The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-27
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHAPTER XX


 their talk on that tomorrow. Ere apologized again for the scene ht had created at their anniversar! party; he said that he had had tot many whiskies and Sodas, but tha he would not use that for an eX' cuse. He supposed it was the out burst of an accumulation of tht past months. He hoped Connie would forgive him.
 Connie said that she would, ii a polite, constrained tone of voice that showed plainly that she hac not. She maintained this coo courtesy between them for more than a week, keeping Bret at 2 distance, as though he were per feet stranger, or a bad little boy who must learn obedience. He was completely miserable.
 we've decided to charter my yacht, take a trip-perhaps Ber- muda-make up a party" Connie said, at the end of that week. 'Dc you think you'd care to come along Bret?"
 If you want me" he answered; did this mean that now she hao decided to forgive and forget? You know I want to be where you are Who, may ask, do you include il1 'we'?"
 "Oh, Rodney, Veronica, halt dozen or so." He reply came care leSsly. If she was glad he was go- ing, she did not let him see it. ''Everyones leaving town now that it's spring: it will be deadly dull here. The Easter lilies are gorgeous in Bermuda, whole fields of them The weather ideal. the crowd smart and amusing. I think you'll enjoy it, Bret"
 He did not care who would be there, if only she would smile at him once more He tried to take her in his arms now. but she held her. self aloof, mresponsive. I'll like it." he said, If you are sweet to ms again. Let's stop this nonsense, honey, let's be friends; sWeethearts. Cnn't you see we're drifting apart, behaving in this way?"
 She did not answer. but the look ill her eyes accused him as the one who caused their drifting
 He let her go, turned away, his p1ide flaring as hot, angry flame inside of him. It was not his fault altogether: she knew that; she was taking unfair advantage, since she held the advantage, in so many ways, over him. If only he did not love her so much; if only she dio not have all this money. -.
 "Tt will be nice to see the first signs of spring" he muttered. 'Loro knows there's none in this man. made city. Not blade of greer grass, or a leaf, or flower" His thoughts winged back to his owr7 country, the dark hills that would be coming alive with that tender young green haze. the sky that would be so blue and unclouded, the air SC crisp and fratgrant. An almost un- bearable nostalgia seized him.
 "See here" he turned to her once more, dropping all restraint, his dark eyes warm and eager, "why don't we go back home, alone just we two, darling? The hills will be beautiful now-you remember last spring in the valley! We could have another honeymoon, take oul long tramps, climb our own hill come alive again, too-as well never do anywhere else, among a lot of people. Wouldn't you like that better, honey? Wouldn't you be willing to go back with me?"
 There was no answering warmth in his wife's eyes. She drew her self up, threw back her head. I'm sorry, Bret" her voice was polite unsufferably cool once more, that you don't like my friends. Or the plans we've made. Go back to that sleepy little old town, buried in the hills. Heavens! I'd be bored tc death. I'd die"
 It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that she had not been bored year ago, that she had been happier than ever before, content busy. But he checked the words She had been Katie Blyn then, a different girl than the one who stood looking at him with hostile eyes that held a shade of contemptuous amusement. This girl was Constance Corby, heiress to myriad millions He wondered how she could possibly be the girl he had married.
 She might have read his thoughts, for a slow flush coloreo her lovely face, her eyes flashed now in anger. T know what you're thinking. You might as we'll have said it. That liked that little town your hills and country, well enough last year. But I was only playing then, Bret pretending. That was all