Evening star., 1935-08-17
CHAPTER XIV.


~ UT Terry after all did tell
- Marshall that Betsy had not
returned from her drive with
John Storm. As the front
door closed she ran from the kitchen
to the parlor window and stood in
the shadows behind the voile curtains,
watching him disappear between
the straited radiance of the birch
trees. Her lips were trembling and
her heart was beating loud in her
own ears. II ought to hate him.
she told herself, f1ercely. why can't
I hate him? He has spoiled every
thing. But I've loved him so much.
I'd have done anything for him."
The next day at the Office Betsy
avoided Marshall. She feverishly
typed long sheets Of statistics until
noon.
After lunch Betsy divided her time
between doing research for Admiral
Bench in the Record Division and
typing the last six pages of her novel
SO that she could mail it on the way
home TO Barker Brothers, publishers,
il New York. She was drawing the
last sheet of the story out of the type
writer when Terry telephoned. He
said that he had got a job as test
pilot at Coolidge Field and that he
bad bought an ancient car for SIS to
carry him back and forth to work
and law school. He was giving up
hi SaL at
rolling in night school.
III be waiting for you at 4:30 in
front Of the Office, my proud beauty,
Terry said, land you'd better bring
along your smelling salts. Anastasia-
that's what 1 named the car-will
bowl you over or I miss my guess!"
Then he hung up.
1t was a little before 4:30, when the
woman clerks were hurrying down the
long corridors to make up their faces
in the rest rooms and the men were
putting away papers and straighten-
work, that Marshall came toward
Betsy's desk and stopped at her side.
She knew that he was there even
before she looked up. She saw the
tweed suit with the sharp creases in
the trousers, the dull brown brogues,
the slim, nicely shaped fingers that
were beating a soft tattoo on her
desks edge. Her mouth, which had
been curved by nature for laughter
and tenderness, twisted into a grim
line.
Betsy"
She did not turn her eyes to meet
his. She placed the cover on the
typewriter with as much care as If
the whole fate of the Government
depended on the perfection of that
one act.
Betsy, something is happening to
us and We aren't lifting a finger to
save ourselves. MISUNDERSTANDING
jealousy, blunders. Yesterday I went
to your house a dozen times, thinking
you were in trouble over RaouI-poor
unlucky devil-maybe even that you
had killed him. He was wild where
women were concerned and I thought
possibly you had had to. Terry said
you were with John Storm. You
should have been with me, Betsy.
When you're in trouble I'm the one to
be with you" His voice deepened and
he added softly, Lets forget all that
has happened, Betsy. and begin over
again."
Betsy! Listen to me! :"
She looked up into his face then.
Its no use, Marshall" she said,
her lips speaking the words, her eyes
denying them. I'VE can't start over
again. You've spoiled everything"
Color flooded his cheeks. Little
fires Of anger sparkling in the depths
OF his gaze. 1--WE spoiled everything
I love thatl What about you and
John Storm-you and Raoul? I was
willing to forget your indiscretions If
you'd be reasonable about Libby, try
to understand that what I'm doing is
for us, no matter how it may look to
you. I've got more now to forgive
than you"
He leaned across the desk then
When he went on his voice was a