were al
ready at the table. Bill did not
rise and he served Donna in 81
Hence. The nurse. inclined to
be loquacious at meal time,
found it impossible to keep up a
conversation, with Bill glowering
lat the head of table and Donna
obviously i'll at ease.
The anonymous letter burned
lin Bills picket. He was torn
between a desire to completely
,lignore it and the suspicion that
it held too much truth for his
Happiness. If only Madeline had
not lied. Where had she been if
not in town? And why had she
denied going there unless she
had gone for some reason she
did not want him to know?
"No dessert, Minnie" Bill said,
showing back his chair.
| Without another word he left
! the dining room. In fur cap,
coat and high rubber boots he
strobe out into the storm, taking
a grim satisfaction in the dis
comfort of trudging through
drifts that made him stuble. Bat
| ting with the tearing wind, pit
TIM his strength against the ele-
ments gave him courage to face
something he knew might change
the course Of his life.
But there must be some proof
against his wife besides the vici-
Gus words, of the unknown letter
writer and the lie her lips had
uttered. Even if he found out