The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-04
CHAPTER XXVI

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 Tim said, "Is that you, Qorgeotls?"
 She must have answered, though l,he wasn't aware of what she said. But she must have said something, because Tim went on, easily and casually.
 "How've you beenp" he asked. "What have you been doing?"
 "oh, this and that. I've been busy-"
 Over and over she had planned this conversation, what she would say when Tim called and how she would say 1t. She had even re- hearsed the words. And now Tirn's voice was coming to her ove rthe wire, and everything that she had planned was forgotten. She could think of nothing but the most commonplace of phrases. Could Tim hear the way her heart was pounding2 No of course not, but she wished 1t would stop. It made 1t hard to speak natural ly. The words choked in her throat.
 How did you enjoy your trip2" she asked.
 My trip? Oh, you mean down to Maryland. It was so-so. Weather was bad most of the time"
 "When did you get back7"
 Last week."
 Last week. The strange tight. ness about Toby's heart increased. Tim had been home week and this was the first time he had called her. All through the days since she had seen him, she had cllng to the belief that there was some reason for his silence. There must be a reasonl Well, Chere was. He hadn't written or Celcphoned because he hadn't wanted tol
 Time went on, q meant to call you sooner, Gorgeous, but one thing and another came along You know how 1t is. It's little late, I guess, but I thought If you weren't doing anything else tonight we might step out somewhere"
 He left the sentence unfinished, waiting for her to answer.
 Toby fought desperately to con- trol her voice. She prayed he might not notice the pause, but It was 6 moment before she could speak. Then she said, I'm sorry. Tim. was just leaving"
 It wasn't much of an untruth After all, she had had an en- gagement for that evening. She could have been dancing at that very minute if she hadn't decided to leave the others and come home. And she wouldn't have Tim Jamie8on thinking that, be- cause he had neglected her, there was no ono else to show her at- tentionsl She wouldn't have him thinking she was spending the evenings waiting to hear from himl
 She had spent good many oi them that way. All the more req son why Tim mustn't knowi
 He took his dismissal lightly. "Sor. ry," he said. Well, I'll call agair some of these days"
 "Yes do." Her words, politely impersonal, matched his. Then Sh' said good night and put down thu telephone.
 She went back to the davenport huddled against the cushions. Sht was glad that the room was dark except for the single light. She wal glad no one else was there to know that Tim no longer cared. She lay with her cheek against her arm staring at the shadows, trying tC face this fact. Everything wa! changed now that she knew Tin didn't care and had never cared. H. couldn't have, of course
 When Harriet reached home Toby was in bed. She lay very stil and Harriet, thinking her roommate was asleep, moved quietly 50 as mol to waken her.
 4 few days later Harriet asked "What's become of Tim Jamie son, Toby?" and Toby was able to say, naturally enough, "Oh he's around. had a call from him the other night"
 Later the same day Toby stopped in at the Model League office. She was talking to Sally