Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-11-16
CHAPTER XV-Continued

and Del from a Trip 10 the SInall
porkers, and Adelaide going out with
Del to dinner was uncomfortably
aware that Jane had either artlessly
or artfully refused to discuss with
her the women who had been loved
by Frederick Towne!
The dinner was delicious. "Our
farm products" Delafeld boosted.
Even the fish, it seemed, he had
caught that morning, motoring over
to the river and bringing them back
to be split and broiled and served
with little new potatoes. There was
chicken and asparagus, small cream
cheeses with the salad, heaped-up
berries in Royal Worcester bowl,
roses from the garden. CAL home
grown" said the proud new hus-
band.
Jane ate with little appetite. She
had refused to discuss with Adelaide
the former heart affairs of her be-
trothed, but the words rang in her
ears, ''The women that Ricky has
loved"
Jane was young. And to youth,
love is for the eternities. The
thought of herself as one of sue
cession of Dulcineas was degrading.
She was restless and unhappy. 1t
was useless to assure herself that
Towre had chosen her above all the
rest. She was not sophisticated
enough to assume that it is, per-
haps, better to be a mans last love
than his first. That Towne had made
it possible for any woman to speak
of him as Adelaide spoke, seemed
to Jane to drag her own relation to
him in the dust.
The strength of the wind in
creased. The table was sheltered
by the house, but at last Delafeld
decided, "We'd better 60 in. The
rain is coming. We can have our
coffee in the hall"
Their leaving had the effect of a
stampede. Big drops splashed into
the plates. The men servants and
maids scurried to the rescue Of
china and linen.
The draperies of the women
streamed in the wind. Adelaide's
tulle was banner of green and
blue. The peacock came swiftly up
the walk, crying raucously, and
found a sheltered spot beneath the
steps.
From the wide hall, they saw the
rain in silver sheets. Then the doors
we're shut against the beating wind.
They drank their coffee, and
bridge tables were brought in. There
were enough without Jane to form
two tables. And she was glad. She
wandered into the living-room and
curled herself up in window-seat.
The window opened on the porch.
Beyond the white pillars she could
see the road, and the rain-drenched
garden.
After a time the rain stopped,
and the world showed clear as crys-
tai against the opal brightness of
the western sky. The peacock came
out of his hiding place, and dragged
a long, heavy tail over the sodden
lawn.
1t was cool and the air was sweet.
Jane lay with her head against a
cushion, looking out. She was lonely
and wished that Towne would come.
Perhaps in his presence her doubts
would vanish. 1t grew dark and
darker. Jane shut her eyes and at
last she fell asleep.
She was walked by Towne's voice.
He was on the porch. "Whe4e is
everybody"
1t was Adelaide who answered
him. "They have motored into Alex
andria to the movies. Eloise would
have it. But I stayed-waiting for
you, Ricky."
"Where's Jane?"
"She went upstairs early. Like
sleepy child"
Jane heard his laugh. "She is a
child-a darling child"
Then in the darkness Adelaide
said, ''Don't, Ricky"
"Why not?"
"Do you remember that once
upon time you called me-a dar-
ing CnllQ!
"Did I? Well, perhaps you were.
You are certainly very charming
woman"
Jane, listening breathlessly, as
sured herself that of course he was
polite. He had to be.
Adelaide was speaking. $50 you
are going to make the announcement
tomorrow"
"Who told your"
Edith"
"Well, it seemed best, Adelaide.
The wedding day isn't far off-and
the world will have to know it."
A hushed moment, then, ooh,
Ricky, Ricky!"
adelaide! Don't take it like
that"
81 can't help it. You are going
out of my life. And you've always
been so strong, and big, and brave.
No other man will ever match YOU"
When he spoke, his voice had a
new and softer note. 81 didn't dream
it would hurt you"
"You might have known"