Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-07-23

her You'd be blind If you weren't :"
Bryn interrupted him. "And what did
you say about Sally and Madeline?
Whatever you said seems to have been
adequate. Grandmother gave me
bad half hour, after Deborah was
gone, tonight. She got me into her
sitting room and quizzed me. She sug-
gested delicately that Deborah's feel
ing might be quite distinctly hurt at
the thought that there had been other
girls in my life who had, meant so
much to me-"
There was long silence
"Bryn," Tubby broke in on him, did
Grandmother actually expect you and
Deborah to fall into each others arms
the moment you met and well,
have everything all settled between
your"
"She' hoped we would, yes"
Tubby gulped. II don't quite under
stand her point Of view," he went on.
"Here's Deborah she's nothing
thing. She's as fresh as a spring
morning, and as unconscious about -.
well, about . that is, about ="
"You needn't founder. I am aware
of your meaning. In Victorian times a
girl was supposed to be pure and en-
tirely ignorant. Deborah doesn't know
anything. She may have few funny
little ideas, but she doesn't know.
That's one of the present difficulties.
She's terrified. Well, Victorian girl
was supposed to have for her prospec-
tive husband only such feelings as re-
spect and admiration and perhaps a
gentle Affection Deborah was sup
posed to have those for Stuart Ora
ham. They'd been inculcated in her.
So Grandmother hadn't any compunc-
ton about handing her over to him."
Bryn's face was contracted. poor lit
tie kid" he said under his breath.
Tubby began. Does she think I.
does she expect because If she
"She does," Bryn said with bitter
ness. "She thinks that wedding ring
is kind of magic talisman. If she
knew that Deborah and were
strangers, she'd die. Marriage is
kind of enclosure, to her. Deborah and
I are one forever. she thinks and the
future is safe and secure. If life is
smooth and unruffled she may live for
years. If she is unhappy, troubled,
she will just drift out. And If any
thing did happen to her, Deborah
would never be happy again. She
would always think she'd failed her."
Tubby stood up. He moved across
to his friend, and faced him. "Bryn,"
he said steadfastly, II don't want to
make any more mistakes. 1 think I'm
sure, but I'd like your word for it. 1
never saw you like this before. Is it
the real thing, Bryn? It's got you, at
last? You are in love with Deborah?"
Bryn pulled away. He went across
to the window, and stood looking out
at the stars. He turned and said, Yes"
Tubby swallowed. Then, I'm sorry
l acted like fool"
tits all right, Tubby. Either
either it does come out all right, or it
doesn't. Nothing you said would make
any difference to Deborah, not even
if you told her I'd been in love with
half dozen girls. She doesn't care
anything about me-"
"Listen," Tubby said. "Why don't
you just show her how you feel, Bryn?
mean, put your arms around her
and, we'll, kiss her. Can't you do that?"
mo"
"Why?"
"She gave me an opportunity once,
I was afraid to. She wouldn't under
stand. You've got to remember that
she doesn't understand anything. I'd
brighten her. She might never get
over it. If I've got chance at all,
Tubby, it's in letting her get used to
me. Once she has confidence in me.
really trusts me, once we get to be
friends. then perhaps 1 can oh,
touch her hand once in while. But
If / frightened her now-I'm sunk"
"She wouldn't be frightened. guess
you're in love, all right. You're too
modest, Bryn. She wouldn't be fright
ened. She'd find herself returning
your kiss. It's more or less an uncon-
scious process anyway, isn't it?"
Bryn stared at him. the gray eyes
dreaming, far away. They came back
to earth. Tubby had suggestion.
"Why not get Sally and Madeline up
here? Oh, Simon too, of course. Sally
wouldn't come without him, and he'd
be useful. You said Grandmother
wanted young company for Deborah.
Company now, and such company as
my delightful sister, and her delight
| full husband, and his more than de-
| lightful sister the ways been
paved by those presents, you see, and
my mention of the family relations
her mind would be too fully oc-
cupied to brood over you We can tip
the kids off. They're all good sports.
And, for the deepest part of the plot
you know how Sally trots around
at Simon's heels day and night, and
kisses him at all the most awkward
moments, and how they always hang
on each others arms?"
"Tubby," Bryn said after moment,
"you are fool. Nevertheless -"
Exactly"
| Bryn considered, whistling softly. His
| eyes began to sparkle. Tubby. see