The Washington times., 1936-05-23

gel. you don't regret? You don't
want to changer"
AL fear is this-Something
may happen to stop u.s."
Don't let it! Sweetheart, you
can't let it,"
"Oh 1 won't! Ricky, listen .
you haven't any money. Some day
you'll have more than I've even
dreamed about. But you take a
loan from me now. The license and
all that costs quite Bit"
He leaned across the table. I've
found a way to manage. I'll surely
have enough. Everythings going
to be all right, Nell. Well get the
license. You'll be bought and paid
for! I'll try hard to pay you back
for the trust and the joy and the
goodness. Nell dear"
/ She looked down at her plate,
blinking: "Ricky, stop! You'll have
me bursting into tears"
He gave deep. chuckling
laugh, took her hand and said,
squeezing it: Dear, you're sweet!
You're the sweetest and the
dearest"
She packed her suitcase that
night. She scattered Sachet over
her one filmy silk nightgown. 1t
was all done up in tissue and rib
bons. She had bows on the little
slippers Aunt Esther had given her
last Christmas. And a frill of mari
bou feathers on her jade green
dressing gown. She wanted to be
lovely for him. She wanted to be
enchanting.
Saturday dawned with a shower
Of golden sun and the stir of
Spring in every breath. Leaves
were green on all the trees. A
sparkling world. A glad world.
Nell looked from her window
and closed her eyes on a rapt,
happy sigh. She showed her suit
case behind the door and went to
the kitchen to get breakfast. Sh'd
make pancakes. Jimmy loved
them. So did Henry Mason. She
wanted everyone to be glad: fill
the house with laughter. This was
to be her happy day.
At quarter of eight her mother
had not appeared.
shes not up" said her step
father CURLY.
Nervously, Nell sped to her
mothers room. Nom was sitting
on the edge of the bed, leaning on
her clenched fists and trying to
rise. Perspiration stood out in
gliStening drops on her lips and
forehead. Nell was frightened.
Don't you feel well, Mom?"
Nom looked at the pale girl
with anguish: Not very"
Get back in bed. I'll bring you
a tray"
| Nell went back to the kitchen.
She poached an egg, cut toast in
dainty squares with dots of cur
rant jelly around the edge. While
she was preparing the breakfast
she wondered what was going to
happen. Would she have to put
off the plans for her marriage?
She was almost weeping. She
saw Ricky's face, radiant with ex-
pectation. 1t would harden. 1t
would look at her with grim, de-
frauded eyes.
This made her desperate. She
brought the tray to her mothers
bed. Nom, what is the matter?
You've got to see doctor"
They can't do anything to me,
except to pile up bills"
But are you worse today?"
THE mornings are always bad.
I'll feel better later"
Nell seized on this and cried out
in a soft, beseeching way: "Oh,
you'll be all right, later? I'm so
glad! I'm going to spend the
night with EN-. We have it all
planned"
Don't do that, Nell. You must
come home. I wait for you.
need you. You won't have your
mother with you long"
Nell turned and fled to her
room. She pressed her face for
an appalled,, frantic moment
against the clothes in her closet.
Even if she went now: even if she
made herself hard and seized this
hour, the joy of it was gone. The
bright, sweet, overpowering happi-
ness was daunted.
She was going to marry Ricky.
The high sweet promise would be
kept. This was her wedding day.
Ito Be COntinued)
I