The Coolidge examiner., 1936-10-02

have not the sOphisticatiOn, the
knowledge of his world. You scarce
ly speak his language. You say he
does not love you; | think that
would be impossible, too. There
must be cOmpaniOnShip in real love,
an equality. But | think | do be.
gin to see his reason. There you
were, beauty in distress and
Bryn was always fond of a new ad-
venture. Something new, some
thing nobody has ever done before.
Yes, it becomes quite clear 20 me.
And he would get considerable en-
joyment out of this play-acting to
your grandmother, this pretense Of
being simple and bucOlic, this pre-
tense of loving you. 1t is rather an
interesting situation, as | must ad-
nit"
| Deborah was staring at her. 81
don't think l care to discuss it any
further" she said quietly, "if you
don't mind, Pillar"
| There isn't much more to say, is
there? Except that l suppose
ought to thank you for explaining
it to me. Deborah. i have been
troubled. You can understand"
Deborah folded her linen. Yes"
she said.
"Bryn is very difficult" Pillar
sighed. Il think this has been the
worst fright he has given me: But
once, two years ago, l was nearly
mad, too. He was in Thibet, and
didn't hear from him for nearly six
months. 1t was reported that he
was dead. OF course, he wasn't,
nor lost either. He was Just liv-
ing in a native tribe. living like a
native, to get the atmosphere, he
said. He's wildly interested in peo-
pie, different kinds of people, the
farther from his own kind, the bet
ter. But he always comes back in
the end, ! have discovered that.
And when he came back from Thi-
bet" she said with smile, he
brought me my ring. This ruby
Isn't 1t a beauty"
The ruby flashed and glowed on
her finger as she held it out for
| Deborah to see. at is very lovely"
Deborah said gently.
Gary tapped on the decreasing.
Miss Deborah, please" he said
MIR. Bryn would like dry pair OF
shoes. Might l go through and get
| them?"
Certainly, Gary"
With little half bow to Pillar he
sidled past her and opened the door
on the left. He pushed it back and
left it open as he went in, and Pi-
lar, glancing through, saw the mar
row white bed against the other
wall. She turned deliberately ana
| looked at DebOrah's closed bedroom
door, and then, with a deep BREATH
she looked at Deborah and smiled
It's all very romantic, isn't it?"
she said, and went swiftly across to
| the hall door. Thank you for tell
ing me, Deborah. 1t makes rsther a
difference.
Bryn had been over in the stable
talking to Joe, who came to milk
every evening, COW having been
added to their possessions.
AS he approached the bridge his
eyes caught the tlutter of a skirt
| and his heart turned a complete
double somersault. If he had been
in any need of proof as to his emo
tiOnal condition, he had it then. But
| the skirt did not belong to Debo-
| rah; it was much too sophisticated
skirt for that, as he saw at sec.
| Ond glance, and his heart settled
down sadly into recumbent posi-
ton again, and he went forward
without interest to meet Pillar.
She was standing in the middle
of the bridge, leaning over the rail
ing to look into the water. Bryn
stopped beside her, put his elbows
on the railing, and gazed down into
the brook, too, without a word. ri
lar turned, after moment. and
smiled at him; the flashing brilliant
smile that was peculiarly her own,
that no one else could duplicate.
You know" she said, Il don't
blame you for burying yourself
away up here, Bryn. It's so far
back in Nature that ! don't suppose
you've ever had quite the same ex-
perience before, have you?"
Bryn glanced down at her. Her
black eyes, liquid and melting, met
his. Her lips were very red.
NO" he replied. Never"
There was little silence. They
stood together, elbows touching.
After a moment Pillar said softly.
Deborah told me her story today"
"Deborah?" he repeated
"She seemed to think l ought to
be told. Bryn."
"Oh."
The black eyes opened wide again
Had you talked to her about
me?"
"Never." Bryn SAID promptly.
oh" Pillar murmured. II had
an idea you had, perhaps. She GER
tainly knew that we had been
friends for a long time. OF course.