Evening star., 1935-06-29
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from Alison to Daphne but neither
answered.
IT don't know where you've been
all night but you've given us both a
most terrible fright! 1t was very
wrong of you, very thoughtless!"
Robert turned brusquely from Alison
to his fiancee. Are you ready? I'm
afraid I'm late but we got held up
by trafic. We ought to get on at
once"
| But Daphne did not move.
Aren't you packed?" he asked.
"Sit down a moment, Bob, I've got
to talk to you" Daphne trailed across
the room, fetched a new box Of cigar
! cites from the table where 1t lay be-
tween a bouquet and the box OF
! chocolates. She took cigarette. Of
fered them to Robert, but he shook
his head.
ITS 1870 already" he said doubt
fully. Couldn't we talk in the CARP
mo. It's something rather seri-
GUS"
Whats happened"
"Just this" Daphne's voice was
low, tremulous. Il can't marry you,
Bob. It's off,"
MY dear. What are you saying?"
He took her round the waist. drew
her in toward him. Daphne? Dar-
ling, are you mad?"
mo. mean it." She slipped from
his arm, stood upright facing him,
grave, pale and tragic.
But, why-what on earth-?" He
swung round on Alison. Almost
shouted at her. "What've you been
doing?"
Hush, Bob. It's not her fault. It's
I who is wrong" Daphne's tone was
penitent.
"Whatre you talking about?" he
demanded.
Il was wrong last night" This was
new Daphne. this grieving woman
who confessed in slow, panied words.
Il didn't know the truth then. I
thought that Alison was making up
all these tales, because she was hys-
terical. I didn't understand that she
had heard something about me-"
Alison, turning. bewildered at this
sudden change, met imploring eyes
that seemed to ask her for forgive
ness as Daphne added softly. sweetly
Il think you've been rather brave,
really, child, to come to me. You
see. Bob, she might've gone to you
first, and I'd have hated that"
IF you'd tell ME what you're talking
about" pleaded Robert.
Its all my fault, Bob. Mine for
lying to you. Only-I was so fright
ened. so terrified! If you knew what
I'd been through! I ought to have
told you everything when I told you
about Dr. Lumley."
'Lumley?" He seized on the one
tangible thread. Whats he got to
do with it?"
Everything" Daphne raised her
tear stained face bravely. You see.
Bob, what I told you about him was
true. But it wasn't all the truth. He
was a doctor. and his practice did
go to pieces because of things that
people said. But before that-when
was out in Nice with my husband,
something else happened Her voice
trailed off, as If she could not 60 on.
Don't tell me now If you don't
want to-" he said stoutly. Il don't
care what you did or said"
1T wasn't my fault! 1t wasn't,
honestly!" 1t broke from her in
cry Of desperation. Il swear never
gave him tn slightest encourage
ment!"
Gave whom?" Alison asked that,
sharply.
That man-Dr. Lumley," said
Daphne simply. He was attending
my husband at the time, he had to
come every day. I saw him, nat
urally. I couldn't help it, but never
said thing to him to let him think
that" Her voice faded. Strength
ened suddenly with INDICATION, TT
was simply taking advantage Of his
POSITION"
Are you trying to say" Alison
began, starting forward, but her father
cut her short.
Shut up! I want to hear what
Daphne has to tell mel"
And Daphne went on firmly. "Dr.
Lumley made love to me-or tried
to-and I snubbed him, of course.
I told him that I'd tell my husband
and get another doctor"
That seemed to frighten him. I
thought I'd get him to be sensible"
Daphne declared. "And then--oh,
Bob, 1t was only by the merest chance
I found out what he'd done! He'd
told the matron of the home, the