The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-05-06
W.N.U. S ERvicE

to Paris. entertain. she said that
was why she had refused Phil"
81 rather thought that It was
something like that" Tony said. in
the pause.
The man followed her, a little
awkwardly, to the table, and sat
down facing her across its end.
Tony had a soup plate before her;
she began the cOncOction of sal
ad dressing, pouring oil. measuring
vinegar, occasionally tasting the
mixture on the tip of her finger.
"Tony," Larry said. "if I had
come straight back. after Ruth's
death. would you have been wait
ing for me?"
"You know would" Tony an
swered. with full. steady look.
81 failed yOu." Larry muttered.
looking away. "Caroline's interest is
clOthes-men-" he said There was
pause. -.... : s.<@s
ooh, yes! Did Caroline get her
chinchilla coat?" Tony asked cheer
fully, ending 1t. The man looked up
In surprise
"How do you mean?"
Caroline used to say that If ever
she married again the first thing
she'd make her husband buy her
would be chinchilla coat"
sour marriage was a mistake
we both see it now" Larry said,
paying no attention. "It's all like
dream-a bad dream"
'But you don't mean, Larry, that
you and Car0line-already are think
ing of break?"
"I've come back here to work"
he said doggedly. "She says she
despises San Francisco society and
hates the West. Her heart Is set
now on going to Rio with Joe-you
heard her just now. can't go; I
don't want to 60. I want to stay
here and dig into my job" He
looked up. and his dark face bright
ened with the smile she remembered
so we'll, Larry's masterful. slow
smile. "And now and then take you
to lunch" he said.
Instead of smiling In return she
slowly shook her head. her face
very sober.
mo, no more Of that! That's
what l paid for so dearly, Larry,
knowing that you belonged to her
to Ruth, and pretending that I had
any right"
isn't caring for each other a
right?"
II thought so then. I'm older
now. I see things differently now"
you're changed" he said. I'm all
the lovely ways loveller. and In so
many other ways changed. You're
outstanding, Tony. ! don't ask
you to forgive me. l was confused
with the suddenness of everything
II was changed, too-from my ILL
ness. Everything at home seemed
far away and dreamy; the only real
tiles were the villa, and the hot
sunshine, and Caroline all In white
being tremendously helpful and
kind-the one lovely living thing In
all our lives! Can't you under
stand?"
81 do understand" Tony said,
"And Think" she added almost
timidly. Il think you admire Caro-
line more than you think you do,
Larry. 1t seems to me, now, since
you are married-since you did
marry $3.50 soon"
$50 soon after Ruth's death. Yes,
we both feel that; we both feel
that for that very reason we have
no right to separate" he conceded.
as she hesitated. "But 1t was one
Of those marriages that could only
have taken place In exactly that
way. If we had waited year. If we
had waited until even three or four
months after Ruth's death, 1t never
would have happened"
Tony dipped her littlest fingertip
into the salad dressing, tasted It,
narrowed her eyes.
'But you are not always I'M
happy, Larry?"
'.NOt always. At base there's
something that holds us together.
Only she's quarrelsome, Tony. and
jealous"