The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-07-20
SOPHIE KERRS GREAT NOVEL STAY OUT OF MY LIrE!" R., Cnnhn Knra
SYNOPSIS

upon him and married Amy. In New York Jane obtains a posi- ton in . real estate office and soon is making a large income.
 She has an affair with ROGER THORPE who is married but tires of him. When he offers to bear the expense of their child she contemptuously dismisses him. She confides in Amy, realiz- ing she is her only sfriend. Jane insists on giving her daughter away and Amy takes the child,
 promising never to reveal its sparentage. The baby is named NANCY.
 For two years Jane stays away from Marburg. Then. on a busi-
 ness trip, she goes to Amy's home and asks to see her daugh- ter.
 CHAPTER XXII
 Amy had heard. Amy was run. hing downstairs quicker as Il Co meet an expected danger. She looked at Jane silently, without any pretense of greeting, of wei come. It was Howard who broke the silence. "Jane wants to see Nancy" he said. "but don't Know"
 "Why do you want to see her?'' asked Amy. ''Why didn't you let me know you were coming?" She was terribly troubled, Jane felt, by : her presence. And she had on an old, out-of date blue house dress that should have made her look dowdy and shabby besides James fashion, but didn't. Jane saw all this even while she composed her expression into pathos and plead ing, and a little inward imp de- manded why it was that Amys beauty never needed good clothes to maintain it. Exasperating! Why, she was, in her way, as splendid a figure as Howard!
 They were waiting. Jane must win them, and particularly How ard. If she could do that he would influence Amy. She angered pre- tending humility. Il was afraid you'd hide her from me I do want to see her Amy. That's natural isn't it?"
 Howard answered for Amy and his voice was cool. Its rather be- lated. Jane. You gave the child to Amy absolutely and promised not to claim her. Now. if you're not going to keep that promise, we II have to think things over. So. first of all, we want to know 1T that's in the back of your mind 7!
 No, it isn't" said Jane, still more humbly. The child belongs to you and Amy. mean It. l won't make a scene" she glanced up, faintly smiling. T won't try army stage stuff, bursting into tears and clasping her to my bosom ana that kind of thing, but there's no harm just m my looking at ner and speaking to her, IS there Amy please-do trust me, no mat ter what you think about me-
 She felt that Howard was melt ing but she went on to Amy: "4o ou know how awful everything was for me when l gave her to you, and you were so wonderful to take her-that was the one comforting thing out of that horrible time I'd never have forgiven myself II I'd have let some stranger adopt her. must have been out of my mind. I've been so ashamed, so despise mel"
 l uOI ucSploC Scus seaAN NAAAsy ' "and neither does Howard. Don't drag up the past, Jane. I know you had a hard time. I realized 1t more afterward. It's only that Nancy's ours, and-I was startled and alarmed for a minute, think ing you might want her. Of course you can see her. She's just ready for her supper and bed. Come along upstairs"
 Jane arose gracefully and drop ped the fur coat from her shoul- ders. As she followed Amy she mo- iced that the house was no better furnished than the first time she had seen it, it seemed to be all books. Howard did not go with them and she was sorry. She would have liked to have him witt ness her admirable behavior. She wished he had been the one to give permission to see the child. She could have been so grateful to him. He stirred her. She could think only of him.
 Amy opened a door. "This is the nursery" she said. And this is Nancy" She hesitated, then added: T must bring up her SUD- per, Jane-you go ahead and speak to her. She won't be shy!"
 She ran down to where Howard was standing uneasily in the living room. "I left them alone, Howard I didn't want to hear Jane with her-at first, I mean. It's all right, don't you think? She means It. about not taking her? I won't give Nancy up, no matter what line she tries" She put her head against his shoulder to be reassured.
 "She's better mean it. And I'm sure she does, sweet. She doesn't want to start any scandal and she doesn't want to take on the care of child either"
 But Nancy's so darling, How ard; it makes me uneasy, l cant help it."
 Don't worry. She's not going to have Nancy. Not if I have to beat her over the head with the poker and throw her out on the pavement. Not now, or any time.'
 I'm glad you're here." She hugged him hard. Don't stir out of tho house until she's gone. will your"
 "Not step. If you need help give a loud shriek."
 Upstairs Jane was looking at heI child with surprised disappoint- ment. She had expected. from ego tism rather than reason, thai Nancy would be movingly beauti. full, small replica of herself al her best. She was not. To Jane's eyes she was not even pretty.
 The little girl was sitting on the hearth rug, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the fire. She wal already in her nightgown. Hel bed, coversd turned down, waited in the corner, and near her wa, the low table for her supper, witt Amy's chair beside 1t. Solemn anC wide-eyed, she returned Jane.