The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-06
CHAPTER XVII

4O0A lAOblC 4I4ClIQ nAs EAOA Ob' I," the Duchess observed when ht
 had shut the car door upon them
 Sis rather discerning person; anc ! I must say that in many respects he more closely approximates gentle
 man than many who think they sci the standards for the species. AL though can't understand" she went on frowning, This opening your mail. He admitted to me without the ] faintest embarrassment that the , letter mailed you had never reach 1 ed you because he tore 1t up and threw it into the wastebasket."
 "But Tony always opened my mail l didn't - you mean you wrote to me?"
 Naturally I wrote to you after Rita Blanchard came home with her amazing story, and the whole town began buzzing with it. The place for my grandson's wife is in his home"
 Then Linda remembered some thing that at the moment had failed to catch her entire attention.
 "But how did you know - about Barry and me?" she stammered. '"Tony couldn't have told you. He didn't guess, himself"
 "T should not be too sure about what Tony did or did not guess" countered the old lady. But Tony did not tell me Do you happen to remember that a letter came for me - rather late the night Judge Baldwin died Perhaps you would like to hear it?"
 She took it from her purse and began to read aloud:
 My dear old friend,
 CT am violating a confidence in writing this note, but I think I am justified by circumstances. Just before your grandson's departure, I performed a ceremony uniting him in marriage with Miss Linda Benton. Because of the strain you had been under for the past few days, the young people felt that it would be kinder to keep you in the dark about their step until Captain Trent's return.
 T did not agree with their reasoning, but I complied with their wishes in having the mar riage record secretly filed. Now, with only a few hours to live, l find misgiving heavy upon me. nave 8 suspicion that if Captain Trent should not return, his wife wsll be very hesitant about claim ing the relationship. You must ad- init"
 "Then you knew" Linda broke in. AYou knew when"
 "When Rita Blanchard staged her little tragic comedy, you mean? I did. And prayed in my heart that you would rise and blast her with a few well-chosen words. But you did not And wondering why" said old Miranda irritably, land why you chose to treat me like a child, cost me perfectly good nights sleep. After that - well, I preferred to have you tell me, yourself"
 "But hadn't any proof - noth- ing but my own word. T."
 And I suppose 1t never oc- cured to you," snapped old Mi- randa, "that If I hadn't been will ang to take your word against stack of Bibles, you wouldn't have been in my house at all And you never did mean to come to me?"
 "No," Linda said steadily. "Never. Especially after - Tony's. I knew you thought"
 And why" demanded Miranda Trent, should you presume to know what might or might not think? Did you imagine that I should hold it against you that, in spite of having been brought up like a china mantel-piece, you had backbone enough to go out and carve yourself slice of the world?"
 When Linda would have spoken, the old lady cut her of with an imperious gesture.
 For if," she pursued, you had known anything about me, you would have understood that the one thing I cannot stomach is a helpless namby-pamby And even If I hadn't had to take my hat of to you for the way you faced down that pack of curiosity seekers the other day, I should never have thought of questioning nv grandSon'S choice"
 Linda smiled a little dubious smile.
 But old Miranda had returned to Judge Baldwin's letter.
 WsVou Y1nI1St admit Mirapdo '1