Evening star., 1936-07-08
CHAPTER IX.

- Lee was CIltiCdiy AAJuAeu'
4 n Ted had severe cuts bruises
and a sprained back and Lee had only
a superficial knife wound in his shoul-
der. Neither Tippy nor grandfather
would tell her what had happened
and bright coins of annoyance burn
ed on her cheeks. If the brawl hadn't
been over her, she reasoned, they
would have told her all the details.
Grandfather, Tippy and Marcia
went into Teds room. Patsy opened
Lees door, Lee was sitting up in
bed, waiting. with one tanned arm
half bare beneath his bandages. He
smiled at her and she went over to
him, smiling, too-just as II last
night and all the unhappineSs OF
today had never been.
She gave him her hand and said,
lightly: Aren't you ashamed! Fight
ing! Ted looks like an Egyptian num-
my, all tied up! When are you two
going to grow up?" But he felt her
fingers, tense and cold and knew that
she was putting on a front.
He said PATSY" and his voice
trembled.
She didn't mean to do it. Follow
ing the starchily dressed nurse down
the corridor, learning that Lee wasn't
badly hurt, that he would be dismissed
from the hospital in an hour, she had
promised herself that she would be
gay and casual and remote. That
she'd let him know that everything
between them was all over. That the
insuperable barriers between them
were too great to bridge.
But now she felt herself sliding to
the floor, burying her head against
his breast She heard soft, sobbing
little voice which must be her own
"Oh, Lee-Lee!-if anything had hap
pened to you! love you so-oh, my
darling!"
Presently she was partly in control
of herself, sitting pale and a little
shaken on the chair at the side OF
his bed He took her hand in his
and held it tightly. Patsy, can you
ever forgive me for coming into your
life-for causing all this trouble?"
he asked.
He saw the blood rise under her
smooth, clear skin. II should never
have forgiven you if you hadn't"
she said She meant it, but she
thought too: This is no time to tell
him that I'm more afraid of love than
have ever been. That I'm going to
ask Richard to marry me or get
Courtney Valance to give me that
screen test. That I'm going away.
! didn't know before I came in here
that I was going away. But I am.
! couldn't stand being near Lee and
not having him. couldn't stand Kitty
always between u.s."
Lee, when is your court-or do
you know yet?" she asked aloud.
"A few days from now. The quick
est on record. Why?"
You aren't going to plead guilty
are you? 1t isn't like you to give up"
How do you know that, Patsy
how do you really know what I'm
like? I'm little puzzling even to my
self these days" The look in his
blue eyes hurt her heart.
She said, almost Sobbing: Lee,
dont-oh, please don't blame your
self too much. 1t wasn't your fault
was cropping for an explanation.
He said, stumbling little between
words: Patsy, you're darling. I'll
always love you! Remember that no
matter what happens-I'll always love
you!" And he lifted her hand to his
lips, kissed her fingertips and knew,
for the first time in "a hours, relief.
The touch of his lips on her fingers
famed down through Patsy. warming
her, frightening her. A few more
minutes with Lee and she knew she'd
never able to go away! She got
up quickly and bent down and kissed
his mouth briefly. She said: Every
things going to be all right, dar-
ling!" Then she turned and ran from
the room before he could see the tears
gathering in her eyes.
Once long ago Patsy remembered
her father having said: IF you make
up your mind, do what you plan quick
ly. It's usually best" Her mother
had said: you're wrong, Carter. One
should always sleep on ones prob
lens. Patsy was torn now between
these two exhumed opinions.
out NIleH she ran GOWN the stairs
and reached the waiting room on
the first floor of the hospital her
fathers words had won. She stepped
quickly into the telephone booth and
rang Richard. She was going to ask
him to marry her tonight, as soon as
he could get to her However. Rich
ard was not there. His man said he'd
gone away on lecture tour with Ad-
miral Benson to raise money for the
Antarctic expedition. She hung up
then and phoned Courtney Valance
at Carvel Hall.
The desk clerk said that Mr.. VAL
lance had received a pressing wire,
had checked out at noon and could
be reached in New York. He named
q swank Fifth avenue hostelry.
Patsy hung up and said in her
mind: Then shall go to New York.
I'll drive to Washington now, spend
the night with the Hughes and drive
on to New York in the morning. I
have Sl00- at home and I can wire
grandfather for more money when I
get located"
In half an hour she had flung her
things into bag, had written grand
father note that she was going to
New York, would write as soon as
she had found place to live and that
he must not worry about her. Then
she started off in her car again, choos-
k,.nx %A L.