Show egr e m idio C t- t y t- t t. t V t- t 0 g Y Qa lIard CHAPTER 3 34 31 Why didn't Clive telephone He had lad promised to see her soon Had he decided it would be better to wait until Penny and daddy were re remarried remarried remarried re- re married Never had a day seemed so long At 4 o'clock when she had heard nothing from him Sharon broke all precedent and called his office His secretary recognizing the name said He left about an hour ago Did he say when he would be beback beback beback back I No he didn't the other replied At Sharon put on on her hat and coat preparing to leave with the theother theother theother other girls but before she could so Clive arrived Telephone your mother that you wont won't be home until late tonight he le commanded Where are we going she asked meekly lifting the telephone Just say youre you're having dinner with one of your friends he sug sug- Penny wasn't at home The operator said Your mother left a message for you Miss Thomas She said to tell you she was having dinner with one of her friends and wouldn't be home until late Sharon smiled Not Invited to Dinner Pennys beaten me to it She's dining with daddy and Im I'm not in in- in as It should be approved Clive The telephone was in the rear of the shop The lights were off in the front of the building As Sharon turned the switch which controlled the others Clive took her in his arms I love you darling And I love you she cried When are you going to marry me me Sharon hesitated a moment not sure of his reaction to the plans she had been making all day What th the matter now ow Cli Clive asked You Youre re not going to wait walt walton on Pennys Penny's account No I told Penny about us last night She said she had suspected it ever since she was hurt He grinned appreciatively Penny would What is it then Sharon 1 Because of the shop She cupped his eager handsome face in her two hands No Im I'm closing the shop the first of the month Its It's such a childish reason I hate to tell you but to tome nie me It is very important Tell me he urged until be I want to wait walt we can married at home Penny is reopening reopening reopening reopen reopen- ing the house in Sea Cliff and as soon as Kay has her divorce were we're all going back to it I want a real wedding Clive with bridesmaids and a veil and everything She did not add as different as could be from the one he ha had planned with Penny I understand he said gently There is no reason to rush any any- thing I can wait six weeks or longer if necessary Since its it's to be our only wedding it must be the way you want it it As they walked to his car she asked again Where are we going going going go go- ing Im taking you to my apartment Youve You've never been there you know I want you to see where I live Get Ge acquainted with my belongings anc and my good old Scotch housekeeper Sharon felt as if it must be a adream adream adream dream as he opened the door leadIng leadIng leading lead lead- ing to his rooms They were spacious spacious spa spa- cious clous and high Furnished with a simplicity which chara characterized character character- ter- ter the man plus an old fashioned desire for comfort Deeply cushioned chairs a fire burning softly behind time blackened blackened blackened black black- ened andirons and maroon colored curtains which Clive drew shutting out the wind and rain slashing against the glass Books lined the walls and ard overflowed overflowed overflowed over over- flowed into the hall There was a piano and an electrically controlled Music is my relaxation he con con- After dinner Ill I'll play you some of ot my favorite records A short stout little woman with witha a square honest f face ce appeared from the dining room This is Mrs McPherson Clive said Ive met your mother Mrs McPherson McPherson McPherson Mc Mc- Pherson said told me all about you You c cant can't nt believe anything Penny Penny Penny Pen Pen- ny says about anyone she lov loves s warned Sharon She Was Only Half Wrong She told me she wanted you to to live with Mr Evans and herself when they are married but you refused She was only half wrong Clive smiled because Sharon is going to live with me without her mother Why Mr Evans whatever do you mean Just what I say Mrs Thomas Is returning to her former husband and its it's Sharon Im I'm marrying The elderly womans woman's face beamed more like Jike it although it isn't my place to say so I liked the other lady very much but Its It's better for you to marry a younger woman Im Tm how many years older than you Clive CUve inquired as the housekeeper housekeeper housekeeper house house- keeper returned to the kitchen A good many more years' years difference difference difference dif dif- dif dif- ference between us than there was between you and Penny Im I'm al almost almost almost al- al most 23 23 And Im I'm 35 But even if I am 12 years' years older its it's my first real love affair The only time in my life Ufe Ive I've known what love really means Seizing her in his arms he cried passionately Tell me that you believe believe believe be be- lieve me I r do Clive No one could feel like this but once You are so close to me darling A part of myself I have been missing all these years that I have been cherishing an idea I began egan to think was impossible Dinner is served announced Mrs McPherson Roast beef and browned potatoes with Yorkshire pudding was heavy fare for lovers but Sharon felt asif as asif asif if it were the first meal she had had for weeks She had eaten little since her re return return return re- re turn from the country but in this quiet happy atmosphere she could relax When dinner was was' over she sat be before before before be- be fore the fire with Clive as they had hadin hadin hadin in his hunting lodge but this time he made no attempt to talk They sat in silence with hands Intertwined Intertwined in intertwined In- In his head upon her firm young breast listening to records which because because- they were his favorites favorites favorites favor favor- ites seemed to have been here also I Do you know the real reason I Mrs McPherson prefers you to your mother Clive asked No Why Because she's a designing old woman and has stayed with me all these years for just one reason Are you joking She certainly doesn't seem that way to meAh me Ah Ab but she is he assured herAll herAll herAll her All this time she's had just one idea in mind If she stayed with me long enough she figured Id I'd marry and have a baby for her to spoil Sharon smiled She was disappointed when she learned that Penny Pen already had a grown daughter but I could see her face race brighten up at sight of you Babies are an obsession with her Some women are like that you know Yes she said drawing his head fl closer some women are like thamy thamy tha that my darling 4 I Thank God he added kissing J her i Continued Friday Copyright 1938 for The Telegram |