Show I TELEGRAM I i C-i By Katharine FICTION S p pIe 1 t 1 e 11 M n a Wl 1 r T 1 r TM 1 i Q a g e Taylor Haviland-Taylor I SYNOPSIS Marsha Moore had thought herself in n love with Geoffrey Geoffre Tarleton Buthe Buthe But he ie introduced her to the new Mrs Tarleton arleton and she married Bob Powers Pow Pow- ers rs out of pique Now Geoffrey has come ome to call on Marsha and al al- though lough Bob has gone to the tha village Marsha feels the danger that he may discover the truth And Marsha loves Bob now and does not want him him lim to know C CHAPTER 20 Marsha joined him wearing a scarlet scar scar- let et frock that made her a flame she called ailed from the doorway Why didn't you ou smoke Geoff There are things on n that low table b by you She settled in a deep chair near the tile hearth and again he sat down He fumbled among the promiscuous brands rands that filled the humidor lit lithe the he captured stared at the gorgeously colored flames Dramatic voice you have said Geoffrey powerfully dramatic and sweet voice and one that ca can 1 sway swaya a man who hates you Marsha Once she had left herself to be dec dec- orated rated by a hate that grew of ot love or r she had been amused at it Now she he wanted peace a pleasant relation with any human humm whose elbow even brushed hers in a hurried passing Must you hate me Geo Geoff she asked gently I would really so much rather you did not He turned upon her suddenly You know he accused how i iwas it w was with me I always alwa's fluttered around other candles but then you always let other chaps singe their wings at your our flame lame We were even there here But I thought you thought you made me believe my my soul Marsha you y-ou said and not any more than six six months ago ago ago- Bob Dob Intrudes But Geoff Geoff- No wait You said you agreed with me in feeling that we would make it go all right I understood you'd marry me rae She laughed scornfully What That about your side of it she aske asked l. l I came back and found you with the new Mrs Tarleton He stood up and md she followed his hi lead end the moments moment's tense quality made repose difficult What he asked frowning fierce ly What That night night night- His hands closed around her upper arms as she spoke closed to hold her firmly That Tha night I saw you OU at the Frivolity club you introduced introduced- she stopped slapped sud aud- denly and swallowed Go on on he prompted harshly and she wondered at the bitter yet triumphant tri tn- quality of his smile G Go Goon on Your wife wire He laughed Tell me this he said V for th the sake of old times times because because Ive I've loved lovec you so long and because I love you Marsha had you planned to marr marry Bob Powers before I I- I His gaze held hers bers her eyes fell under it Say It he commanded Her honest No was loud Th The qualifying but which was to follow it and tell many things was stilled stifled by the pressure of ot Geoffrey Tarleton Tarleton's Tarle tons ton's lips When she drew away some magnetism magne magne- made her turn toward the door doo where Bob Powers stood looking a at them Sorry to seem the SP spy he sal said through stiff set et 1 ups lips Came back bac rather sooner than was expected I presume V He slipped d a 3 shaking icy fey hand int inta into a pocket he had picked up in th the village a small ivory elephant he had hac i thought she would like e an amusing I small mall thing that would the credulous believed believed bring the owner luck Marsha saw him moisten his lips glance lance slowly at Geoffrey at her back jack again Bob she whispered You needn't bother to explain he ie managed to say and fairly steadly I I heard some of this all apologies to o you OU both I couldn't help hearing it t Rather knocked you see I tried to o speak and couldn't Hope you'll manage to overlook it it Geoffrey who was not a coward was vas at his best during such moments He had had practice with them Nev Nevertheless Bobs Bob's attitude troubled him lim he was not used to apologies from rom husbands who had overheard No end sorry Powers he murmured murmured mur mur- but there w was a misunderstanding standing landing Bob Knows Truth So I understand said Bob He turned to Marsha with a question You thought he asked that Tarle Tarle- ton on was that night when when- when you accepted me rae Yes Bob but but but- buther her tone was frantic But she could make no inroad on his set icy calm his determination to speak to dominate the he scene It U was Tarleton's younger broth broth- er cc r who was married Marsha Bob went vent on it was Tarleton's sister sister sister-ln- in law aw whom you met that night I thought hought everyone knew of th the mar mar- It was talked of considerably a few months ago Ive often been a pirate Goeffrey Godfrey admitted with a wry smile and a raise of brows but believe me Powers I regret hurting you through this his affair However now that we all understand We dont don't Marsha flung lung out unsteadily unsteadily un steadily we dont don't Bob Bob Bob- Marsha stepping back to a world work of ot ruin the world she had bad thought the he one world raised her shoulders her dark arched brows You woul not believe me now under oath Bob BobI I presume she questioned I prefer if you dont don't mind to discuss dis cuss that when were we're alone he an an- But Buthe he had made his reply the he set of his big chin his bitter eyes his lis stricken face made further words unnecessary Bob turned then toward the door and for foran an outdoor man whose tread was sure he was pitiably uncertain of motion Bob Marsha appealed He did not respond and she realized that no matter how v physically close they could stand hereafter he would ever evere be be- e beyond her reach Geoffrey was smiling No end sorry he said as Bob dis dis- appeared She covered her face with her trembling hands He moved closer loser to pat her shoulder He felt felther felther feltl her shrink After the divorce he said aid with a gentleness rare for him look me up We wont won't lose any more time I wont won't trust you again for fear you might think me rae married named to anyone who happened tobe to tobe toe be e in the same room on the same block block- block If Dont she appealed She dropped her hands and he was shocked by bythe bythe the he change in her face ace She smiled slowly lowly stiffly You dont don't understand understand-It she faltered fal fal- ered I r dont don't know how to make you OU understand But you ou must be be- this even though you dont don't beLieve be be- lieve in me Im I'm deeply in love Jove with my husband There will never be anyone else for me Perhaps he is through with me I think very probably he is But But But- that hat wouldn't make me seek warmth elsewhere I couldn't having known having known hIm lim let another man so much as touch my hand Will you try to o un un- its it's over between us And will will you go Geoff Plans Flans Approach Geoffrey's plans for reven revenge e had faded He was hurt but too too- he was awed And he had hurt her whose had put within him a new sort of loveGod loveGod love God he said brutally loudly I 41 Iam Iam am sorry She made no response He turned to the door At the door he paused If you want anything I can give you you you- She shook her head violently He heard a weak But thank you He saw her sink to a small stool by the hearth he l lift left ft her crouched there and staring into the flames As he reached the hall he heard above him the hard tread of some someone someone someone one who must pace a room He was leaving caving an inferno rno which would haunt him he knew If he could reach Powers to make Powers believe that truth that had grown rown in Marsha would that help He doubted it A man of Powers sort probably could not forgive a woman woman woman wo wo- wo- wo man who married him in order to keep from wearing the limp robe of the jilted who married him too in order to tell teU another man that she shedid shedid shedid did not mourn his having married Lord what a mess he mur There was sleet In the air a as he stepped topped out The wind was bitter and cutting He looked back at the small house ominously silent And now what for them he asked of himself And their next move Divorce he presumed He had never before forgotten himself through others But Marsha's face had made him see how it was with her She had looked old and agony was in her eyes and he had bad learned what love may be by looking in them Her pain mattered not his Copyright 1934 by K Haviland Haviland- Taylor To Be Continued |