Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-12-21
CHAPTER THIRTY

WHAT HAPPENED after that
Sht When Nicky came to EIen,s
apartment to take her to dinner
and found Fabienne believing that
he had come seeking her. n,ioht
have been called a comedy of or
rors.
1T would never have happened if
Fabienne and Ellen had not fenced
50 delicately in the old, gallant
game of protecting each other from
knowledge that each believed would
cause the other pain.
Not for anything in the world
would [ permit myself to be re-
notely interested in your man."
hey might have said to each Oth.l
Except that they never said any
thing about either Nici1y or Bill.
unless it were some perfunctorv
hing like. IF Bill comes to the
house to take me home, Fab. will
<ou tell him that l had to go up TO
TWenty-second street for a special
meeting ?" Or. ELLEN, 1 expect
Nicky will be around a little later.
I forgot to tell him that 1 have a
rehearsal l won't be through until
ate. Maybe you two can go to a
movie or something"
Ellen and Fab, Nicky and Bill,
The lives of he four of them
seemed to be closely knit those
days. All the other beaux that Fa-
oienne had mentioned the night she
came back to live at Ellen's apart
ment were mysteriously eliminated
rom the lists
It seemed natural that Nickv
would be at the apartment as often
as Bill, now that Nicky had decid-
ed he was bored with MARYLAND
and had moved into a small apart
ment of his own.
Fabienne was rather proud of
Nicly, and encouraged his coming
20 the Twelfth street apartment
frequently. Nicky was doing very
little drinking and he was learning
20 cook, doing up little dinners for
himself and Fabienne, and Ellen
and Bill, of course. They were gems.
The apartment was very gay those
long winter evenings.
Fabienne was glad to have
Nicky there. It made her feel freer
4 the presence o. Ellen and Bill.
also her days were long and dull.
Ellen would not permit her to re-
urn to the settlement house to
ork during the days, saying that
Ger three evening dramatic classes
we're enough for a convalescent.
The little theater on the third
aoOr was finished, complete to the
.ast detail Every winking bulb
vas in place in the row of foot
ghts. Rose Riccio was president
ii the dramatic league. Three eve
rings a week Fabienne met her
group from six TO nine and left |
zith a radio to dance until mid
ight, if they liked.
One night old Andrew Hardy |
came to the settlement house to
watch Fabienne work and, when it |
vas over, he held her young hand |
n his dry old one and said, You're
q fine young woman, Fabienne. |
Your grandfather would be proud |
If YOU. The work you're doing de-
serves a fine reward"
That was one of the nights that
Bill was waiting to take her home |
Fab, if Bill comes to take me
home. tell him had to leave for a
meeting up town.") Bill stood by,
looking much prouder Of Fabienne
+hqr h.a should
She explained to him, "Mr. Hardy
IS Just prejudiced because he's an
Old friend"
I'm not such an old friend"
BIZ told her, fastening the Upper
Of her eaIoshes "In not a bit pref
1uiiced and I think the work you're
'oing is pretty fine What are you
gong TO do about ii? ?"
"Disillusion you," she said
promptly.
It would take a lifetime to do
that, he said, looking up at her
from whore he sat at her feet. His
eyes were twinkling at her and
expression Of waiting for re-