Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-04-19
CHAPTER l

horsy face bore an expression which
her friends could have diagnosed as
worry, but no stranger could; that
sharp-chiseled lozenge of face be-
trayed emotion only to it's students.
Miss Fogg regarded the curled form
under the coverlets. you're awake,
Belinda" she stated finally. She
dropped the florists box on rocking
chair. A rather lovely eye belonging
to the girl in bed opened slightly.
eyes," said Belinda.
"You broke it OFF,"
eyes," said Belinda.
"And you cried all night?"
A pause. eyes," said Belinda.
"Nit-wit!" exclaimed Miss Fogg,
fondly. She sat down on the edge Of
the bed. There was red gloom in
the room from drawn red velvet win
dow Grapes and a worn red carpet.
81 think you are very great little
fool" She gave the mound which
was Belinda a pat. maybe you are
right, my dear. It's confusing when
loving gets tangled up with starving"
Her hard, bright little eyes hest
tated on the brink of dimming: it was
an absurd thing for them to do, in
that face like Man O. Wars.
Belinda sat up in bed, bounce of
pink and white and showering dark
hair. 81 can't love him any more.
I can't love him any more. Why,
it's absolutely necessary for me to
love that man, Foggy, so don't you
see why I couldn't possibly? He
knows it, too-the stuck-up infant.
But I'll show .him!"
"And when you've shown him, then
what? You'll marry him. Belinda"
Miss Fogg fell into tone that made
Belinda think of starched governess-
es' cuffs. navy blue capes with coral
Innings and sunlight in Central Park
a long time ago-"Belinda, you didn't
spend those days on the sands of Shell
ter Island and Cannes and Guernsey
with Johnny Parkes because of his
money. You didn't beg your father
to take a house every summer where
the Parkes family took house-and
what ridiculous places those Parkes
picked, too!-because they were rich
You wanted to be with Johnny. You've
wanted to be with him since you were
twelve. You want to be with him
now" Miss Fogg sighed.
"But, Foggy, don't you understand
we had money then too" Belinds
slipped her arms into scrap OF
mauve sateen. "You know what he
told me last night, Foggy? You want
to know"
Miss Fogg pursed her lips and look.
ed at Belinda with what was meant
to be resignation.
"He told me it didn't make BIT
of difference what my decision was
He said I was his from the beginning
and he was annoyed by my ever
raising a question about our getting
married. He said he was a meteor
hurtling through all opposition and
that I was the glow around him.
Belinda broke off and pinkened. She
added quickly: "He wasn't making
love when he said it, Foggy. He
was being nasty, as only John Morton
Parkes can be. He's the most con.
ceited man I've ever met in my life
She shuddered pointedly.
~ rather approve of that remark
of his that there is no depression when
you have star. He's a CHEEKY young
ster."
ooh, shut up!" Belinda said Grossly
starting for the bathroom door. "You
can't sell me on him any more. I'm
through. CHEEKY! I'll say he is! He
laughed at me-laughed at me and
said I'd be on time at the church when
he was ready. 1 gave his ring back
a week ago and last night told him
he was beginning to get on my nerves.
ColQ MIN MS dCCeHClonS DOreu HAe.
Miss Fogg glanced at the florists
box involuntarily Belinda boiled
worn out with the nights confused
vigil.
Gall right, then! There's about
twelve dollars worth of flowers in
that box. Maybe you can peddle them
for something if it's money that in
terests you"
Miss Fogg's expression didn't
change. Suddenly Belinda, weeping
bitterly, was in her arms. Forgive
me, Foggy, Pm little beast. How
could say such thing? Oh, Foggy
we're in such mess, aren't we? But
can't marry q man because nther