The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-29
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
pErTpi FOR AID RHEAsD BY
DTkAI PRESS ASSOCIATION

Ore m1QnlSnt anu Hel SoN0
aot yet arrived.
Jerry was saying, What DO you
lay to a flying Honeymoon
Kit said, There's a big party
coming in. 1 can't see -7ho 1t IS
Jerry. The wall is in my way
Jerry turned his head. MOT oul
friends" he said. "Rio is a oeautl'
ful place that I'd like to see.
I'D rather 60 north, Jerry. It
will be lovely and cool there.n
Nova Scotia, 1 mean-ln late
Hi, everybody! We've just been
married."
With everyone else, Jerry turned
his head toward the velvet rope
where a girl had cried out that
single triumphant sentence.
Kit did not move: She didn't even
turn her eyes. She couldn't, be-
cause it was Mimi Purcell who
had spoken.
She couldn't stare at Jerry for
ever with her eyes frozen. Shed
have to turn and look-and smile
at Mimi and Vance.
She turned, her whole body
steeled for the shock.
After a moment she realized that
she would not see him; the tri.
umphant party moved to a table
beside hers, and it was Archie
Reeves to whom Mimi chung.
It was Reeves who was saying,
1--WE decided to elope at dinner
time married at Armonk an
hour ago"
And Minis high clear voice:
Eve don't expect anyone to be
surprised. We've been in love for
years"
whats the matter, Kit?" Jerry
was saying. You look ILL.,"
There's nothing the matter
with me-" she whispered.
There wasn't. Nothing had hap
pened to her. She was with Jerry.
Jerry, who was good for her.
Jerry, whom she was going to
marry. What difference could il
make to her if Mimi Purcell had
not married Vance? 1t was moth
ing to her.
"But it isl" a small voice in her
cried. 1T will matter to Vance
Vance, who is a part Of you. Hell
do something impulsive and crazy
You can stop him. You can try te
stop him"
Suddenly as on another occasion
long ago, she knew what she wa
going to do, knew that she was
going to do something withou
knowing what it could be.
She drew away from Jerry Sem
bier, who could have given her the
world for a plaything, and said
Jerry, forgive me. That's all
can say, but please let me q
without asking me any questions
Please believe that I have to 90
Tell the others / am i'll. Tell then
anything you like, but let me g
ALONE!"
Reason returned to her when she
was in her car-she could not fine
Vance at that hour. She told hel
chauffeur to take her home.
She had had no plan when she
left Jerry. A desire to comfor'
Vance had motivated her.
Pacing the floor in her own apart
ment, she knew she could not d.
that. He wouldn't want to hear thu
news from her. He would learr
from the morning newspapers anc
that would be best.
Her heart ached for him, know
ing what it was to lose the person
one loved.
But Vance did not love Mimi
She had said to him, "You mus
be in 10. e."
When a man was in love, he die
not laugh and answer lightly
"What is this thing called love?'
No, Vance did not love Mimi,
Kits hear scared, knowing it for
a certainty. He loved her World
that accepted him on equal terms
He loved the feeling Of his own
Importance it had given him. His
pride would be hurt, but his hear
was intact.
Comforted by the thought, XII
fell asleep. .
1t was late afternoon when she
was awakened by a telephone cal
table by her bed and picked ur
from the studio.
She put the telephone back on the
the morning newspapers that Anna
had left there.
The tabloid headlines, as she hac
suspected, told the story OF the
night before.
She read them aloud:
"Debutante Wed to Merchant
Prince. Mimmi Purcell Becomes
Bride of Archibald Reeves in Mid.
night Elopement."
She flung them aside. She was
done with everything that M i m
Purcell Reeves might do her whole
life long.
Meanwhile there was Vance. She
dialed his telephone number.
Hes not here, Miss Kitty" his
man told her. He's gone"
Gone? You mean that he's gone
out? Where has he gomez"
HE didn't say, ma'am."
did he say when he'd be in?"
HE said Maybe Christmas,
ma'am."
Christmas! Listen to me, Andy
You're a very bright young mar
and you know I am a very close
friend-as you are-of MIR. Heal
ey's. Now, I want you to think
hard. Try to remember if he gave
you any Indication of where he