The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-13
BEATRICE RUNS AWAY
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
 1 Beatrice Huntington Davenport pat up very straight in her car, and looked fixedly at the back of Jen- kins' head as he drove through N1e elow-i11oving, heavy, late afternoon traffic. She had promised Clarence that she would marry him next week. Promised because, for a mo- nent in his arms, with his lips on hers, she had believed that he was right.
 We shall be so happyl No other lpair in history have ever been as happy as we shall be, darling" he had whispered. No more discontent, my love. promise you, our life will hold more than parties and social foolishness and wild running around. I love you, and you love me. We shall have a marriage the world will wonder at."
 Beatrice realized that Clarence was utterly serious, and with the realization came a rush of pride that she had not, after all, been fooled by a fortune hunter. Clar- ence loved her and wanted to make their marriage a real and solid bond.
 But after he was gone while she sat here in the car and the city streets darkened around her uncertainty gripped her. Being engaged to Clarence was fun. Tak- ling him away from Mimi F'roth- tugham had been fun. At least, un- Gil this afternoon, 1t had all been |enjoyable enough.
 But she had never actually set fi1e date of her wedding. She had never thought what marriage Ifneant. Its permanence - the so- l1emnity which Clarence was bring ling to it--its rearnessl Next weekl tDnly Q few days away.
 She was frightened. I can't marry
 iarence next weekl.'
 The sense of awareness the Ieeeling of . door having opened eor her, this afternoon when she Iheard that mans voice - let her look on things that were the same land yet somehow different, came l1tack to her. Marrying Clarence l1Bn't Che answer. I was frightened, Iand ! showed him I was frightened. ze thought because he does love me, That getting married right away would help. But 1t won't. This is bDmething else"
 Unaccountably, she was trembling l@gaiA q think 6 girl like that IehouN be quietly and competently chloroformed," that unknown voice ead said. Her lips twisted. He could Do whimsical about itl More in leadness than in anger"
 She stared out of the window as Che car turned into Fifth Avenue. People thronged the sidewalks. Men land women, living lives far different IGfon1 her own. Men and women who Iehouldn't be chloroformed. They lMere useful. She noticed that they Sucked a strong wind she could not eeel. sheltered here behind the glass Iof tho limousine's windows. It was tho sum of the difference between her and them.
 She saw man with Q tired, gray eace. Engrossed, with @ concentra- ttion slae seldom gave to anything, Iehe tried to read in that lined, an- enynous face the riddle of his tired ness. What were his troubles and what struggles did this man en- Gure? The car moved past him. Now she saw a woman with hen- naed hair and too red lips, in Q pur. lple suit. The woman was haggard. Then . girl, smiling to herself. Then 6 heavy middle-aged woman carry ang Peke. Now man who walked swiftly, hatless, his lips moving. Ealking to himself.
 Tn another moment, her car would be going past Huntington's. The store she knew so little of; and Iyet the store that made all the dif- lference between herself and these people. She leaned forward Turn ldown to Sixth Avenue, Jenkins."
 The sidewalks of Sixth Avenue were thronged, too. Watching with her newly sharp eyes, with the 'clamoring questions in her mind she had never asked before, Beatrice saw that there was a difference be- tween these people and those on Fifth. These were even more tired. Their faces, unguarded, betrayed more. Their clothes were shabbier. Even her car was out of place on Sixth Avenue, where 1t had been 7 Familiar and unnoticed on Fifth. At Eorty-second street, police man held up traffic though the light was green. Beatrice saw a broad wave of people - 10 or 12 abreast in surging ranks that went far upu the block - pushing their way from one side of the street to the other. She remembered, then, the subway station at Times Square. That's where they were go- ing. To the subway.
 All ct once, Beatrice opened the Ear door. "I'u get out and walk,