The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-01

CAST OF CHARACTERS
MARY cARRoIIs-Ameriean fash
lon expert. In London during var
time.
VINCENT GRFsG-salsfier OF for
tune. In love with Mari.
CARIA NARCHETTa-A mystrrf-
Gus LoBdon soriaiite.
DR.. GILBERT IESoN-Surgeon.
sersfng With British army.
Yesterday. Vincent fails 10 arrive
for his breakfast date and Mary gers
To southampton alone. boards the
Merasfa- In her stateroosn she inns
her rabin-m mate. Anna Winters. ss
the time Of sailing nears and Vincent
does not come. MARY becomes panieks,
tries 10 leave the boat.
CHAPTER "
Too late
Already the gap widened be-
tween the Moravia's black hull and
the dock. The third class gang
plank had not only been lifted but
was being rolled away to its shell
ter to await another steamer.
I'm sorry. Miss. I thought you
could make 1t" The steward lift
ed his hands in a gesture of des-
pair.
Mary knew 1t was useless to
hope any longer. Reluctantly. she
found her way back to her cabin.
1T wasn't meant to be. that's
ALL" she told herself. Il had a
feeling all along that Vincent and
my falling In love was too good to
be true"
What could have happened to
Vincent Where was he? He had
never failed her before. She could
not believe that he failed her now.
Something had detained him.
That, she must believe. All love
was based on trust. If she could
not trust the man who was to
share her life, hers was poor
kind of love.
Something had happened to him,
undeniably. But what? His letter
had said that he was dashing off
on last minute commission. Well,
if that was all the explanation she
had. she would have to make the
best of it,
She fought to hold back tears.
But they blinded her before she
found her way back to the cabin.
I'm sorry. oh, believe me. I
am sorry" The little soft mouse
of a girl who was her cabin mate
was sympathetic when Mary's sob
bling revealed she had not been
able to get off the Moravia. IF
hadn't unpacked all your things
you could have made it easily"
TT couldn't be helped, I guess"
Mary was glad to have someone to
talk to and this girls sympathy
was not unwelcome. IT waited too
long. I should have known that
when Vincent hadn't come by the
first warning he wasn't going to
come at all"
you mean your fiance ?" Anna
Winters queried.
Mary nodded. With an effort
she winked back tears and faced
the girl who was to share her
quarters for an undetermined num-
Der of days across the Atlantic.
For the first time she noted the
pallor of the face and the violet
shadows like dark scallops under
her eyes.
You'd better tell me something
about yourself" she said at length.
IF you're from Bournemouth and
English born, I should think you're
headed in the wrong direction.
Didn't you want to join the Wrens
or the Watts or any of the other
women's service groups ?"
Il did but they wouldn't take
me-"
wouldn't? Why not ,"
But Mary could have bitten her
tongue for the awkward question.
The whiteness of the gentle little
face and the shadows of the eyes
told all too clearly why Anna VIM
tiers had not signed up.
Its my heart" she answered
quietly When went up for ex-
animation ! was turned down flat"
The Moravia had steadied her.
| self tn fba suuaIle If thn g.. y,l,.
black-daubed portfolio of the D
deck cabin became darker with the
wash of waves over the tarred
glass. Soothed by the motion of
the boat and the pound of the sea,
Mary was able to shut out for a
time the ill-starred events of the
past "a hours-the restaurants
Continued on Page Twelve)