The Washington times., 1937-02-27

outgrow him in a season"
of them. He heard footsteps
in the corridor.
CHAPTER VI
Denise came in, in dark blue
frock very simple and not very
low-cut-the sort of frock she
might wear dining alone with her
husband, when they weren't "dreSS-
ing"
She said, very stiffly: "we're
all extremely grateful to you, Mr..
Windon."
And once or twice, casually, she
had called him Colbert" before!
A kind of indignation caught at
him, that she should think he ex.
pected crawling gratitude, and so
should think she must put him in
his place! He had, not knowing
it, the thunderous look which Fe-
licia had protested on his face,
and look Felicia could not, of
course, have identified; but any
one who knew his grandfather.
when his grandfather was being
determined, could have.
He spoke very fast: IT didn't
want to see you to have you say
thank you for matter that's just
business between your father and
myself"
She looked for minute just like
Felicia, being mocking!
II can't think of any other rea.
son that you might want to see
me specially"
Because I wanted to ask you to
marry me. I've wanted to marry
you ever since the first evening !
met you'll"
She stared at him. How white
she was!
Townes came to the door and
said: "Mr. Sheldie to speak to you
on the telephone, Miss Rendale."
She went out of the room with
out looking at him again.
He was furious at himself. It
was not so he had meant to pro.
pose to her. If she were stiff and
embarrassed, it was natural. The
situation must be difficult, to have
to thank man who, she probably
knew, was in love with her, for
lending her father money! Well,
when she came back, he'd say he
was sorry. He thought, with a
kind of terror: "She may not
come back at all"
But in a minute or two she
came back.
All her life afterward, she was
to remember it as the hour she
learned that the whole course Of
life can be determined by very
small thing. If Keith had tele-
phoned next morning, or even
later that same night when Gill
bert had gone home, though he
had said the same things, she
might have answered differently.
He said: Hello, darling. You
were pretty silly this afternoon,
weren't you?"
She said: Perhaps"
I'm sure you were. We've had
a great deal of fun and will have
a great deal more. You know I
adore you. I would have wanted
things to be different But
you're pretty young. I felt just
slightly responsible.
In that minute she remem-
bered his kisses, and hers an
swering his. She was frightened
by the vividness Of that remem-
brance.
He was saying: Answer me,
Denise. I'm telling you wor.
ship you. Let's make up, and fly
to Pinehurst for a weekend" /"
But she repeated, almost in
spite Of herself. something he'd
said before. you wouldn't like
to be made to feel responsible. {"
"You are a little Puritan, but
I don't mind. I don't mind much
at the moment. I went to drown
my sorrows when you left, but
when they were only about half
drowned, I decided I'd better call
up"
THANK you."
"Well, then. let's go dancing
about ten"
She had always loved his voice.
1t was the most eager voice she
had ever heard. 1t was eager
now, and confident as usual.
She said: "I wanted to marry
you" But she was only speak
ing to herself aloud.
Denise, stop it, dearest. We
don't have to get married and
cause a great row with Father.
but let's go on"
Ito be cOntinued)
(COpyriRht by Ursula ParrOtS
Distributed BY King Features, Ine.l