The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-21
CHAPTER V

Later that day, when Linda rar downstairs to fetch Mrs. Trent's afternoon mail, Barry stepped from the library door into her path.
 Don't l rate even a few min- utes once day?" he demanded and swinging her from her feet, ht held her close to him for mo- ment. Then he set her gently down again.
 "You're so little, Titania-so It, tie to do to man what you're doing to me-" he murmured.
 T must go," Linda whispered or quick breath.
 Barry, she was remembering had a way with the lower classes
 "This afternoon, then" Barry begged, while Grandmother taking her nap. In the library nobody comes there"
 "No," said Linda. "No, Barry
 It was incredible that Geoffry Benton's daughter, for whom to be sought after had always been as much at matter of course as to be served her morning coffee, should be standing here in strange woman's house, feeling this hot sickening humiliation.
 "Why not?"
 sBecause," Linda flashed, T can't be stealing around in your grandmother,s house - hiding with you in corners like a - oh, Barry you must see that I can't!"
 T do sec" He had been holding both her hands; now he dropped them. 50 you imagine I'd thought of 1t that way, do you-that that's the kind of thing would want?"
 He looked 50 hurt - so like a slapped little boy - that Linda confused and wretched, cried swiftly, No not that either. But Barry, she's so old - and you're all she's got"
 "jut after all, you're not talk inI away anything she's ever had Gtod Lord! I don't think of you exactly as parl-time grand mother"
 Linda laughed in spite of her. self.
 "That's better. Barry caught her hand and drew her to a seat OF the stairway; then he sat down ora the step below her.
 "You're not letting the Duchess legend of the Trent women get yon down, are you, darling? They were no doubt fine, outstanding lot of women, as I should be the last to deny. But I'll take mine little and sweet, with hands like Titanias-" he lifted one of her hands to his cheek-"and feet that barely reach the floor when she sits in a man-size chair. And all tho better if she turns pale at the sight of blood - especially if it's mine Anything else?"
 Well -" Linda hesitated. It was hard to think with his dark head so near the touch of her hand. We haven't known each other so very long, have we?"
 You'd be surprised to find out how much I know about you, but -" he sat up and grinned as fl at a new and entirely amusing idea T see! You're sold on that bromide of the Duchess about a girl in every port, ehp We'll there's this to be said about that, after you've knocked about a bit you've picked up some pretty definite ideas about women. The girl I ask to marry me stays asked"
 When Linda sat very still for a moment, not knowing what to say because she could not be sure how much he meant, Barry said, his eyes on the hand, he still held in his, Listen, Titania! Suppose you knew that I was going to - oh let's put it differently Sup- pose you knew that had to gc away, almost at once, and might not come back for well, for g long time Got that?"
 Yes" said Linda, startled by his unwonted gravity.
 Would you marry me then, oi would you still feel that we must wait until we knew each other better?"
 Linda said, q would marry you
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