The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-23
CHAPTER V

the other.." Marcia knew that hel
 face was pale and her hands werC
 trembling. She loved himl |
 swept over her blindingly. If sht
 didn't, he couldn't hurt her like
 ti1isl "Any mail, pleaseI" she asked
 the clerk, to break the silence witt
 Bob.
 The clerk bowed and held out
 two letters. Wenda's return ad.
 dress was in the corner of one
 floor and the bed turned down
 Marcia opened the letter and be-
 gan to read:
 Marcia, my dear, know you
 want to know what happened al
 the wake that followed your go.
 ing, so I'll not waste time on in- quiring about the state of your nerves and how you are coming along with the paste-pot and a lot of broken illusions, Here I gol"
 "Your loving family at once sent over to my house for you, my lamb. , Wenda had written the letter Mar cia received when she came from Montmartre with Bob. "Or rather your father went on @ personal quest, accompanied by the disap- pointed bridegroom. Your mother conceived the notion that maybe you had grown frightened of mar riage-of being good mans wife, and all that. But she behaved roy- ally when the guests came. She told them about your pink eye, and everybody was very sorry, and no- body believed one word of 1t.
 "When the last guest had gone, the wedding party sat down and ate what it could of the salads and ices and sandwiches and mo- body talked very much. I've a hlnch, Marcia darling, that your fair Robert had been parceling out farewalls hither and yon. He didn't attend the wake, of course. He couldn't quite believe that you had fiown--T had the gentle task o1 telling him-and he still thinks that you'll show up again. He was plenty angry at being stood lip and I've 8 hunch-and 50 have half a dozen other people - that he thinks no girl can do that to him and get away with So cheer up, Marcia, he may be see- ing you. If you love him, it is all right. Love comes high some- times. He will always hand out compliments like old ladies parcel out peppermintS, but they'll only be peppermints, Marcia.
 "Please come back soon. By the way, Camilla Howe is in Paris. knew her in boarding school. She came out the year before we did and you've probably met her. She is on the level, friendly and gay, but no one could ever get ahead of her, as Robert almost did with you! She might be good for you just now"
 There was more. Brushing her bright hair. Marcia was glad that the letter had come on that par ticular night. Whether or not Bob had roamed in the park, handing out-peppermints she grimaced at the thought - to the silly little dancer. didn't matter. That he had come to Paris with 8 resolve that he would win her for his brides sake - if that were true - mattered terribly. She was think ing about 1t when she slipped be- tween the cool linen sheets. She wished someone could advise her. Maybe Phil would talk to her about 1t, she decided as she began to grow drowsy.
 She went shopping the next morning, not so much because she needed a new frock but because she wished to go somewhere alone, away from the hotel. She chose a green-gray dress with a silly little green coat and gray hat that rolled away from her face, leaving her eyes wide and surprised. But the fitting took only part of the She took stroll down the Champs Elysees. It was not yet l o'clock when she returned to the hotel. In the lobby she saw Phil, and smiled happily. It was nice to see him stand up, nice to have him grinning at her in that easy. slow manner.
 "How about lunch?" he asked. "I thought I had a girl lined up, but the girl had another man He paused and made Q comic moue.
 'Lovelyp Marcia acquieSced, ''May I look in my mailbox flrst?" She had postponed coming home in order to avoid Bob. But now, at the hotel, she had a desire to know, without any more waiting, he had left 8 message. Of course he would havel
 There was no message and she flushed a little because the clerk looked sympathetic-as though he knew the American girl who ran away from her flance on her wed- ding night, was disappointed that he had not telephoned her. Very welll Bob might be with Rosita now with the lacquered hair of ebony, the lacquered nails of shin- ing red. Marcia strengthened her shoulders under the black wool frock whose wide cape was lined with white wool, threw her bright head higher as though its white pill-box, that was really a hat, was a crown, and clutched her bag and gloves.
 She had not deceived Phil. '4'm not making out so we'll, either" he said ruefully, and she saw that his blue eyes were narrowed, al- though his mouth laughed. "If It's the gold-striped count Camil- Ia wants, I'll send her silver Lea service for a wedding present but I have my doubts of his de- Votion."
 He didn't sound particularly md. More like an older brother aefending 6 favorite sister.
 'T wonder if you are in love" Marcia said, because she had so lite 'la thought of herself when she