Show r fl is rr 1 KATHLEEN COPYRIGHT KATHLEEN NORRIS MORRIS CHAPTER XVI XVI Continued Continued 13 13 Tony liked lII him It was Impossible ble not to like him she w was was s amazed ed to ha have ha e Larry praise him quite e extravagantly as he and she walked to the newspaper office to tor gether For Larry had gotten to toJ's his Js feet and had said So must I when Tony had bad said that she must go back hack to the office She had been thinking all night that she would never see him again that she never never could look him In the face again and now here they were walking to together eth r In In the most casual way Imaginable And again her heart was singing Joe said Larry lies Hes an extraordinary extraordinary ex ex- person lies lie's a freak frenk lIe He doesn't seem exactly n a noo freak oo l U UI I tell you he be beIs Is He lie did phenomenal phe phe phenomenal things In college He took all the honors there were went to Oxford wrote a paper that excited excite the German botanists he went over there and lectured to em In German Ger Ger- man He line couldn't He lie doesn't look Jook more than two twenty two with that round f face ce and yellow v hair I 1 Hes nearly as ns old as I am Three or four years Jears younger He's Hes n a darned Important person Hell He'll be In charge of the offices here Everybody thinks s hes he's a hall ball of fire You can hardly believe It hes he's hesso so giddy Ton Tony murmured as they entered the big newspaper building Her mind was not on her words she caught suddenly at Larrys Larry's arm Larry Larr she began a little thickly About yesterday yesterday- Ills quick Intelligent look met hers lIe He did not speak Im lm ter terribly sorry I Im I-I'm Im I'm terribly sorry Tony stumbled on She stood close beside him In the dark ark downstairs hallway Larry Ive I've despised myself ever since since since- she faltered I would have given nn anything any any- thing lg In this world not to have done that not to have said that 1 Then suppose we consider er It as not having been said n not t having been Leen done one Tony the man suggested suggest suggest- ed simply after a little pause If It you Ou could she stammered with the rich co color or rushing Into her pale face All right then It didn't happen happen happen hap hap- pen I he said And Tony went event on up up to the city office In a very ery vertigo vertigo vertigo ver ver- of f jo Joy as happy today as she had be been n wretched yesterday esterday Two or three times while she was ploughing gallantly through the scattered notes and pages that would somehow frame themselves Into the sprightly social page of Madame la Duchesse next nett Sunday Sun Sun- tiny day uy she stopped and put her el elbows elbows elbows el- el bows on the desk and her face Into her hands for sheer ecstasy She had no trouble e getting her ber Sunday photographs now Sometimes Sometimes Some Some- Um times s It amused her to remember with a panic of apprehension apprehensions s she e Il had d once ce faced the necessity or getting them every week week- it was all quite simple when one ne knew how lIOW low and Tony did know how bow now I She was In touch with all the good photographers and whenever they could they helped her out and whenever she could she gave gae them credit In the newspaper When distinguished strangers strangers' came to toj j town town Tony Pony called 1 on them asked quite frankly for tor photographs nn and whenever cr any especially significant social gathering took place she went to It and took her cameraman along It was hack work now Now and then she had to sta stay ver very late forone for tor forone one cause or r another stay after acter aftermost aftermost most of the men had drifted away at midnight until Frank Fitch's Fetch's office was dark an and only two t or three of ot the city room reporters remained and faithful Ingersoll was vas at t the the Associated Press desk and drunken Goldberg was the night editor Tony rony always found this experience thrilling she felther felt felther her hair getting gelting fuzzy and her face faca hot an nn utter weariness of words would possess her yet It was a wonderful thing to be a part of or orthe the old paper and have ones one's share in putting It to bed In and out of ot th the big hotels meetIng meeting meet meet- ing ministers and ambassadors on their way to and from the Orient nn and writers and actresses and film lm folk In and out of or the city hall haU getting to know the mayor meeting meeting meet meet- ing Ins the governor o known to the presIdents presidents pres pres- presidents of the clubs Miss 1 Taft went her tireless and busy way All June was busy husy with exercises and the thc latter halt half of or December December De De- cember r was tilled filled with Yuletide cheer Youngsters were corning coming home from Eastern schools er e every club had a dinner or a n t tree ee Tony violets on her shoulder her her cheeks rosy In the cold pir played her own part In all nIl their lives Youre so sure of yourself J 1 Brenda said admiringly Youre different I hardly know you Tony Youre never neer sure of yourself In the newspaper game Bendy Anyone may be out an and anyone may be In at a moments moment's notice You dont don't have e to worry 1 J Brenda said In fond pride She stood with her back to the microscopic microscopic micro micro- microscopic sink she had Just reduced to Imm Immaculate c late cleanliness and smiled at her sister A bankers banker's convention was meetIng meet- meet rig Ing at Del Monte 2 near Monterey and Tony ha had been sent down to cover the feminine Interest of ot the occasion She and anti Brenda could be together for long quiet hours durIng during during dur dur- ing the three days for the busy times for tor Ton Tony were In n the late Inte afternoon afternoon aft nn- and evening when the bankers bank bank- ers came canie In from meetings or golf gott and social activities began Bren Brenda's as a's small domain was one of the least expensive apartments But Tony somehow found the little little lit lIt- tle Atwater home touching and charming For one thing tiling Brenda loved loed every Inch of ot It with an almost solemn devotion Her He Idolatry of or Alvin included Included Included In In- everything that concerned him Quite simply and without apolo apology apology apol apol- o ogy y Brenda put AlvIn's lightest wish ish above all nn other considerations and obligations Aunt Meg oreg was not to come down and visit them because my dear he says old IndIes ladles la la- ladies dIes get him nervous Brenda was not going to a n hospital In n July Oh It Just costs monc money and you ou have to have hae nurses and their meals and I can get bet some good old Mexican woman In and have It without the slightest trouble here Alvin worries so ab about ut money and andI I dont don't want this baby of mine to begin by burdening him Well all adore It t I 1 Ton Tony said and Brenda Drenda smiling at her with witha a face already a little drawn and pale said gratefully Ah Au I love you ou for sa saying ln that Tony The older sisters sister's complete absorption absorption absorption ab ab- sorption In n her new role made mae Tony feel oddly lonely She had no part partIn In Brenda's life Ufe now much as they loved each other much as ns they loved loyed to be together Brenda was only a background for AlvIn and AlvIn felt for his handsome successful successful suc suc- young sister sister-in In law law W only the rather nervous liking of a busy and worried young oung doctor toward the person closest after himself to his wife Tony was smartly dres dressed ed successful perhaps Alvin Atwater was a little more conscious of Brenda's tiredness and paleness the flatness of Brenda's Brenas purse the Inevitability of dishwashing and for Brenda when Tony was by On a hot February day ay the last of the convention they took tool their lunch down to the shore of Pebble Beach and la lay talking on a n warm strip of sand that lay between the rocks You go up tonight Tony Ah Its It's been so delicious having you cn c for this long Brenda said Youve done me me-I me I cant can't tell teU you how much good I 1 I was sort of dragging dragging dragging drag drag- ging about nn and I didn't seem to have any ambition about Iago's lagos clothes and youve you've r u e braced me so 50 wonderfully I knew you ou would 1 And tell teU Cliff and tell darling Aunt Meg leg leg- b She was full of ot messages for them all But Dut Tony knew that she shean an and Alvin only asked of ot them Just now to be let alone They had lost Bendy Hendy f for r a n while they were all eclipsed by the figure of oC Alvin But she would come back Oh my dear we forgot to look 1001 lookup lookup up Doctor at ht Carmel Carmell 1 she he e exclaimed suddenly We could do It this afternoon 1 l Brenda Drenda said stricken We could not This Is too nice But after a moment Tony reconsidered reconsidered reconsidered ered It Perhaps I should she said reluctantly Ruth Is Is sure to feel hurl hurt If I dont don't 1 I CHAPTER THEY TilEY HEY ha had had their lunch now and the little basket that had held eggs an and cookies and lettuce sandwiches was empty The sun sun was beating down steadily there was shelter down here bere In this little little little lit lit- tle Ingle ingie of beach and a sense of or security and protection Brenda said on a n long yawn Lets do It lets let's be decent We can go home by way of Carmel and look him up All right Tony dropped her head on her arm again Does he like you OU Madl Madly If It we find him at home you'll see sec Well Well Brenda Drenda protested laughIng laugh laugh- Ing pleased with the Idea he probably doesn't display It In com com- pany pany Oh Oh but that's Just what he does Has lIas he asked you Brenda asked It a little self self- consciously and Tony looking up quickly laughed with a sud suddenly flushed face He nc Ite In company and out Always Alway And you dont don't like him I admire him enormously I think hes he's splendid Hes He's tall and fair anil full of oC fun fun hes he's hes nice Not reliable As reliable as death 1 Hes He's young Ton Tony said But hes he's going to be one of our Best Known Americans with with capitals Bend Bendy Then why No money As a matter of or fact he be has mone money After hed he'd sent me enough violets and orchids to sink the Bremen Bremen Bre Bre- men I asked Ruth nuth Hes He's rich At least to our way of ot thinking he is Is Does he know youre you're down here Im not sure He goes skimming skimming skimming skim skim- ming about from Montara to Laguna La- La guna guna hunting hunting rock parasites I behove believe be be- I hove lieve It Is He sent me a frightful fright fright- ful English magazine with an article article arti arti- cle cJe In It Jt about the parasites of oC port Kennebunkport or something Brenda was silent for a long while Then hen she said simply Youre not happy are you Tony I ought to be Ton Tony temporized I try to be Sometimes when wilen I look back on the old days she slue said and remember how young we were and how poor we were and yet how we use used to laugh and carry carryon on and sing sing sing- It seems so contrary Its It's Just life I suppose she added as Brenda Brenda Brenda Bren Bren- da watching her Intently dl did not speak Tony may I ask you something something something some some- thing Ask away Bendy Is It t Barney For a minute Tony stared at her sister In amazement then her color try f t J f 1 vr r rr r a S N r t y For a Minute Tony Stared at Her Sister In Amazement came rushing back and she bur burst t tInto Into laughter Barney arney Kerr f Good heavens hemens 1 Well Cliff CHIT said he heard he was going to be married And so he Is and the girl hates bates me as the siren who wrecked his life and broke his heart Poor simp Tony said amusedly looking ver very handsome In her thin white frock with a white hat on her dark hair nn and her skin sJ nJ all the browner by contrast Shell Shen spoil the life out of ot him An And she has mone money and that's what his mother want wanted dRen d. d Hell He'll be all nJ right I IThen IThen Then If It It t Isn't n Barney who Is It It Isn't this doctor Brenda Drenda mused Tony was silent for a space her sister with hr her r pi- pi bows planted In the sand and her chin In her palms Is It who I think It Is Ton Tony Brenda said very lowI lowI low I 1 guess so Brenda was silent for a while Then she said Does he know Yep Tony answered briefly Tony she doesn't know knowl I Oh of course not of course not Tony said Impatiently Theres nothing to know anyway anway I broke down the down the night you were married It happened to be and blubbered out something I I dont don't know what and a day or two later he be said we would act as If It f It had nc never er been been been- and that's all there Is to It f I You mean menn Brenda said troubled troubled trou trou- bled that he lie pretended tried pretended tried to pretend that there was nothing to It that you must Just forget torget It 2 What else In heavens heaven's name could he do Tonys Tony's tone was one of lifeless patience Brenda Drenda was silent watching an and pondering I think youre you're being a tremendous tremendous tremendous dous sport Im trying to be Noblesse oblige something I suppose Ton Tony said In a bored voice olce No girl irl has hasa a right to like a married man and If It she does docs the sooner she gets out the better You dont don't go to their house anymore any anymore anymore more I Now nn and then n But 1 1 dont don't often otten I see him there But then then- then Brenda began with an eloquent spread of or her hands hans going to happen Nothing Tony answered brief brief- ly IJ She got up and took tool the basket basket bas bas- ket and walked toward the car Brenda followed her lier spoke again timidly Does It It-It It It must must get et get easier No 10 Tony said never get easier ensler Ill I'll never get over It They drove for a while In silence Where you going Bendy Well Wen arent aren't we ve going oln down to see see Doctor walls Vender place Oh I forgot Isn't It pretty prett la late te Brenda answered the question with another You really reany dont don't like him do you you Here Here Here he Is I Here lIere he was In the busy little trag main street of Carmel his big arms full of bundles from the grocery his round fair Calr face shining with pleasure In the full light of or the descending dese sun Brenda Brenda Brenda Bren Bren- da saw him tumble his ills purchases Into his own parked parl car and come up to Tonys Tony's side of the car and rest his folded arms there as asbe ashe ashe he be talked What he was thinking ng was In his blue eyes that aJ all the world was Just this tills one slender girl with n a white hat bat on dark hair and anda a brown hand han lying close to his Tony I he Ile said Ye gods what luck Brenda glancing sidewIse at nt her sister saw that Tony was looking her loveliest her dark darl blue bluee blueeyes blueeyes e eyes es close to his own Where are you yon gals going Joe demanded Have you time to come down and see the tile place I thought you told me that It was In a mess Joe and you wanted us to get the whole overwhelming effect at nt the housewarming Ah well I did ah did ah well wen I do he said laughing confusedly They were talking alone now for some woman had come up on the drivers driver's side of oC the car to talk to Brenda Im talking to you Ton Tony Joe said wonderingly Its you Its you Its in In the flesh I Tony lowered her lashes Inshes her lips crinkling Is that so exciting I 1 have to togo togo togo go back tonight Im I'm really on my way now Let me no me-no no I cant can't cant Joe said remembering Im taking poor Allen Al Al- len the len the fellow who has the place next to mine you know to the hospital hospital hos hos- hospital pital tonight They're having a bad time two time two kids and hes he's got this bone rot or whatever It Is and I promised Id I'd go over |