Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-11-15
CHAPTER VIII

N11k1I v AA4
There was silence in the little flat
Suddenly it was broken by the sharl
ring of the telephone.
"I1l bet that's him." cried Bub
bles ungrammatically. She flew II
the phone. 1t was in the bedroom
Lucinda could hear her cooling tx
somebody.
"My gracious! It's you. Oh, yes
she's here. I'll call her. She's in the
tub. I think she's dressing to e
out with heavy date. Oh, no trouble
at all! Why don't you come right or
up and talk to herr"
Click went the receiver. Bubbles
jubilant, returned to the little living
room. She swept the supper dishes
off the table. Here, lend hand
I sold him the idea you were on your
way with someone else! Play up to
it, Lucinda!'
"He's coming here, Bubbles?"
Certainly he is. And Pm doing
the Eliza act-out into the wind and
rain-Ill go over and see Cora Diggs
-that'll be enough to put me for
ever against matrimony!"
Cora Diggs had been in the chorus
of Broadway show, had married
the trombone player in the orches-
ira, and was going to have a baby.
She lived in a om-and-kitchen-
cite around the corner from the STAN
ford girls. To Bubbles, she was an
lawful warning"-though Cora SEEM
ed happy enough.
Before Bubbles left, she was al
truistic enough to enwrap Lucinda
in beautiful sea-green kimono of
heavy Chinese silk that an admirer
had brought from San Francisco.
"Femininity! That's the stuff! But
you look too rosy over the glad news!
I'll tone you down with that pale
green powder that's so good for night.
Sort of translucent palIor. So in
triguing!"
1t was pale and beautiful Lucinda
that Carter Chalaire found in the tiny
flat, alone the air heavy with
the trail of Bubbles jasmin perfume.
$50 you were going out with some
one else? You were through with
me, Lucinda ?"
at seems you have plenty of other
friends" she replied with an attempt
at lightness. "Why should 1 monop-
olize you?"
But her eyes had a hurt look. He
saw that. He put his arms about her
in the jade kimono.
He looked worried himself. For a
few moments he was silent.
She thought: "He's changed. This
thing-this woman-is on his mind.
Is he getting the words ready in which
to let me down easy"
A wave of utter mihery caught her.
If Carter gave her up, loving him as
she did, she simply couldn't bear it
without him, life would be as
dreary as the rain that she could hear
pouring down outside.
She heard her own voice say, mech
anically: whats the matter Carter?
Tell me-"
He raised worried eyes to hers. His
eyes were perhaps the finest feature
in his face E. so dark, so deepset.
Now they looked brooding.
Nothing, except the general fu-
tility of life. Just when one really
begins to learn what happiness means,
something bobs up"
She forced herself to say: "Aren't
you the cynical one? And you born
with a gold spoin in your mouth"
He smiled wanly. as that so?
Maybe the gold spoon holds some dis
agreeable doses ;"
She thought-and it was agony to
her-"His mothers forcing him. She'll
us. She's probably heard
about his taking me places"
Silence in the little flat, except for
the rain beating on the window panes,
and the hum of traffic. To Lucinda,
the monotonous beat of the rain seem
ed dirge-like.
Lucinda, put your arms around me
and kiss me-"
"Why should II"
Because you're mad about me as
I am about you. Don't stall. Pm so
unhappy"
"About WHAT" But she yielded to
his warm touch. His nearness thrill
ed her.
ooh, never mind what. Just the ;
usual family nonsense. They want I
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