The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-04-22


It him steadily. The color slowly
drained from her face, leaving 1t
drawn. 49,.
"HOw-d'you mean?" s1
II mean-there!" He stretched q
long arm, and she took the folded
yellow paper from him as If she
were afraid to touch it.
"What is it? What does it says?"
she said thickly. Her eyes fell on
the printed words, but the message
made no sense to her, 1t danced
about crafty and she could only see
the signatures: Caroline and Law
renee"
"He says that they were married
today" Joe said fatty. Tony put
the telegram down unread, leaning
over to the table to shove 1t well
on; sat back and looked at Joe.
81 don't know what that MEANS"
she said family.
81 don't blame you," said Joe. II
think It's rotten. I'm sorry. I'm
damned sorry. had no more idea
Of It than you had"
He crossed the floor, and knelt
down beside her chair, and she laid
one hand on his shoulder and stared
into his eyes in puzzled questioning.
Her look was q child's pleading
look.
"Oh, no" she breathed. 1T
doesn't-let me see it,"
The crumpled telegram lay on the
floor. Joe made no move to get It.
that's what it says"
''That Larry" she whispered.
"They were married today"
II don't believe it," Tony said
suddenly. painting. Her cheeks
famed.
"It's hard to believe"
"Oh. but Joe, no! Not without
letter-not without q line
"Caroline!" she said, breathing
fast. "She's shes beautiful, yes.
But she's older than he-much old
er. He told me sol"
mo, she's not as old as Larry.
She's about thirty or thirty-one,
Caroline. She's only two years
younger than am"
"She's older than you are! She's
had two husbands! She wanted him
because she knew I-she knew Il
81 hate her." Tony said weakly,
bending forward to rest her head
against his own, as he knelt beside
her, with one arm about her. II
hate her. l do"
Her voice broke into wretched
tears. Weeping she got to her feet
and began to pace the room, her
knotted fingers at her lips.
ooh, why didn't / think Of this!
It would have made 1t easier-it
would have made 1t easier! Oh, Joe,
l have no shame, to let you know
I love him, when he loves her
and they're happy-they're going
somewhere together in his car
they're having their wonderful
time"
She sat down on the Preside set
tie and put her rocking head into
her hands.
He saw her shoulders shake and
knew that she was crying; sud-
denly, in a rage, she was on her
feet again. "How dared he-how
dared he do that!" she said, her
eyes glittering dark blue In her
white face. "How dares man treat
q woman who loves him that way!
All, but she wanted him." Tony said,
crumpling, speaking gently, hope
lessly again. "She wanted him, and
Larry's so kind-so generous"
A silence, during which the man
smoked and watched her. Then,
suddenly, she looked up, spoke qui-
city, as If she were very tired:
I'm sorry to treat you to these
fireworks, Joe. You're-awfully kind
to me. I'm all right now. I think
maybe you'd better take me to
Bendy's; I'll have to tell Bendy, and
Alvin will smile his SNUG little
whiskery doctor smile at what hap
pens to girls who fall in love with
married men.
I'LL get used to 1t after minute.
You do. Even when q mans arm Is
cut off, or his leg, they say he gets
used to it like that-in q second.
l wish I could hate Larry. I wish"
For a moment her whole body
was in revolt, as If touched by q
hot Iron, her arms flung up, her
head thrown back, and her mouth
opened as if to find breath. "
II couldn't do a thing like that
to dog!" she whispered, collapsing
again. Il could not, Joe. It's me-
It's me this is happening to; no, l
couldn't do it to anyone! I'm sorry.
I'm really all right now. I'll get my
things. Bendy'll worry If I'm too
late" +
mo, you just lie there on the set
tie and think about it for a while,
and I'll tell Brenda, if she tele-
phones, that the company's leaving
and that I'll bring you home. Lie
there a while and get your breath,
and you'll be all right" ~ "a
II l. q