The Washington times., 1937-03-01

me. That IS the only answer
But he moved toward her, only
eager in that moment, when she
looked so unhappy, to comfort
her. An inspiration came to him.
Denise, marry me for just a
year, to give me the chance to
make you happy. If I don't, I
promise to let you go at the end
of a year. Well travel; we'll get
to know each other better. Denise,
please say you'll try il"
In a tired little girls voice, she
said: "An right, Gilbert" But he
was not critical of the tone now.
He was too happy. SO she was to
be his, this slender lovely child
with a look of straightness, OF
honesty, about her. He put his
arms round her. He kissed her
more violently that he had meant.
But he couldn't help it!
When she struggled a little in
his arms, he let her go immedi'
ately.
It appeared she was not to be
his, precisely.
She said: "You mean a formal
marriage, don't you, Gilbert?"
She'd never heard him laugh be.
fore. Why, he had very pleasant
laugh! He looked down at her
flushed cheeks.
ct didn't mean that, Denise; but
if that's the way you want it. all
right"
She felt impossibly young.
She heard her fathers voice at
the front door, heard her mother,
on her way downstairs. They
came into the drawing room.
Gilbert said Immediately: "Mr.
Rendale, Denise has said she'll
marry me. I hope you think
think it's all right.
He was as heSitant as a boy,
Denise thought, and she had al
ways Gin the very little thought
she'd ever given him) considered
him so completely adult.
How very pleased her father
and mother were! How gently
her mother kissed her! And her
father said solemnly: II can only
hope you will be as happy, Denise,
as your mother and I have always
BEEN"
("They wouldn't be pleased if
they knew it was only for year.
They would be incredibly shock
ed!O
Sara Rendale said delightedly:
eve must telephone Felicia,
straightway."
Denise said she would telephone,
because she wanted to escape
sight of their delightful trusting
faces.
CHAPTER VII
That telephone conversation,
Keith knew very well, was himself
at his worst. He regretted IL
through two days, sincerely, but
could not decide the manner of
his apology. DeniSe's last words,
that she would marry Gilbert Win
don, he did not take with particu-
lar seriousness, judging that she
had said them because he had
ficked her pride. But he did con-
slider in those days, for the first
time in the year he had admired"
Denise, the implications of that
admiration, and recognized that it
was deeper than he had guessed.
And yet, he did not want to marry.
Marriage was simply not in his
present scheme of life.
At breakfast on the second
morning, opposite his father,
around whom that present scheme
of life had to revolve, Sheldie,
Senior, broke the silence from
behind the single newspaper which
he afforded by saying: How often
do you wish I we're dead, Keith"
1t was not as surprising an open
ing Of breakfast-table conversation
as it would seem to one who did
not know the elder Sheldie. 1t
did not even cause the houSe-man
to lift his eyes from pouring coffee.
But Keith sighed. What in the
newspaper had produced one of
his fathers furious moods this
time, he could not tell. Probably
the announcement of some new
Democratic policy! However, it
was a little wearying so early IN
the morning.
He waited for the house-man to
leave the room. Then he said