Show T 1 Telegram Fiction n Along Came Come Cinderella By VIVIEN GREY CHAPTER 31 This is I suppose what you asked me here for Roger de demanded demanded demanded de- de of Hugh To make a fool of me To make a silly scene Hugh was too startled to reply immediately Roger turned to Lovely with And you What kind of a woman are you anyway You ask about everything under the sun but your own daughter He was wason wason wason on his feet Come on on Emily Were We're going They were on their way be before before before be- be fore Lovely found the broken choked voice to say I didn't dare ask about her I didn't dare I felt as if j just st speaking her name would kill me Ive I've wanted to see her so Hugh said said after they'd sipped their drinks for a space in silence Im sorry Lovely I guess nobody can fix anyone else's life Youve You've got to do some things for yourself How Much Does He Hate Nate Her Lovely looked at him intently intent intent- ly as J. J g a new thought though t were taking shape in her mind How much do you think he hates me Hugh Lovely asked as they said an early good good- night Only as much as he loves you was Hughs Hugh's sincere an an- In Iq the living room of the big Cosgrave house that Saturday afternoon Emily found Roger blankly looking into the fire a highball on the small table beside beside beside be be- side him Have one he offered rising rising rising ris ris- ris- ris ing as she entered But Emily refused the drink Ive come to tell you Roger About two weeks ago Aunt Amalia made me a proposition to travel with her this winter in Mexico I turned it down because I wanted to stay here Well Ive I've told Amalia Id I'd go with her I did it this morn morn- ing We sail Monday have a great time Emily Emily turned quickly and walked out of the room and Roger had again that definite sense of amputation Something was being cut out of his life and and there was relief at the knowledge Marcia Marca Glad She's Leaving Marcia came in while R Edger ger was still sitting there thinking He mixed her a drink while he told her Marcia said looking thoughtfully at the glass in her hand Im glad Emily's going It'll be good for her She's never stopped possessing you in her own mind In New York next morning Lovely opened her eyes to the day before Christmas and felt as if the walls of her room were closing in on her with loneliness An early knock on her door brought her face to face with Joe standing big and and awkward in his truckers trucker's uniform uni uni- form Joe Notes of gladness in her voice Look honey he said this is for you from me me He gave her a bunch of mistletoe tied with red ribbon and Lovely took it it misty eyed and held it against her cheek And ma made these Joe continued Lovely opened the box he had thrust into her hands and then turned to him himin himin himin in surprise But animal cookies Joe They're for kids And th then n Joe was hurrying from her door to the elevator and calling over his shoulder Merry Christmas baby Ponders While Dressing It took Lovely some time to dress because she was thinking deeply And as she progressed she knew she wanted to be most carefully gotten up Shed She'd boasted to Emily that she was getting her husband back If you had any stuff you made good on things like that Besides Besides Be Be- sides there was that box of cookies with their funny little animal shapes and faces faces cur cur currants rants for eyes and icing for the collar on a dog and the harness on a monkey Just the sort of things Getta would love And then after all the trouble Mrs Hulse had gone to to make them it wouldn't be fair fair and and you did have to fight for what you ou wanted It was crisp and cold but there was a bright sun shining down on the city as as Lovely stepped out into the street The organist at the Grand Central Central Central Cen Cen- station was playing as Lovely walked through The haunting tender beauty of Holy Night hung over the hurrying crowd like a gentle benediction Lovely went directly to the train marked Poughkeepsie local Beautiful Ride Beautiful Welcome The ride up the Hudson had never seemed so beautiful or orso orso orso so heart heart warming Oscawana station seemed really beautiful in the cle clear winter r-winter l light The path toward the Cosgrave estate was inviting and when the play playhouse playhouse playhouse house appeared around a curve Lovely wanted to hug it to her liI like e a person She paused to look into the playhouse window There was the vase she h had d mended after that scene with Joe and Mari There was the tea set she and Roger had used so often Everything was unchanged She turned and looked full into Rogers Roger's face Lovely Oh Oh my Lovely Youve You've come back It was as simple as that No dramatics No accusations No quarrels Ive wanted to come so Roger she said And Ive I've waited for you Waited Lovely As naturally as if they had done it only yesterday they started walking toward the big house Lovely opened the box she carried Look she said Roger smiled over the quaint animal cookies For Getta Shell She'll be tickled And then theo he looked at the mistletoe mistletoe mistletoe mis mis- pinned against her shoulder shoulder shoulder der And this honey bee he said well hang on the chandelier chandelier chandelier chan chan- delier and put to proper use Almost at the door of the gracious old house Lovely stopped and put her hand on Rogers Roger's orm But isn't there a thing you want to ask me Roger Explanations Explanations Explanations Ex Ex- Ex- Ex How Ive I've spent the time Ive I've been away Roger was smiling gently I believe in you Lovely Ive I've always believed in you All I need to know is that youve you've come back to me come because you wanted to Marcia with Getta eager be beside beside beside be- be side her opened the door to them THE END |