Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-07-30
BY FRANCES SHELLEY WEES
CHAPTER VI-Continued
Copyright by Frances Shelley Wees
WNU Service

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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, breathing 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
footstep on the bridge and looked
up to see Deborah approaching. He
stood up and dried his hands on his
handkerchief. She came to stand a
little above him on the raised plank,
looking down at him. To his surprise,
the strain of yesterday had not set a
greater GOODNESS toward him in her
dark eyes. She was smiling a little
at him now, her lips curving. She
was smiling at him, and Grandmother
was not watching. He stared at her.
Il followed you because 1 want to
talk to you, If you don't mind" she
said.
"Why, of course I don't mind. Is
there something I can do?"
She hesitated. When he looked up,
the long lashes had dropped and lay
close to her cheek. She began to eX-
anime the moss, too. I'm not very
nth oIo To-
ogized once before for being so diff
cult, but I don't think 1 tried any
harder not to be difficult. mean it,
this time. You were awfully thought
full, last night, when Grandmother was
so queer and afraid. You do love her,
don't you? You're quite honest about
it? You would do anything to spare
her pain?"
"Yes."
She nodded. II can see that. 1
don't think quite believed 1t until
yesterday afternoon, when you came
home again, and last night, when you
were so troubled. I've been very self
ish. I've been thinking of myself all
the time, and feeling trapped, and
hating 1t. I haven't been half as
thoughtful of Grandmother as you
have. I've demanded things for my
self more than for her. thought about
myself first, and what what my
position was. You haven't thought
about yourself once. You haven't COM
planned. And this isn't your prob
lem, after all, and yet you've put your
self into such position that If any
thing went wrong, you would lose
most. You signed the note for Mr..
Holworthy, and assumed all the finan-
cial responsibility, and you've given
me your name. l didn't quite see it
all until Tubby came yesterday. And
he talked about your friends and then
he went on and nearly ruined every
thing, and suddenly l saw how dread
fully 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, Deborah.
You've been :" Bryn began, and
caught himself in time. But she did
not notice.
eyes, / 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 pat
ted his, lying on the railing. Bryn did
not move.
"Bryn."
Eyes. d Deborah"
? "Grandmother is in strange state
of mind. Last night I was very wor-
ried. I went into her room to tuck her
up and kiss her goodnight. She looked
up at me directly and asked me if
were happy. She hasn't asked me be-
fore. Not in the same way. I think
she began to suspect everybody, even
me-"
did you tell her you were happy?"
Eyes. But she's going to be
watching very closely for proof" She
stopped. The color began to rise I'M
der her white skin. Bryn watched it,
bewitched. Her eyes were lowered.
"What what are we going to
do about ?" he asked, lost.
"Happy with you," Deborah ex-
planned, as If he did not understand
"Does she think I'm in love with
YOU"
"Yes," Deborah replied, and flushed
violently. "You're much better &C.
tor than I am. I'm sure she's begin
ming to suspect me-"
when you go out the door," Bryn
explained, Il stand and look after you
And when l hear you coming l go to
meet you. And when you're talking
keep looking at you, and when you're
away l talk to her about you. tell
her how beautiful you are, how much
more beautiful than any girl l ever
knew, with those lovely eyes, and your
lashes. as long as dream, and your
mouth, and your little white chin, and
the way you blush and your
throat, so soft and white, and the way
you move your shoulders. and the col
or of your hair, and the way 1t curls."
He drew deep breath.
"Oh, DEAR" she sighed. mo Won
der she thinks Pm not in love with
you. haven't told her once anything
oIp ho -