The Coolidge examiner., 1936-10-09
CHAPTER Ix-Continued

love with each Other?"
"Yes, quite without restraint. II
seems rather queer that girl could
be so absolutely cool and business
like about her marriage, even II II
were this kind of marriage. But
of course it is not in the least rO-
mantle to her, and does not affect
her emotions at all, so why should
she be anything but businesslike?
Do you really mean to stay here
for a whole year?" she asked with
a sigh. rs it really necessary"
Yes"
"Grandmother's no fool. She's
good deal sharper than you think,
Bryn."
What do you mean?"
II don't think you're fooling her
for a minute. She knows you and
the girl aren't living together as
man and wife. She must know 1t.
Anybody can see it with half an
eye"
Can they? H0w?"
by that childs face, of course"
II see," Bryn said quietly.
Pillar put her hand on his arm.
"Terl her." she begged. Go and
have a talk with the old lady, Bryn,
and tell her the truth"
"Why?"
81 do. think it is too much for
them to ask you to sacrifice your
life for whole year to an old
ladys whim. She wouldn't die,
Bryn. | tell you she is lot strong
er than you think she is, and lot
sharper"
Bryn laughed. To Pillar it was
not exactly a pleasant laugh, and
she WINGED a little as she heard it.
I'm not sacrificing my life," he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked,
sharply.
Leaving here would be sacrific-
ing my life, Pillar. Don't you I'M
derstand? / care more for Grand
mothers left eyebrow than I do for
everybody l ever knew before, and
as for Deborah
''As for Deborah?'
'Well," Bryn said at last, "upon
racking my brains, | can't think Of
anything in the world that you
could put in the scales to balance
Deborah that would push them
down a feathers weight"
"Are you trying to tell me that
you're in love with herr"
THAT is my general idea"
She came a step closer. Listen,
Bryn," she said, under her breath.
Listen you're bewitched.
You're mad. You can't marry Deb
orah. You can't do it,"
81 can," Bryn said happily. II
have"
She made a despairing gesture.
Il mean a real marriage. Why,
she'd drive you crazy, Bryn! She'd
drive you mad. What does she
know about life, or the world, or
any kind Of culture. She has no
sophistication, she has no polish.
She's nothing but an ignorant child,
pretty, ! grant you, but as insipid
as brook water. In two years
in five years, what are you going
to have for a wife? There's moth
ing there, Bryn. Don't be carried
away by a pretty face. You need
intelligence, you need companion
ship, you need a wife who is your
equal, who understands your posi-
ton in the world and can help you
carry it off,
Bryn was looking at her unhappi-
ly, compassiOnately. I'm sorry, Pi-
lar he said gently. I'm afraid it's
not l who am making the mistake
about life, You are not quite fair
to Deborah, but we will pass that
over. You suggest that l would be
happy with sOphistication and po-
liSh, and woman who understands
my position and can help me to
carry 1t off. Those things mean
nothing, Pillar. I've seen a whole
world full of girls such as you de-
scribe, and not one of them has
meant anything to me. They're all
alike, Pillar, all cut to a pattern.
and a false pattern at that. I nev-
er knew what it was to be in love
until saw Deborah. never
stopped to think what it is that
a man really wants out of life. III
tell you what it is now. He wants
a girl of his own, and then he wants
his own fireside; and then he wants
his son. Do you understand that.
Pillar? And when he finds the love-
liest girl in the world, whose mind
is as pure and sweet as DebOrah's.
whose heart is completely un-
touched, whose emotions and per-
ceptiOns are as delicate as a flower
in spring, and who Is absolutely
kind and unselfish, Pillar, what can
he do but fall In love with her!
That's how / feel about Deborah. |
know she doesn't love me now, but
If | get the time and the opportu-
nifty I'm going to do my best to
make her love me, and I'm not sure
! can't succeed, even If she is y
thousand times too good for me-"