The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-27
CHAPTER TX

The voice that spoke next was un. mlstakably familiar. It was the voice oe Rita Blanchard.
 sThere isn't much one can say, Is there" Rita began, "when you see someone whom you have Been very fond of - Barry Trent and I played together as children .-settinR oiR alone In the dark on such an errand2 But do want to say to Barry, if he is listening '0od-speed' and come back schildren together, my foOtl" sncrted the Duchess when she could get her breath. "Rita Blanchard was plucking her eye' brows when Barry was playing with blocks What some people will do for Q little publicity"
 They went to bed then That is. they went to their rooms. TO Linda, climbing the stairs, it seemed for the first time since Harrys coming had brought the old house to life, that the faces of the dead and gone Trents lin. inn the stairway peered down ct her with secret, silent hostility.
 And this was her wedding night.
 Next morning life went on much as usual except that there were no bursts of song at the breakfast table, no swift feet taking the stairs two at c time, no fragrance of pipe tobacco floating through the rooms and that, from time to time, Linda fingered incredu.. lously Q small golden circlet that hung on c ribbon under her dress. close against the white hollow oi her throat.
 The early edition of the after noon paper carried c laSt.minuto item to the effect that Captain Barry Trent, having covered tho first leg of his flight in record time. would rest and re.fuel be. fore continuing south,
 Early in the afternoon Q stream os callers began to pour Into the heuse. old Miranda received them resaiiy in her high.back chair; but in an interval she observed to Linda with dour amusement, ''You might think from tho way tlsey TO on that this was c funeral, and they were hired mourners,"
 Miss Chattam was among the first to come, sho was with Mrs. Trent when Linda went in with c mess. ago.
 Remembering the circumstances under which she had last seen tho iynx.cyed Miss Chattam, Linda flushed as she greeted the caller. Her flush deepened as gho saw tho woman flush Q significant side. glance ct DarryS grandmother.
 90 they had been talking about herl Linda remembered Barry's words: "There, by tho grace Of dod, goes the bost.oiled tongue in 90 counties."
 What had Lydia Chattam been telling Darry's grandmother
 Whatever 1t was, the old lady seemed irAperturbed. even faintly amused.
 "You must miss having Cap. tain Trent about, Miss Benton" Lydia Chattam said as soon as she had an opportunity. And how pleasant 1t must have been for him--havlng c pretty young girl in the house. There's 50 littlo amusement for c lively young man in this town.
 It was said with tho most plaus- iblo amiability; but tho impliea. ton was unacceptable .-a lively young man diverting his idle moments with his grandmother paid companion.
 And no doubt that was tho only version of tho affair that old MI. randa would find credible. That accounted for her tolerant ariuso. ment And was that amuSo. ment faintly tinged with pity2 .. "A sweetheart In every port"
 That any ono should believe such c thing was an insult, Linda folt, to the dignity of her love- of Barry's love for her. For tho first time in her sheltered, rather placid life, she found herself furi- otisly angry.
 For tho first time since sho had come to tho Trent house, she could not find tasks enough Co keep hands and mind busy. There were tinendurabiy Idle iiiomentl in which she found herSclf wan- dering about, her hands lingering in caress upon objects Barry had used or touehed--hB chair at tho table, c book ho had been reading .-her mind travelling around and around again the cycle of thoii brief, stormy companioship.