The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-12

udQ seen IL III n6r mlQQ all
trimmed with shining balls and
Streamers of silver and small cleo
trio lights winking their colorful
eyes.
GOING TO REPAY DIR.
Amos had said: Come back a
day or so before Christmas, Mrs.
Kent. and I'll have it chopped
down and on rack for you. After
all, the doc has brought three
youngunS to this house and dang
ed If I remember him even gittin'
anything for his trouble 'ceptin'
Agatha"
Agatha was a big, fat turkey on
Amos place that she and Peter
had grown to admire.
Gloria brought the magnificent
tree home, with her heart gay
within her. AS she struggled to
pull it out Of the rumble she was
thinking this was going to be the
very incest Christmas she had
ever had.
She and Peter were planning a
party for all the poor children in
the neighborhood on Christmas
Eve. The attic was already over
flowing with presents from the
10-cent store. There was a stack of
things hidden away for Jock, too,
although Katie had said: "Jock
amt gonna unnerstan' nothin'
bout Santa Claus dis year."
She set the tree up on the
ground and stood back a little on
her heels to admire it. She would
MT, she thought, take it in the
house. She wanted it like this, in
all its fragrant green perfection,
when it was set up on Christmas
Eve.
Gloria -"
Gloria wheeled around and her
heart leaped despite all the cool
fingers she had held upon it for
the past months.
For there stood Rodney in the
amethyst shadows of the twilight.
CHAPTER XXI
Gloria stood quite still and
stared at Rodney with wide, in
credulous eyes. For a moment, a
mad, impulsive moment, she had
forgotten everything except the
fact that Rodney was there, that
he was standing so close to her
that she could reach out her hand
and touch him.
But just as quickly she remem-
bered Peter and that she must
never want to touch Rodney again
that all that was over and
done with. So she put her hands
behind her slim back and twisted
her fingers together.
Rodney said: Are you glad to
see me, Gloria?"
Il don't know, Rodney I
don't really know" Gloria an
swered, with bleak honesty.
Her eyes were burning brightly
beneath those thick dark lashes
and she dug in the patch pocket
Of her tweed coat and brought
forth a crumbled pack of cigar
cites. Rodney sprang forward
and held his lighter. His fingers
were trembling ahSurdly. He ex-
tinguished the lighter and put 1t
back in his pocket. And Gloria
discovered, inhaling deeply, that
after all, a cigarette didn't stop
you from shaking inside.
WHY RODNEY CAME
Rodney said, and he was close
beside her now, being very care
full not to touch her: 81 fought
coming as long as could, Gloria
I knew I didn't have the right. ]
suppose 1t was presumptuous Of
me. But still, ! had to see you!
1t was true. He had tried moi
to come. He had switched his
thoughts away from Gloria ten
twenty-times an hour ever since
Isabel had told him Gloria was
married.
But then suddenly, this after
noon, when Isabel had dashed out
to an important tea, her fact
grimly triumphant, he had sat IL
the library alone, trying to read
but not being able to focus hi!
eyes. He had put the book aside
and had looked absently into TIT
fire.
And then memories had rushed
upon him memories of another
lfireSide Of another afternoon
]. and the overwhelming desire
to see Gloria again had been some
thing he couldn't stem. Perhap!