Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-10-01
by FRANCES shelley WEES
Copyright by Frances Shelley Wees
WNU Service
CHAPTER x
--22--


and did not answer, and Bryn did not
what it was that he must do, and do
quickly. He must find Deborah, and
tell her that he loved her. He reached
the door of her sitting room. He
tapped. There was no answer. He
entered, and closed the door gently
behind him.
Bryn hesitated, his eyes going to her
closed bedroom door. He Strengthened
his shoulders. He raped lightly on
the door. She would be there. She
would be dressing for dinner.
"Yes?" her voice answered, softly
with that small Tilt in it that sang in
his heart night and day.
ITS I. Bryn." he said II
could you come out and . and speak
to me? want to tell you something"
"There was a little hesitation, and
then she said quietly, "Just minute"
And, after the minute, she opened the
door and came out.
She was wearing a dress he had
never seen. another Fashioned one,
the quaintest and most old-fashioned
one possible, but her beauty in it took
his breath away
"You wanted to tell me something's"
she repeated
Bryn looked at her. There she was,
the girl he loved, with his wedding
ring on her finger; and he had come
racing to tell her that he loved her,
and now that she was here before him,
he was afraid.
aren't you going to tell me some
thing?" Deborah repeated, knitting her
brows family.
Bryn started "Yes," he muttered.
He swallowed. Deborah, that is ..
did she -. mean, what did Pillar say
to you this morning? l mean, what
she said isn't important, but l want to
know ;. that is, did she try to make
you think that ="
Deborah was looking at him with
those quiet eyes. She shook her head.
1T doesn't NATTER" she said gently.
II understand"
Bryn took a deep breath. You =.
you don't understand" he protested.
I'm trying to say that whatever she
told you was wrong. 1t isn't true"
Her glance dropped quickly to her
hands, clasped together before her. 1T
is true" she said with conviction.
"What ISL" Bryn said in desperation.
"What she said But it doesn't mat
ter, you know. That is, not to me. I
can imagine that you must be troubled,
when you think about the position you
find yourself in, but you needn't be
troubled on my account. Really, Bryn.
If only we if only there were some
way =. but Grandmother :"
''The position find myself in?" Bryn
repeated incredulous1y. "What posi-
ton do l find myself in?'
Deborah was silent for long mo-
ment, her eyes still hidden. Then she
raised them, and said, Lets not dis
cuss it, Bryn. 1t isn't necessary"
"Did she suggest" Bryn demanded
tensely, "did she suggest that I was,
or ever had been, in love with her? I
suppose that's not question a man
ought to ask, but 1 think I'm justified.
I'm just beginning to wake up to a
number of things. Tell me did
she?'
Deborah's eyes darkened. ''she
showed me her ring"
"Her ring? What ring?"
1.-THE ruby you gave her."
"Oh," Bryn said after moment. He
turned and walked away across the
room. He couldn't stand being there
so close to her without touching her,
and there was still too much between
them to think Of touching her. did
she suggest 1t was an engagement ring,
Deborah? Did she dare say it WASP"
II it wasn't what she said.
thought that was what she meant. But
you needn't explain these things to me.
Bryn. There isn't any explanation due
me, you know. The explanation, it
seems to me, is due to Pillar herself.
She -. she doesn't know exactly why
you married me. 1t must puzzle her
dreadfully. 1t must hurt her. Couldn't
you tell her? She is all torn to pieces
with being hurt about 1t, wondering
about it. / can see why she talks as
she does. / don't quite =. &. it doesn't
matter" she said hastily, and then,
again, II think you ought to tell her."
II have told her." Bryn said, and
came a step closer. "She knows exactly
why / wanted to marry you Deborah.
Nobody in this world could have it any
palmer"
I'm glad"
Bryn came back to stand before her.
deborah, if ! explain about that ring.
will you believe me?'
1T isn't necessary for you to ex-
plain. 1t isn't any of my business"
But l want to explain. Will YOU
believe mel"
Her eyes met his steadily. "Of
course. But p
Don't object, please. Listen. De-
borah it was as businessike a
transaction as this. When | went to
the Orient / was headed for India. We
had talked all sorts of nonsense about
jewels and precious stones and old
treasures there and after l got there
/ kept my eyes open for that sort of
thing and once or twice, in writ
ing home to Pillar | told her abort ono