Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-09-21

II can't imagine what you can
have to say"
''No you can't. It's this" she
hesitated, then spoke with an eff
fort. 81 am the girl Mr.. Simms is
in love with. He wants to come
back and marry me-"
Edith's fingers caught at the arm
of the chair. "Do you mean that it
was because of you-that he didn't
marry .me?"
eyes. He used to come to the of
flee when he was in Washington and
dictate letters. And we got in the
way of talking to each other. He
seemed to enjoy it, and he wasn't
like some men-who are just-silly.
And 1 began to think about him a
lot. But I didn't let him see it. And
he told me afterward, be was al
ways thinking of me. And the morn
ing of your wedding day he came
down to the offce-to say 'Good-by.'
He said he-just had to. And-well,
he let it out that he loved me, and
didn't want to marry you. But he
said he would have to 60 on with it.
And-and I told him he must not,
Miss Towne."
Edith stared at her. t'Do you
mean that what he did was your
fault?"
eyes," Lucy's face was white, "if
you want to put it that way. told
him he hadn't any right to marry
you if he loved me-" She hesitated,
then lifted her eyes to Edith's with
a glance of appeal. 'Miss Towne,
I wonder if you are big enough to
believe that it was just because I
his money!"
"You think you love hirn?" she
demanded.
II know I do. And you don't You
never have. And he didn't love you.
Why-if he should lose every cent
tomorrow, and I had to tramp the
road with him, I'd do it gladly.
And you wouldn't. You wouldn't
want him unless he could give you
everything you have now, would
you? Would you, Miss Towne?"
Edith's sense of justice dictated
her answer. NO." she found her
self unexpectedly admitting. eff I
had to tramp the roads with him,
I'd be bored to DEATH"
IT think he knew that, Miss
Towne. He told me that if he didn't
marry you, your heart wouldn't be
broken. That it would just hurt
your PRIDE
Edith had moment of hysterical
mirth. How they had talked her
over. Her lover-and her uncle's
stenographer! What tragedy it
had been! And what comedy!
She leaned forward little, lock-
ing her fingers about her knees. 81
wish you'd tell me all about it,
So Lucy told the simple story.
And in telling it showed herself so
naive, so steadfast, that Edith was
aware of an increasing respect for
the woman who had taken her place
in the heart of her lover. She per-
ceived that Lucy had come to this
interview in no spirit of triumph.
She had dreaded it, but had felt it
her duty. IT thought it would be
easier for you if you knew it be-
fore other people did,
Edith's forehead was knitted in a
slight frown. ''The whole thing has
been most unpleasant" she said.
"When are you going to marry
him?"
81 told him on St. Valentines
day. It seemed-romantic."
Romance and Del! Edith had a
sudden illumination. Why, this was
what he had wanted, and she had
given him none of it! She had
laughed at him-been his good COM
rade. Little Lucy adored him-and
had set St. Valentines day for the
wedding!
There was nothing small about
Edith Towne. She knew fneness
when she saw it, and she had feel
ing of humility in the presence of
little Lucy. II think it was my