The Washington times., 1937-03-04

four words made him turn to look
at her. She was weeping.
Denise, you mustn't cry.
There's nothing to cry about,
surely"
Mother and father would be so
wounded, so hurt"
Are you weeping for them?
Surely they would want you to be
happy?"
Il wonder. Or whether they
would not prefer me to be honest,
to keep my promises"
To that, he found no answer.
And she said, in a small, hoarse
voice: Take me home, my dear.
I want to be yours; you want me.
But things aren't simple like that.
I'm crying because 1 know that
here and now is going past some
thing I shan't ever have again,
not ever. Please, please, Keith,
take me home" "
Instead he turned the car off
the main drive, stopped it, took her
in his arms. For a moment while
his heart stood still, she answered
his kisses. Then she turned her
face away from them. and he
knew that there was no use.
But stubbornly, outside her ia
ther's house. he said: Nothing
is forever nowadays. I'll wait for
you"
She said only, "Good-by. my
dear" and went on up the stairs,
steadily ....
But on the morning of her we'd
ding day those words of his re-
peated themselves in her mind,
over and over, while her mother
moved about smiling gently, while
the hairdreSser arranged her veil,
while Felicia smoked cigarette
after cigarette in the strangest
silence.
Nothing is forever nowadays.
Nothing is forever nowadays"
The ceremony was to be at noon.
She and Gilbert were sailing at 5
o'clock. Eleven o'clock came and
went past. Her mother left her to
go and receive the few guests. Her
father came in to see her in her
wedding dress, kissed her and
went away.
She was left alone with Felicia,
who was to be her only attendant,
at last. Still, Felicia had nothing
to say, except: Put on just a bit
of rouge, Denise. Brides are al
ways too white. It's all the satin
and lace, of course, but it makes
them look panicky"
She put on rouge, delicately.
CHAPTER XI
Felicia looked at her diamond
wrist watch. Plenty of time, still.
I told father to come back at five
of, to take you downstairs. Do you
mind having such a little we'd
ding? Mine was so huge"
Il shouldn't like a big one"
"Well-"
You're more nervous than I
am, Felicia"
Il noticed"
Your dress is lovely" It was
apple-green velvet, and did suit
Felicia's clear pallor and brilliant
hair superbly.
mo one will notice anyone but
you"
Denise didn't answer. Nothing
nowadays is forever" and Moth
ing nowadays is forever" and
Nothing nowadays is forever"
was beating through her temples
as if her heart itself was beating
to that one refrain.
Felicia said suddenly: Darling,
do want you to be happy" as if
she were pleading.
I'll be all right, I expect"
Gilbert is truly a first-rate per
son, if I know anything about
men; and I do know rather a lot. )"
Sounds like a recommendation
for butler-first-rate person"
Denise, don't be hard, don't be
mocking, don't be like me-" Her
sisters voice was serious as Denise
had never heard it. Make up
your mind to make a tremendous
success of this marriage. Oh, I
know, I meant to say nothing, to
be carefully unintrusive; but it's
too important. Remember how
most American novels end with
the wedding day, and most Cont
mental ones begin with it? Well,
have the Continental attitude,
that the only interesting and sig
nificant part of your life begins
today, that the rest was Just
minor rehearsal"
(TO be cOntinued)