Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-07-12

no one would mention Brent. Some
times their kindly conspiracy of sill
encc was almost more than she could
stand.
She hadn't written Brent about the
divorce. Clay's lawyer had been i'm
personally kind, sympathetic. He had
assured her that he would attend to
everything. March shivered, remem-
bering, and put all thought of the
matter from her. Or tried to.
She had counted on Clay to help her
fill the long hours of Christmas Eve.
Perhaps they would dine together and
he could go back with her to the a.
partment and help decorate the tree
and hang holly wreaths. But Clay
was stricken with influenza on the
twenty-third and, although his all
ment wasn't serious, his doctor in
sisted on rest in bed until certain
symptoms cleared up. So March dined
alone the night before Christmas and,
alone, went home to hang her holly
wreaths and thread tinsel and strings
of colored lights among the pungent-
ly fragrant branches of little spruce.
She was affixing silver star to the
topmost branch when the doorbell
rang at little after eight thirty. She
crossed the room quickly, a slim fig
ure in frock of soft green with
wide, laced belt of suede. Her hair
was rumpled where a branch had
caught it. Except for lipstick, she
was without makeup. She clicked
the downstairs lock and, prompted by
curiosity, opened the door to peer
awaiting her unexpected
guest.
A man assembled toward her and,
as though sensing her presence, look
ed up suddenly. There was no mis-
taking his wide, familiar smile. Griff
Morgan took the last three steps in
one stride, he was beside March, hold
ing her two hands so hard it hurt,
drinking in every detail of her ap-
pearance with blue eyes that held a
warmth and ardor that made her
draw back a little, her breath flutter-
ing in her throat.
He pulled her into the cheerful
room wordlessly and closed the door
and stood there, staring down at her.
His smile had faded now and March
saw, with a faint start, how fine
drawn he looked, how haggard.
She opened her lips, but Griff said
quickly, his voice husky with feeling,
Don't speak, my darling. Just let me
look at you and touch you and know
that you're here, actually beside me
instead of thousands of miles away.
I've dreamed of this too often to be-
lieve it."
March murmured, trying to stem
the tide of his intensity, "Your sister
told me you'd been away"
The unexpectedness of his arrival
had left her momentarily shaken, but
she was rapidly regaining poise. She
said and meant it,. cts nice to see
you, Griff. / didn't know YOU were
back"
Griff said, his eyes never leaving
her face. 81 got back last night. I
talked with Pat this morning. And
them came. Surely you knew I'd
come as soon as I found out about
you and your husband" Abruptly his
voice altered. He would have taken
March in his arms had she not pulled
away from him. He said brokenly,
"Oh, my dear, these last months have
been unbearable. If only I'd had the
faintest inkling of what was happen
ing to you"
March interrupted desperately,
"Griff, you're upset. If-if you'll just
calm down. Come on, take off your
things. And then We'll sit down and
talk things over in a sensible, quiet
manner"
"Sensible!" Griff laughed. "Quiet? ?"
But he tossed his coat and hat aside
enough and followed March
over to the deep couch and sat down.
He asked then, unsteadily, "How can
be sensible? Why, March, I love
you. I'm mad about you-have been
for months without daring to hope.
When I couldn't stand it any longer
came home and then I learned you
We been separated from your husband
almost ever since I went away, that
your marriage is washed up, that
there's chance for me-for US. And
you expect me to be sensiblei"
March's hands twisted together in
her lap. She said, "Grifl, please, you
must listen Tn mo 7 tf,ld Dat how