The Coolidge examiner., 1936-10-23

CHAPTER x-Continued

~Just a minute" Tubby said softly.
where did you get all your infor-
NATION about our herO?"
ITS none of your damn busi
ness" Graham said.
"Let him CO." Bryn said sharply
to Tubby. Its obvious, isn't it?"
Pillar, back in the shadows,
stirred With set frozen face she
rose, walked past Grandmother and
Deborah and Bryn, standing togeth-
er at the top of the steps, and past
Graham staring at her. She got into
her car, and without backward
glance. was gone.
The morning, Bryn discovered,
had somehow whirled itself away.
Pillar was gone; Graham was gone.
Tubby and Madeline had gone wan
dering off into the woods. Sally her
self had taken a cushion out TO the
lawn after lunch, with that avOwed
intention of getting another layer
of sun-tan, but she had promptly
gone to sleep there in the heat, and
Simon had carried out an umbrella
and erected it over her to keep her
from burning. Grandmother was
asleep, too. on the couch before the
open window in the sitting room.
Bryn left the room softly, and shut
the door behind him; and then he
went on with his search for Deborah.
He went down the path toward
the brook with long, quick steps,
and came at last to the solid ring
of trees that formed the back of
Deborah's most hidden sanctuary.
Bryn raped lightly on the tree
trunk under his hand. She turned,
quickly, and looked up, her eyes
dark and still full of dreams, her
mouth red and soft. Bryn stood be-
tween the two trees. and just out
side them. May l come in. Debo-
rah?" he asked.
She dropped her lashes. IF you
WISH" she said in low voice.
He squeezed through the opening
and came down toward her.
Deborah would not look up. Bryn
moved nearer and dropped down
gard away, his eyes upon her.
Haven't you forgiven me-" Bryn
nsked at last, gently, "for not tell
ing you that Grandmother knew? |
told her on that ride"
You did try to tell me-"
Tell me what's troubling you,
Deborah. All the fears and worries
are gone, dear"
She caught her lower lip between
head.
Bryn moved closer to her. He
tried to take her hands, but she
pulled them away.
She swallowed. Then, II wish
you'd go away" she said under her
Sreath.
go away?"
The others are going today. After
dinner. You could 90 with them"
Go away. Deborah? Go away
from you, you mean? Leave you
here? Go hack to San Francisco?"
She nodded. her eyes on a leaf.
Bryn put his face down into his
hands. After a long time he said,
slowly. 81 don't understand, Debo-
rah. This morning you why,
you gave me this rlower!" he said,
touching it. 81 thought you were
beginning to care little about me-"
She did not reply.
He looked down at Deborah's bent
head. That's final, then?" he asked
quietly. She did not answer.
Sorry" he said after a moment.
81 suppose I was fool to think
that you could possibly care about
me. You're so exquisite, and so
fine, and you're not made out Of or
dinary stuff like the rest of us. I
might have known from the begin
ming that it wasn't any use. I think
l did know, Deborah, so you needn't
reprOach yourself"
She was gazing up at him, still
with that anguished look in her
eyes. Bryn managed a smile. He
held his hand out. "Shake hands?"
he inquired. IF you don't mind,
Deborah, think I'll go now instead
of waiting until tonight"
She got to her feet slowly. Her
face was as white as chalk. She
put her hand in his. "Good-by." she
whispered, and he stood for a mo-
ment looking into her eyes, then
turned away.
NO" Deborah said clearly. mo.
1t isn't any use. l can't let you CO."
She was beside him, her hands on
his arms, her face upheld to his. II
can't let you CO." she said. 81 don't
care what you think about me. l
don't care if am new kind Of toy
TO you. | don't care if this is only a
part of an adventure to you, an ad-
venture that will be over TO-
morrow, or in just a little while. l
don't care about anything, or what
happens to me, only can't let you
go away from me. 1 haven't got
any pride or any strength left"
Bryn stood, motionless, staring
Town at her In bewildermepG.