The Coolidge examiner., 1936-10-09
CHAPTER x

DuL Sic SuOOh ncI HSftu anu liu iloL
answer, and Bryn did not wait. 1t
had suddenly occurred to him 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. Their was no an
swer. 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 dress
ing for dinner.
"Yes?" her voice answered, soft
ly, with that small lilt in it that
sang in his heart night and day.
Its. l, Bryn," he said. II :.
could you come out and =. and
speak to me? l want to tell you
something"
There was a little hesitation, and
then she said quietly, Just min
ute" And, after the minute, she
opened the door and came out.
She was wearing dress he had
never seen, another old-fashioned
one, the quaintest and most old
fashioned one possible, but her
beauty in it took his breath away.
"YOu wanted to tell me some
thing?" she repeated.
Bryn looked at her. There she
was, the girl he loved, with his we'd
ding 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? ?
I mean, what she said isn't impor-
tant, 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 matter" she said
gently. 81 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. ut is true" she said with
conviction.
What is?" Bryn said in despera-
ton.
"What she said. But it doesn't
matter, you know. That is, not to
me. l 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 :"
1.-The position I find myself in?'
Bryn repeated incredulously. what
position do I find myself in?"
Deborah was silent for a long mo-
ment. her eyes still hidden. Then
she raised them, and said, Lets
not discuss it, Bryn. 1t isn't nee
essary."
did she suggest" Bryn demand
ed tensely, "did she suggest that
I was, or ever had been, in love
with her? | suppose that's not a
question a man ought to ask, but |
think I'm justified I'm just be-
ginning to wake up to a number of
things. Tell me did she?"
Deborah's eyes darkened. "Shn
showed me her ring"
Her ring? What ring?"
"The ruby you gave her"
"Oh," Bryn said after a moment.
He turned and walked away across
the room. He couldn't stand being
there so close to her without touch
ing her, and there was still too
much between them to think of
touching her. Did she suggest it
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 mar
ried me. 1t must puzzle her dread
fully. 1t must hurt her. Couldn't
you tell her? She is all torn to
pieces with being hurt about it,
wondering about it. I can see why
she talks as she does. I don't quite
it doesn't matter" she said
hastily, and then, again, Il think
you ought to tell her"
II have told her." Bryn said, and
came step closer. "She knows ex-
actly why | wanted to marry Won.