The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-07-21


day, she would leave.
On the front page Of the Call
Bulletin were eye-compelling head
lines:
YOUNG SAN FRANCISCO
BLUEBLOOD ELOPES
WITH CHICAGO
DIVORCED
Her gaze flew to the lower cap
ton, froze to the CHASTITY words
that seemed to grow bigger and
more terrible before her eyes. Her
world crashed about her!
Brock Milk * and Jessica
Payne Married This Morning
In Santa Barbara"
she read.
It wasn't true! There must be
some horrible miStakeI
It couldn't be true
Brock had a cousin in Santa
Barbara. His name was Jeffrey
Milbank. Why, there had been a
mixup! A silly miSprint, OF
course!
Brock was engaged to her, An
toinette Goddard! He was so fine,
so true, so devoted, it was utterly
impossible that he could DO this
thing to her!
But the headlines dancing be-
fore her eyes, a warning inner
voice, a terrifying voice, reminded
her that, the world over, it had
happened thousands Of times be-
fore.
Tilted! Without even notice!
II only her leaden feet could i'm
pei her to the door of the fashion.
able hotel. Or to the ladies' lounge.
where she could hide while reading
what lay below the headlines.
But she was terrified to read it.!
She felt the compassionate eyes
of the girl in charge of the news
stand on her, remembered that this
very girl must have seen Brock
and herself meeting here, innumer-
able times. Her fingers fumbled
in her pocketbook for the pennies
to pay for the paper. Couldn't
find them. Blindly she flung down
a quarter, and without waiting for
the change, hurried out Of the
lobby and into a taxicab.
She stammered to the driver:
"Fisherman'S Wharf, please"
AS the taxi bounded forward,
she drew deep breath. Courage!
Where was it now? Afraid to read
a paper? Her heart humping,
she found the column.
The surprise wedding in Santa
Barbara this morning of the beau.
tiful Jessica Payne of Chicago to
Brock Milbank, only son of the
John Pierce Milbanks of San Fran.
cisco, will be Of great interest to
society not only on the Pacific
coast, but throughout the Middle
West.
THE bride, who resumed her
maiden name after her recent
Reno divorce and inheritance OF
one-fifth of the Payne estate from
9ler late grandfather, met the
groom during her three months
stay in San Francisco, during
which time many parties were
given in her honor.
This reporter, on calling on the
happy couple this morning, de.
cided that Jessica undoubtedly is
the most beautiful bride of the
season. AS for the handsome
Brock, he wore a smile that looked
aS-if it would never come off.
@After a wedding trip to the
Orient, the couple will make their
home in San Francisco"
There was Sickening, smother.
ing sensation in TOMS chest, She
slumped back in the seat, closing
her eyes.
Was this death?-She asked her
self. No, it was worse than death!
Death was forgetfulness. A quiet
slipping away from the world and
its horrors.
But pain tore at her heart like
the claws Of a tiger.
0ASSA' 44C4 oLOSh, W1IO kldQ LOlC
her he adored her!
Married!
There was no rancor yet. ONLY
shock. And agonizing pain.
Why had he done this to her
knowing how she loved him?
The plying looks, whispering
in the lobby Of the hotel, cam
back to her. Explained now, il
the light Of this appalling cata
clysm. How he had humiliatet
her.
But, the motive? Where wa
the motive?-she wondered. Why
over and over in her presence, h
had laughed at Jessica Payne
Laughed at her background, he
splash Of money. her oStentation
Condemned her flashy clothes
her Showiness.
Had it all been a blind, to hid
his real attraction to her? Ton
wondered. To pull the wool owe
her eyes?
But no. he had really loved hi
dancee. Else why propose to her