Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-05-06
CHAPTER 2

terribly honest, he'll probably go out
selling pencils to get few extra pen
nies for his creditors. Ny Philadel-
phia relatives by marriage won't
help, and Eustace can't. We live uI
to every bit of his income. He likes
owning horses. I like owning furs
and jewelry. There it is. l can cat
a thousand or two a year out of my
dress allowance, actually, to see that
Mother and Father eat, and have a
roof over their heads; but that isn't
much. AS you say, they'll hate to
leave this house."
"What are you leading up to"
eff you'd done anything but hang
on Keith's least word, for months,
while l worried about your getting
hurt, you'd know"
She stopped and then said: "Denise,
life goes on, you know. One has to
do the best one can, and hold ones
head up" She lighted another Gig
arctic and stared into the fire.
II mean to go on, Felicia, and hold
my head up as well as 1 can"
"Why do you suppose he haunts
my house, except for the chance of
seeing you there?" Felicia asked rath
er complainingly. "Why does he call
and call here, and take what few
kinds words you toss him with a cup
of tea ?"
Denise said, Gilbert Windon!" in
a sort of frightened voice.
eyes," Felicia repeated firmly,
Colbert Windon, and no need to
sound as if I'd summoned the devil,
either. Gilbert, and oil-fields and
timber whatever-they-call-t -them-acres,
is it, and orange groves for all 1
know, only perhaps in western Canada
they're apple orchards. The position
our family and Eustace's can make
for him in the East, security for
Mother and Father, endless money
for yourself-and a thoroughly nice
person tool"
Felicia, Felicia!"
"You sound as grieved as if I'd
told you to go commit murder. Pm
only telling you to have some sense"
'I've never in my life been so angry
with you as 1 am this minute, Felicia.
The only excuse l can make for you
is that you really don't know what
you're doing"
"You needn't make that excuse. 1
told you I knew. You think now that
the world consists of one man and
a great many shadowy figures. You
think you can't live day without
seeing Keith, that marrying anyone
else would be an indignity to the pur-
ity of your love. So you mean to
wait and think that some day Keith
will appreciate you. Though l have
no doubt that for the sake of your
dignity Judging by your looks when
you came in), you've told him all is
over.
There are just two things you or
1s>s1y girl like you can do for broken
heart. Cherish it, go Victorian, let
your life be spoiled and wait in hope
until the man marries some one else
as Keith will marry some one
younger and prettier than you'll be
then, some day when his father dies
and he can do as he pleases.
Cor the other thing you can do, is
marry. I married"
Denise looked at her, who was so
pretty, so restless, so gay and some
times so oddly unhappy, and she could
not, simply could not, be angry any
more.
Very softly Felicia spoke: Il mar
ried. l survived. 1t seems impor-
tant to survive. My husband loves
me in his casual way. We get on. It's
all like a succession of schools. One
graduates from one, and there's an
other. I've graduated from the place
where you are" Her voice traileC
off.
Townes came into the room, quietly
as usual, said, "Mr. Windon to SEE
Miss Rendale," and departed.
Felicia said very quickly: II ma!
as we'll tell you the rest. Gilbert con
fided in me weeks and weeks ago
Westeners! They're not like us, yol
know; they are sort of simple and di
rect. New York, in the set we g
about in, at least, is so oblique. Wei
there is more. Fathers not goinl
bankrupt tomorrow certainly. go
Gilbert to put up some money thl
afternoon. Father will know about
by now, I expect"
She stood up with her quick grace
$50 I've put you into exactly the posi-
ton of the girl in the cinema VIII
-:e:ooe barco1f tO Keen the sheriff