The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-24
CHAPTER vII-Continued

sneak,
Did jamie knowY" she asked
gently "She may have thought
thar she told me- Her manner In.
dicated that she wouldn't accuse
JAMIE Tor the world Hugh could
iufer what he liked. rCome here
darling she smooihed the dav.
export cushions inYliingly. ~You
loo< dreadfuliy tired
Hugh remained where he had
been standing IN The center Of the
room.
We Nigh; as wcIl get this busl.
ness Strengthened ont." be said
evenly. Il know you haven't been
happy. Celia I know you haven't
been happy with me. You weni %
Washington 20 see Carter Shelby.
Celia's heart ihumped. A aush
which she hated crepi into her
cheeks she must keep cool Tie
was only suspeCtinE. lie dldn'i
really know.
why. Hugh - The silver harp
strings were muied with rcproach.
you dropped his address from
your bag HuEh's voice was oddly
impersouaL II sounded as though
he wns discussing a matter of no
very great importance. You had
torn oT the fap % m envelope.
Uncle Charlie found Il In the STA.
ton"
Uncle Charlie, That dreadful
chuckilng old mani
Garter took me out for dinner. =
she said lightly. because Aunt Lucy
wasn't AZ home. Certainly you
dont mind thar. You aren't medl-
eval enough 20 believe that can't
have friends That's really quaint
q you. Hugh"
she saw ia a lash she had said
something wrong. Hugh WINGED
slightly. Bot bis voice was steady
enough.
That isn't the question. Celia. I"
be continued patiently The thing
tha, matters l. that you haven't
been happy wI;h me-
I wouldn't have gone II I had
known yon would mind Cella's
nngers pleaied the lace on her
handkerchief ~Bui Carter ISIS
almost a relative. He's going to
marry Muriel"
$50 that's why you came back
home"
There was no anger In Hugh's
steady voice. Only weariness and
n sort of compassion. Celia expert
enced a moment of utter panic.
she had lost Carter. n she lost
Hugh. how could she explain Il In
a fashion which would be faitering
90 herselff
"Hugh 2" she crossed 10 him.
Her hands 1uiiered against his
coat lapels You're wrong. dar-
Ing. You don't understand
His arms were around her but
there was 10 feeling IN them. They
were Ike the limp stuffed arms OF
a clothing store dummy.
You loved me. Hugh" she muir
INJURED. scarcely conscious that she
had used the past tense.
i loved" he said slowly. "a Celia
who never was there"
She clunE 70 him. trembling aud
shaken. The silver harp strings
sobbed a plaintive lament. She
loved him. The dear big silly. dIdn't
he know7 she would die II he ever
stopped loving her. She didn't
mind living IN the Square. She
would always be happy with Hugh.
Her breath came In broken snatches.
Her lips qulvered Her eyes brlmmed
over with tears
She thought that he believed her.
HIS arms seemed 10 tighten. How
appealing she must look all teary
and shaken Ike this, She glanced
away from Hugh. saw herself In
the mirror. all her wistful lovelIness
framed In curlicues OF gilt The
picture charmed her. She could not
take her eyes away.
Suddenly Hugh laughed. not the
short bitter laugh OF a dIslllusloned
lover but a tolerant teasing laugh
provoked by genuine amusement.
She saw that he had caught her
looking past him into the mirror.
You're superb, Celia" he said.
THAT was magnificent perform
ance."
he gently detached her cllnglng
hands. turned. walked out OF the
room. Celia followed him into the
hall. There was a sound on the
landing jamie was coming down
stairs. Celia could Just see her eyes
above the enormous bandbox she
carried In her arms. The small
black dog was frisking around her
feet.
Look ont. KIltie." Celia heard
jamie say. Il can't see my feet at
all Please get out OF the way"
JAMIE must not know that any.
thing had happened. Celia thought
quickly. After all, what had hap
pened? She slipped her arm through
Hugh's. smiling up into his eyes
she would forgive him for laughing
ar ha-