Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1940-05-02

could make no answer.
We've been engaged five years"
Frank went on.
THAT'S a long time.''
tits good test Of mutual affec-
tion," the man said in satisfaction.
This handsome Oldest son Of Judge
Nc Cam was well pleased with
himself, Sheila decided.
"Peter and Gertrude" he re-
sumed, "were little quicker about
it. They've grown up like brother
and sister, of course; we're all de-
voted to Gertrude. But Miss Ken
needy and I wanted to be sure.
1--WE haven't so very long to 60,
now. June. Then I think we'll run
over to Europe and stay until Sep
tember."
"It sounds wonderful Sheila OBJ
served respectfully.
"Well, it's time I settled down."
Frank said. "I'm twenty-seven." He
laughed, with relish.
care you four years older than
Peter?"
It had slipped out. Sheila's very
soul shriveled with terror. There
was a sudden change in Franks
voice; 1t became less sure, less pa
tronizing, less satisfied. He spoke
supposedly:
'You know Pete?"
"I-well, I met him. This sum-
mer, at Tiller's Beach. But I didn't
know until tonight who he was"
"You didn't know who he WASP"
eve only knew each other one
day. didn't remember his name.
And maybe he didn't remember
mine"
"Ah-h-h?" Frank said, as one
awakening. 'tI remember" he
unused aloud, 81 remember his tell
ing me-when he got back from that
visit-aha!"
He fell silent; Sheila could not
speak.
"You knew that Peter was getting
married on tuesday,"
"Oh, yes"
Another silence.
.'Peter told me that he had met
you'll suppose it was you," Frank
observed. He stopped the car at
the forlorn dark Bronx doorway.
''Well, good night" he said, little
at loss.
Sheila said, IT thank you," and
"good night" and was out of the
car, and heard it roar and hum
away as she mounted her own steps.
Her thoughts stopped her feet sud-
denly; she stood still in the odorous
thick atmosphere Of the dim lower
hall. About and above her was
crying; the banging of pots, the
sound of radios, monographs, quar-
rels, voices echoed from behind
closed doors.
Her heart smoldered; she stood
still. One look at Peter Nc Cam,
and the agony of that enchanted
summer day and night-they had
had but the one-was upon her
afresh. He had lied to her, kissed
her, and she had believed him, wait
ed for him, while he had been court
ing and winning a rich mans daugh-
ter, beautiful girl in a slim suit
and furs, who could lose fifty dol
lars without ever knowing it.
And now beside all that, Sheila
would be made contemplate in the
eyes of these friends who had loved
her father, who wanted to be kind
to Mamma. They would sdiscover
that she had been play-acting, that
she had been hypocrite.
Even before this oldest son she
must appear as an impostor. She
was no such artless little angel as
she had seemed in the Nc Cam
house. Mamma would bawl her out
tomorrow; the President himself
couldn't make Mamma lie. And
then all of them, Mrs. Nc Cam and
Gertrude, and Frank, would know
that their pathetic little beggar had
been no beggar at all, just buffer.
Mamie would know, and Peter would
hear them discussing it
She suddenly remembered the pa
per in her hand, unfolded it, and
read it by the hall light.
"Be at the Maritime Law Library,
top foor-four thirty tomorrow" Pc
ter had written. give got to see
you"
II see myself going!" Sheila NUT
tered.
Fortunately, even after entering
the kitchen, she had a few minutes
in which to recover herself. Joe
and Cecilia Moore were there, muir
muring at the table. No one else
was in sight.
Presently Angela and Mamma re-
turned, and then the new coat and
hat had to be handled and admired,
and the story told and retold.
"The loveliest people you ever
saw, Mamma-they'r all so happy
and so kind, and laughing together!"
paul Nc Cam, I rinimber the
name WE'LL" Sheila's mother unused.
''He was square-built Teller, wit
head of black hair on um."
That's the one, Ma"
"They were fine people," Mrs.
Carscadden said.