The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-10-18
CHAPTER XIV

Wild, dazed with the bright light,
the sudden, sharp ring Of her door
bell.
Lynn" His voice was harsh.
Get dressed Immediately. We're
getting married tonight. Now"
"Marriedf" Lynn's voice sounded
strange to him.
Nov. tonight, this morningI Get
dressed, Lynn"
He did not come near her, and
she stared at him. thinking Of that
other night, wondering II he were
drunk. He read her thoughts:
I'm not drunk. Hurry. II will
take US at least three hours to get
into Maryland"
Lynn did not move. With one
hand she leaned heavily on the ia
bic AZ though to steady herself. AZ
she looked, his eyes told her the
whole story. He knewl She did not
stop to ask how. Her terrified eyes
did not move from his face.
II said, get dressed, Lynn. We're
getting married In three hours"
He came toward her as though to
ssAC AACA III Al16
mo"
The monosyllable stopped him
short. He swayed slightly as he
stood there. His eyes were despe-
rate. Lynn's teeth were chattering
In the cold Of the room.
He looked at her until II seemed
to her she could bear his eyes no
longer. He brushed his hand over
his face.
1T il true, isn't it." Even then,
there was an unbelieving note In
his voice. Even in her own despera-
ton she felt terrible pity for him.
He turned to the door. His voice
finally broke that stiffness: "You are
q dirty little cheatl" Then he opened
the door.
He did not look at her again. In
a moment she was kneeling there,
alone before the closed door, and
she could hear the elevator door
clank open.
"Wildi" She huddled there on
the cold floor, and she wished that
she could die. She kept whispering
his name, but she could not cry. And
always was that voice of her con-
science: IF you had told him your
self If you had had the couragel"
I'm a dirty little cheat" She
said the words aloud, slowly. Her
own voice startled her, and for the
first time she wept a little. But
Lynn had not tears for this crisis.
Worst Of all, she had only bitter
regret to comfort her. She could
not blame Wild. It was her own
fault. But that only made the well
Of suffering into which she had sunk
the more difficult to bear.
If only :" She framed the
words with her stiff lips.
She sat there at the window taut
with waiting. He must come backl
AS Lynn sat quiet, bent over with
suffering there by the window, Wild
drove his car up the roadway to
his home. He must see his mother.
AS he came upstairs he could see
a streak of light under her door.
He tapped gently. Mrs. Austin, worn
and tired, opened the door to her
son.
my boyl"
"Motherl" AS though he were a
little boy, she gathered him into her
arms. She crooned to him, patted
his hair. His shoulders shook.
I'm sorry, Mother"
II know. I was cruel. But It had
to be done, Wild. It had to be
done"
81 know" She was shocked at his
drawn face. She tried to comfort
him, but he shook his head.
you've been walking, you're all
wet and cold" He did not seem to
hear what she said.
"I'm q fool, mother" He tried to
smile at her. you warned me-"
His face felt stiff, and he was in
expressibly weary. Suddenly, he,
too, seemed to see the days stretch
ing ahead.
What am l going to do?" His
voice was filed with horror.
1--WE all carry on"
I've got to get away. can't
stay here. I'd 60 mad" He took of
his overcoat and turned to Mrs. Aus
tin.
Its odd, but feel as though I'd
ocoh BIB AOE WeekB. ne turned
away from her. He was anxious.
now that he had made his peace, to
be alone.
Let me come with you"
'No, I've got TO face this out.
alone, mother" And he left her to
cry herself to sleep in the gray Of
the morning.
To Lynn it seemed that the end Of
the world had come. She watched
with surprise, the people going TO
work In the street below. When II
was 8 o'clock, she got up hurriedly
and dressedl She'd 60 beg Rene to
help her.
She ran most of the two blocks To
Rene's studio and came UP the stairs
painting. She fell into his arms sob
bing wildly. She chung to him in
desperation, her only friend.
Rene, you've got to get him
back Somehow, you've got to get
him back"
He triad In 9af q coharont 49,