Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-06-26
we're flirting so desperately"

1
"Sure thing! And I didn't even
know it till he yanked me right out
Of the party! Oh, and that reminds
me-did you know this morning they
arrested Dario?" Chotty's eyes were
round pools. On Chotty's counte-
nance for moment there was sham
ed expression.
For hadn't she introduced Dario
into this home? 1t had really been
all her fault, picking him up on the
train. :.
"Henry told me-" said Virginia
quietly. 81 think we may get some
Of the jewels back. They've already
recovered my pearls"
Chotty said slowly, intensely: oh,
Ginny dear, haven't we been fools!"
But Virginia did not answer this.
A pang went through her heart as she
thought of the alteration in Henry
since their marriage.
Whose fault had it been? Hers,
His? Or just the Park Avenue set?
Henry's financial affairs were in
bad shape too. His one-time friend,
Willie Krass, had shown yellow
streak in crisis, and would do moth
ing to help him. Henry was ignorant
Ct jules hand in this-of jules VEN
geance.
He hid the real situation from Vir-
GINA, and she in turn-unhappy be-
cause of this wall between them, and
because of the knowledge that she
could not have children now-plunged
deeper and deeper into the merry-go-
round, hoping to forget. She was ac-
counted one of the prettiest and smart
est leaders in the town. And yet her
heart was empty.
Believing Henry unfaithful to her,
for she had never forgotten that tele-
gram from Dolly" she hid her feel
ings under witty tongue, and hard
sophisticated gaiety.
Perhaps it was pity for her empty
heart that made nature relent. It
was on a late autumn evening, and
the wind was whistling around the
penthouse, when Virginia proudly told
Henry her secret.
And the very next day in the club,
Henry encountered the specialist who
had informed Virginia that it would
cost her her life if ever she had an
other child.
Henry was terribly disquieted over
this news. But Virginia's calm con-
fidence restored him a little. She in
sisted that even the best doctors were
often wrong-that she knew every
thing would be all right this time.
How wonderful women were! How
pathetically brave! His old love for
Virginia redoubled.
Things were going better for him
now, although the bright dream of re-
tirement had gone up in smoke.
Julie came less frequently to the
penthouse, but she contrived to waylay
Henry outside of his home. She could
get no farther with him, however.
That maddened her.
She tried to take it out on Vir-
GINA, who was in no condition to be
upset or worried. But Virginia, her
mind full of the future, was deaf,
dumb and blind to jules hints.
81 want Henry to escort me to the
BeauX Arts Ball in the Waldorf-As-
toria next week. He always took me
to that ball before. We once went
as an Indian chief and his squaw.
Another time as a Colonial Colonel
and his wife. You don't mind if l
borrow him, Virginia ?"
"If Henry wants to go, of course
he can. He's perfectly free" Vir-
ginia had answered with quiet dignity.
But Henry flatly declined to leave
his wife alone, to escort Julie.
The news began to leak around
among the gang that Julie was vast
ing her time and making q fool of her.