Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-05-13
CHAPTER 8

sort of frock she might wear dining
alone with her husband, when they
weren't dressing"
She said, very stiffly: Were all
extremely grateful to you, Mr.. Win
dom"
And once or twice, casually, she
had called him Gilbert" before! A
kind of Indignation caught at him,
that she should think he expected
crawling gratitude, and so should
think she must put him in his place!
He had, not knowing it, the thunder
Gus look which Felicia had protested
on his face, and a look Felicia could
not of course have identified; but
anyone who knew his grandfather,
when his grandfather was being de-
termined, could have.
He spoke very fast: 81 didn't wait
to see you to have you say thank you
for a matter that's just business be-
tween your father and myself"
She looked for minute just like
Felicia, being hooking!
"I can't think of any other reason
that you might want to see me spec
tally"
Because 1 wanted to ask you to
marry me. I've wanted to marry
you ever since tn first evening I met
you'll"
She stared at him. How white she
was!
Townes came to the door and said:
"Mr. Sheldie to speak to you on the
telephone, Miss Rendale."
She went out of the room without
looking at him again.
He was furious at himself. 1t was
not so he had meant to propose to her.
If she were stiff and embarrassed, it
was natural. The situation must be
difficult, to have to thank man who,
she probably knew, was in love with
her, for lending her father money
Well, when she came back he'd say he
was sorry. He thought, with kind
of terror: "She may not come back at
ALL"
But in a minute or two she came
back. All her life afterward, she was
to remember it as the hour she learned
that the whole course of life can be
determind by very small thing. Ii
Keith had telephoned next morning
or even later that same night when
Gilbert had gone home, though he had
said the same things, she might have
answered differently.
He said: Hello, darling. You were
pretty silly this afternoon, weren't
you"
She said: perhaps"
"I'm sure you were. We've had a
great deal of fun and will have a
great deal more. You know l adore
you. 1 would have wanted things to
be different. But you're pretty young.
l felt just slightly responsible"
In that minute she remembered his
kisses. and hers answering his. She
was frightened by the vividness of
that remembrance.
He was saying: Answer me, Den
Use. I'm telling you 1 worship you.
Let's make up, and fly to Pinehurst
for a Weekend"
But she repeated, almost in spite
of herself, something he'd said be-
fore. "You wouldn't like to be made
feel responsible"
"You are little Puritan but l don't
mind. 1 don't mind much at the mo-
ment. l went to drown my sorrows
when YOU left, but when they were
only about half drowned l decided I'd
better call up"
"Thank you."
"Well, then, let's go dancing about
ten"
She had always loved his voice. 1t
was the most eager voice she had ever
heard. 1t was eager now, and confl-
dent as usual.
She said: 81 wanted to marry YOU
But she was only speaking to herself
aloud.
"Denise, stop it, dearest. We don't
have to get married and cause a
great row with Father, but let's go
on"
She heard herself say, "I'm going
to marry Gilbert Window and was
rather surprised to discover she had
put down the receiver.
She went back to Gilbert, and tho
she did not think of it, she was COM
pletely dignified. Colbert, I happen
to have been, to be really, in love with
some one else, who is not in love with
me. That is the only answer I car
give YOU"
But he moved toward her, only