Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-25
CHAPTER 18

Vic SOuIlICoo OboO WIG AS~AAAAAJ "ONAN
not be sorry to see the last of the
young woman who sat talking so SER
iously.
at would probably be good thing
If you stayed on here, good for every
body" the Countess summed things
up.
81 feel sure it would" Sonny tried
to keep the bitterness out of her
voice.
"But your own family?"
II barely remember my mother, my
father not at ALL"
Sonny could not bring herself to
speak of her fosterfather.
The Countess accepted what she
said, reading astutely between the
lines. A little plebeian blood would
not hurt her family, she thought. And
the girl was very lovely.
And so ended the first interview.
Afterward they settled down into a
quiet routine. Martha almost lost
her mind. She managed to escape
each morning and afternoon for a
long walk, to go on shopping excur-
sions, have grand but lonely lunch
cons in various gay restaurants.
AS for Sonny, she and Rene played
tennis or he took her to call on his
friends. Now and then they dined
out with Martha. But when they did,
they came home discreetly early and
Rene often went out again alone, af-
terward.
Martha, watching Sonny, thought
she appeared almost drugged with the
existence. The Countess seemed to
have complete power over her.
Martha protested to Sonny, but the
latter only shook her head. II want
to be sure. I'm happy here. She ac-
cepts me. Pm SAFE"
at is insanity, Leslie. You'd break
away in six months"
"No. This is what I want. Secur-
ity and quiet"
Late in May, the first American
clipper arrived from the States. Son.
ny heard the roar of its great motors
and rushed out into the garden to
watch as it swung low over Paris.
1t was so low she could see the Amer
lean flag on the wings quite clearly.
The sight filled her with longing for
home, and tears came into her eyes.
The Clipper brought plenty of mail
for Sonny. There was letter from
Carol, saying:
.."Pm being hOpelessly spoiled and
l love it. You'd think nobody ever
had a baby before. But what about
yourself? / hear there is a real
Count who is rushing you. It's been
in the columns several times.
"Are you ever coming homer.
hate to think of you over there for
always. Is there much war talk?
The papers are full of it here.
Kirk and Dick are working hard
on reorganization of the bank. jan
ice often comes to have dinner with
mother and me when the men we're
kept in town.
"I'm terribly happy because of
you"
The letters from home made Les
lie quiet and thoughtful, Martha no
ted, and she was hopeful. But in a
few days Sonny seemed to have for
gotten.
One night, Rene took Sonny to the
opera, chaperoned by Martha. From
there they went to night club.
Watching some American tourists
making merry, Rene remarked, "Ter-
rible, aren't they?"
Sony came to their defense with
They're really nice, Rene, but they
don't know how to play. They've
probably worked hard all their lives
and never had much fun and that's
what Paris means to them"
"But this is not Paris" Rene's
voice was full of scorn.
"No. I love your Paris, Rene. But
! understand this, too"
His voice was brusque as he added:
II wish you didn't. 1t makes you
seem very foreign"
Sonny was laughing at him.
you're afraid of losing mel"
He denied it, but her astuteness a
unused him. mothers teaching you
lot. She's very wise. What about
it, Leslie? Do you think you can be
happy here?"
"I'm sure l can"
When they got home, Rene asked
Sonny to talk with him for a while.
They went into the big, cold sitting
room.