Show fl COMES a MOMENT By ELINOR MAXWELL O ARCADIA HOUSE PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS SERVICE CHAPTER X Continued X 10 10 I uI shant shan't have lunch with Mr Buchanan and talk things over Mary thought bitterly as she slowly sipped the water Theres no use usein usein usein in that Theres There's nothing to talk over I Ive I've tried for years to be an author and Ive I've failed My writing one story that was worthy of acceptance acceptance acceptance ac ac- was evidently just an ac ac- ac- ac Theres There's only one thing left to do now and no matter how repugnant repugnant repugnant re re- re- re and cheap and vile Ill I'll simply have to do it Ill I'll marry Jerome Taylor Perhaps Aunt Linnie Linnie Linnie Lin- Lin nie was right all along I At least its it's the only way out out to to save my family She had an engagement for dinner dinner dinner din din- ner and the theater with Jerome Taylor that evening He would make love to her sometime during during during dur dur- ing the evening He always did He would tell her how beautiful she was and how he never tired looking looking looking look look- ing at her and he would ask her herI if she didn't care for or him just Ujust a lit- lit I n. n hit Sh Ch e 1 ad al 1 va s evaded rt thc this U e U UIA 1 y 9 u. u question or else answered Why U of course Jerry you know I like you very much in a manner so definitely platonic that it forthwith brought the topic to a close She dressed with unusual care wearing as she had for that first dinner at Jerome's penthouse her frock of silver and white pinning as she had also done on that night his superb orchids high on her left shoulder And again as on the evening evening evening eve eve- ning of their first dinner together she wore Lelias Lelia's ermine wrap Casting Casting Casting Cast Cast- ing one last glance at herself in the mirror before going to the living room to greet him she smiled with bitter approval Yes she told herself with acerbity I uI look just what I am am-a am a glorified gold digger orchids ermine cape and all alII Jerome rose hastily from a chair chairas as she entered the thc room Mary Maryl he exclaimed at sight of her My ur-fy dear ear youre you're more beautiful ul t tonight nig t than Ive I've ever seen you And lifting lifting lift lUt- ing her hand to his lips he kissed it She did not withdraw it immedi although the touch of hi his lips on her hand made her cringe She must not be aloof as she heretofore heretofore heretofore here here- had been with this man She must pretend that she liked him She must bring on a proposal tonight to to- night night tonight He evidently noticed the change in her for they were hardly settled in his car before he again sought her hand and held it She did not attempt to draw it away although she felt fell as if it were imprisoned in the claw of a large eagle This is part of the business of getting engaged she scathingly informed in informed informed in- in formed herself Ill have to grin and bear it Its It's Its It's its it's all in the days day's work Youre different tonight darling darling darling dar dar- ling Jerome was saying in that purring tender voice she hated And elAnd my dear Ive I've never seen you quite so beautiful ul That coronet braid around your lovely little head makes you look like a queen You do like me dont don't you dear Somehow Somehow Somehow Some Some- how tonight I feel But Lorgan the chauffeur was 11 a t th h cur nw h b f w- w t f P UJ up up 1 Q dk tut e U In ui von v o othe Ul VA the Waldorf Valdorf and the uniformed doorman was opening the door of the car Thankful that the drive was at atan atan atan an end Mary withdrew her hand from Jerome's clasp and slipped on a long white glove over for for a while she told herself an imperceptible shudder going over her body It was not over for long how how- ever Jerome Taylor warmed by I her apparent encouragement waited waited waited wait wait- ed only until after their entree had been served to begin again His eyes no longer quizzical held a anew anew anew I new glow of sanguinity his voice I had lowered to a new note of fervor Mary he began as soon as the waiter had left their table I 1 believe believe believe be be- lieve youre you're beginning to like me just a bit after all this time How about it dear You know Ive I've been simply mad about you ever since the first day I saw you Have you really Mary coun coun- And then desperately forcing forcing forc fore ing herself Im Im I'm Im I'm glad Jerry I The man placed his fork on the side of his dinner plate Darling how can you ask You certainly have known it all along Youre You're the sweetest and the loveliest and the most beautiful thing Ive I've ever seen And Mary I want you al al- al- al ways Eventually she raised her eyes to the man and forced a smile to her lips Jerome wr wrapped in his own thoughts saw nothing amiss in her herlong herlong herlong long silence that cynical twist to her lips Darling he was saying saying saying say say- ing and now he had pushed aside his untouched food and lighted a cigarette I want to take care of you always give always give you the rare jewels jewels jew jew- els that only you are arc suited to wear the exquisite clothes you should have to accentuate your beauty Well We'll travel everywhere Mary see Mary see everything everything-do do everything there is isto isto isto to be done Ill I'll always be proud of you So Sa V vety lY proud of you Still unable to bring any words to her lips she sat there now lifting her goblet of water to her mouth now sipping some water now placing placing placing ing the goblet back on the table Jerry unmindful of the people about them reached across the table table table ta ta- ble and placed his hand over hers Darling why not go down to Palm Beach with me tomorrow My yachts yacht's down there you know and and Mary glanced sharply a across at t him Tomorrow But Jerry how howin howin howin in the world could we get married in such a short time The man hastily relinquished her hand and leaned back in his chair The warm glow that had filled his narrow gray eyes disappeared My liMy dear he purred you seem to have misunderstood me Mary stared at him with in incredulous incredulous in in- credulous eyes You weren't asking asking asking ask ask- ing me to marry you youl Jerome Taylor laughed What a provincial little thing you are Why everybody knows Im I'm not the marrying marrying marrying mar mar- sort But my dear there are so many things I 1 can do for you you Mary felt for the cape which lay across the back of her chair and with trembling fingers pulled it over her shoulders You conceited conceit conceit- ed old fool I I hate you 1 Ive I've always hated you I never want to see you again I And grabbing her gloves and bag from rom the table she rose roseI I from her chair I As unperturbed as if she had told him shed she'd just remembered a telephone telephone telephone tele tele- phone call she had to make Taylor rose too his sleek gray head inclining inclining inclining in in- clining in a suave little bow Dont make a scene my dear he said in a low voice his lips fixed in a smile Remember were we're in a public public public pub pub- lic place Besides youre you're not exactly exactly exactly ex ex- suited to melodrama you know Mary flashed him an enraged look then with steps which she tried desperately to keep steady made her way blindly through the tables and out of the room to the i 1 11 Lobby Eventually she reached the door and in a voice that was still throaty with anger asked the doorman to call for a taxi She wondered if she had enough money in her bag 1 I 1 1St St My Iy dear youre you're more beautiful ful tonight than Ive I've ever seen you I to pay for the cab but she was so dizzy with anger she could not even bring herself to look She was whirling up the Avenue Avenue- away from Jerome Taylor Taylor closer closer closer to Aunt Linnies Linnie's apartment and the safety and security which it betokened Now the cab was pulling up before Aunt Linnies Linnie's apartment house Mary glanced at atthe atthe atthe the meter then emptied her purse into the drivers driver's hand She stepped to the curb and ran across the canopied walk to the entrance entrance entrance en en- trance door Her head was down and in her eagerness to get into the foyer she did not see the man who was leaving it He caught her arm in an attempt to prevent a collision collision collision col col- then as they both came to toan toan toan an abrupt standstill she looked up Why Umberto she exclaimed I III didn't see you That is quite evident little Mary he replied with a smile I had just dropped in n to call on you and but now was wa leaving with a heavy heart Mush Mush Mush thought Mary Why cant can't other men talk as sanely as Phillip Buchanan You are back early my beautiful ful continued his hand still on her arm Is Ills something wrong No IINo Umberto I wanted wanted wanted-to- to- to come home But then I may go up with you and stay a while Mary frowned No uNo Umberto No no no Then seeing the shadow that crossed his handsome dark face she said Oh HOh all right Come on for a few moments Well We'll listen to the radio Addie opened the door in answer to Marys Mary's ring Why Miss r Ma Ma- ry she exclaimed I just told this gentleman you were out for forthe forthe forthe the evening I IIII I III changed my plans Addie Addle Mary returned and slipping Lelias Lelia's wrap from her shoulders handed it to the woman Addie I wonder if you'll make us some black coffee I have a headache Yes maam ma'am honey Addie replied re re- plied Ill have some for you in just a few minutes Then as Addie disappeared into the kitchen came towards her Darling he murmured in inthe inthe inthe the honeyed tones that Mary loathed something has gone wrong with you Something ha hag hurt you I II I can see it written on your lovely face Tell Umberto my sweet Mary glanced up into his somber eyes eyes eyes-eyes eyes that were filled with compassion and pity Its nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing she began in a voice that was husky with emotion The ugly shock of Jerome Taylors Taylor's words had left lefther lefther lefther her at last but in its place there burned a blind rage against theman the man In and n a I fear Ol for fr n r all nil hn th l t U. U o v come Its uIt's nothing she repeated And then bursting into wild uncontrollable uncontrollable uncontrollable un un- controllable sobs she cried Oh Umberto its it's everything I Its It's everything everything everything every every- thing Yes something has hurt me terribly l I lAnd And quite without knowing how howit it happened she found herself in his arms his lips softly pressing her cheek her head against his der Darling Darling he was saying saying saying say say- ing softly Cara mia I love you youl youlAnd And for the moment she felt safe supremely secure in his arms Tell Umberto all about it my sweet She shook her head No No No I can never tell anyone I Taking a n handkerchief from his pocket he dried the tears on her face Youve been crushed by something my darling and I could kill the beast who hurt you Oh Mary r my dear I love you I want to take care of you I want you tobe to tobe tobe be mine always so that no one can canever canever canever ever hurt you again Darling will you marry me Oh no Umberto I cant can't marry you 1 I d dont don't nt want to to marry anybody anybody anybody any any- body And then with a badgering persistence the thought But I must marry somebody I must do something I again flooded her mindAh mindAh mindAh mind Ah darling Umberto replied touching his lips lightly to her eyes you say that tonight because you are upset by this dreadful something something something some some- thing but tomorrow tomorrow it will be different Ah say you will consider it Say I may leave you tonight with my heart warmed with the hope you will marry me soon Mary withdrew from his embrace moving towards the fireplace her cold hand against her throbbing forehead I I dont don't dont know Umber Umber- to Lets Let's not talk about it tonight Maybe followed her Maybe he repeated softly Maybe Oh cara mia that means you will make me the happiest man on earth I He attempted to take her in his arms again but she pulled away grateful to hear Addie Addle approaching from the kitchen She had hardly finished pouring the coffee when a key could be heard turning in the latch of the entrance entrance entrance en en- trance door An instant later Lelia Le- Le Lelia Lelia lia Ormsby came into the room Her eyes widened when she saw Mary sitting there with Count Why U Mary she began What U are you ou doing at home I thought thought- Umberto jumped to his feet Mrs Ormsby he exclaimed his dark eyes flashing congratulate me Iam I Iam Iam am the happiest man on earth My lovely lady has promised to marry me A look of consternation flashed across Lelias Lelia's face Why what do tI you mean that But just re re- turned with a grandiose wave o ot of othis his hand You will felicitate us yes Lelia moved towards the lounge where Mary sat her gaze riveted on her coffee cup Mary she demanded demanded demanded de de- is this true Youre You're not really going to marry Count Ball Bali and anci are you Mary could not look up nor could she speak for a moment I I dont don't dont know Lelia know Lelia she finally replied in a remote voice Maybe I shall I Lelia continued to regard the girl with eyes that were cold with un un- belief Well she said at last and I her voice was crisp I wish you I I both happiness Perhaps ps Linnie Lennie h l t d 1 1 i I I i I I dont don't dont know Umberto Lets Let's not talk about it tonight will be satisfied now She's down in the lobby talking to the tha manager of the building Shell She'll beup be beup beup up here in a minute and you can break the joyous news to her We were planning to go on to Club Torquay Torquay Torquay Tor Tor- quay to join the Bascoms for a bit bitof bitof bitof of roulette No doubt shell she'll want to make a party of it in celebration celebration celebration tion of this this happy ah happy event But that is wonderful cried Umberto I III shall buy champagne and everybody will drink a toast to tomy tomy tomy my to bride-to-be I Mary finally glanced up at Lelia You you you will come Lelia A pregnant silence followed a a si silence silence silence si- si lence in which Lelia snapped open a cigarette box that lay on the table beside the lounge removed a cigarette cigarette cigarette ciga ciga- rette and lighted it Yes she finally said Ill go along CHAPTER XI Aunt Linnie arrived on the scene a few minutes later Dont say anything I Mary admonished Bali Bali- anci andi and Lelia Please Please And her voice was so importunate that they both nodded their acquiescence acqui acqui- If Aunt Linnie felt any surprise at seeing Mary r-Iary sitting in the living room with when she had supposed her to be at the theater with Jerome Taylor her face did not betray her How nice to find you and here she exclaimed Lelia and I are going to the Club Torquay to meet the Bascoms and play a bit of roulette Will you join us Thanks so much re re- plied Wed Ved love it Ill change in a jiffy Lelia was saying as if from a great distance Will Vill you excuse me for five minutes minutes minutes min min- utes Lelia appeared in but a moment looking slender and lovely in a frock of af flame-colored flame chiffon and carrying carrying carrying carry carry- ing over one arm her ermine wrap and a black velvet coat with a white fox collar TO 70 BE CONTINUED |