The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-21

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apartment as the proper setting
for the question he wishes to ask
her. Val. physically attracted 10
Wade, c%ynically reasons to herself
that marriage to him might be
fun white it lasted.
=. CHAPTER TWELVE -
Wade said. tucking va1's hand
under his arm as they sat 0 n
the taxi's seat, "Wnat ar you
smiling about?"
Val looked up into his eyes.
'Maybe-because I'm happy
Wade considered a moment.
Happy over something that has
happened-or something that's go
ing to happen?"
Just happy" Val said, laying
her chek briefly against his
shoulder. "No reasons"
1t occurred to her that perhaps
Wade's tone Of tentativeness, OF
not quite certainty. a he gave
the address of his apartment
hadn't been d to a doubt Of
her reaction, but to some insure.
ness in himself. If she was right,
it Wade a on the verge OF
asking her to marry him, perhaps
he wasn't quite convinced il, his
own mind Of the wisdom Of his
course.
What was that old saying? A
hcusekeeper they h a d had when
Val was twelve or so used to be
Fond Of quoting proverbs and
some of them occasionally came
back to Val. burned child
breads the fire" that was it.
And why shouldn't Wade he a
burned child" where marriage
was concerned? Val tried to re-
call what Susan had told her OF
his ex-wives. One. the first, had
been a debutante, one Of his own
social circle in e north-shore
suburb where the Darlington
family home was. That had been
when Wade was in his twenties.
II had lasted only a couple
years. Then there had been Trina
Bordova, the dancer, Val had seen
her last year when the Ballet
Russo de Monte Carlo was in
town and she was lovely, sheer
poetry in motion. But Susan, who
had known Wade for years said
she had a horrible temper and
that no nan On earth could get
along with her-she had had four
husbands all told. before and
after Wade. Then, only five years
Or SO ago, Wade had married a
young movie actress, Leigh Van
Dine. Wade himself had told Val
about that.
My. gosh. it was awful" he
had said. "She used to get up al
six o'clock in the morning. And
if she stayed up later than nine
at night it showed in her face the
next day. We we're married six
months and she was dieting all
that time and dieting is very
hard on the disposition. She was
still is, for that matter, a very
beautiful dish. but she has the
mind O. a highgrade moron. And
l hated Hollywood. and her
friends bored me to death and she
wouldn't consider giving up the
movies. 1t was %purgatory in tech
r~icolor, ! assure you
Maybe. Val thought, he ism
considering marrying me at all
after his experiences, why should
he want to marry again? Maybe
she CROPPED wryly-1'm counting
my chickens before they're
hatched.
Well, she would know. quite soon
dt any rate. Wade was paying off
the taxi, was holding the door for
Val, taking her across the deep.
carpeted lobby to the elevators.
Size was aware Of her heart, beat
ing rather fast, as the car slid
silently upward. Wade's unobtru-
sive Filipino servant let them in.
a slight brown shadow in mis- spot.
less white coat. seeming almost
fa celess in his anonymity. he took
their wraps and faded away like
a ripple on water.
w a d s apartment was taste
fully masculine, with decorator
touches that e e obviously ex-
pensive. The rugs were deep; 50
we're the chairs and touches.
There was a fire in the fireplace
and the heavy moss-green Grapes
were drawn across the windows.
Val walked across to h o hel