The Coolidge examiner., 1936-09-11
CHAPTER VI-Continued

up nereg On, Simon 100, OF COURSE.
Sally wouldn't come without him,
and he'd be useful. You said Grand
mother wanted young company for
Deborah, Company now, and such
company as my delightful sister,
and her delightful husband, and his
more than delightful sister :.
the ways beFn paved by those pres
ents, you see. and my mention of
the family relations her mind
would be too fully occupied to brood
over you. We can tip the kids off.
They're al good sports. And, for
the deepeJ: part of the plot-you
know hap Sally trots around at ST.
mons Seels day and night, and
kisses him at all the most awkward
mGnclts, and how they always
Asng on each others arms?"
"Tubby," Bryn said after a mo-
ment, you are fool. Nevertheless
-"
Exactly"
Bryn considered, whistling softly.
His eyes began to sparkle. Tubby,
seeing them, reached across the
writing table for paper and a pen
He wrote note. He sealed it in
an envelope. He addressed it to
Mrs. Simon Valance, at Hillsbor-
Ough. California. There" he said
They're dying to come, anyway"
When Bryn went downstairs next
morning there was apparently no
one awake in the big house. Gary
and Deborah were sure to be up.
but they were not in sight. He
stood for a moment on the top step,
brea thing in the fresh cool air, and
then went around the house and
down the brook toward the bridge,
on his way to the engine house.
He had filled the gasoline tank
IN the engine and was rinsing his
hands in the icy brook water when
he heard a foOtstep on the bridge
and looked up to see Deborah ap-
proaching. He stood up and dried
his hands on his handkerchief. She
came to stand little above him on
the raised plank, looking down at
him. To his surprise, the strain of
yesterday had not set a greater
Nroldness toward him in her dark
eyes. She was smiling a little at
BIN now, her lips curving and
Grandmother was not watching. He
stared at her.
Il followed you because l want
TO talk to you, if you don't mind"
she said.
why. of course l don't mind. Is
there something 1 can do?"
She hesitated. When he looked
up, the long lashes had dropped
nnd lay close to her cheek. I'm
not very nice person" she said
at last. Il apOlogized once before
for being so difficult, but l don't
think | tried any harder not to be
<ifficult. l mean it, this time. You
we're awfully thoughtful, last night,
when Grandmother was so queer
and afraid. You do love her. don't
sou? You're quite honest about it?
You would do anything to spare her
pain?"
Yes"
She nodded. II can see that.
don't think 1 quite believed it un-
til yesterday afternoon, when you
came home again, and last night,
when you were so troubled. I've
been very selfish. I've been think
ing of myself all the time, and feel
ing trapped. and hating it. 1 have
not been half. as thoughtful of
Grandmother as you have. I've de-
manded things for myself more
than for her, thought about myself
first, and what . what my posi-
ton was. You haven't thought about
yourself once. You haven't COM
plained. And this isn't your prob
lem, after all, and yet you've put
yourself into such position that
If anything went wrong, you would
lose most. You signed the note for
Mr.. Holworthy, and assumed all the
financial responsibility, and you've
given me your name. l didn't quite
see it until Tubby came yesterday.
And he talked about your friends,
and then he went on and nearly
ruined everything, and suddenly
saw how dreadfully unfair that
would be for you, and how horrid
I've been" She looked at him
gravely. "Will you forgive me?"
You haven't been horrid, Debor-
ah. You've been :" Bryn began.
and caught himself in time. But
she did not notice
"Yes, | have. You don't know all
the things that have been going on
In my mind. I'm sorry" She put
her soft hand out. mOmentarily. and
patted his, lying on the railing
Bryn did not move
'Bryn"
"Yes. D Deborah"
Grandmother is in strange
state of mind. Last night was
very worried. went into her room
to tuck her up and kiss her good
night. She looked at me directly
and asked me If were happy. She
hasn't asked me before. Not In the