Show MAIDEN 0 0 wm service copyright r norris CHAPTER XVI continued 1 II 11 then suppose we consider it as not no having baying been said sol not having been done tony the man suggested alm ply after a little pause if you could she stammered with the rich color rushing into her ber pali pale face all right then it happen he be said and tony went on up tip to th the city office in a very vertigo of joy sis s happy today as she had been wretched yesterday two or three times while she was ploughing sloughing hing got gal bantly through tile the scattered notes miles an ami pages that would somehow frame themselves into the sprightly social page of madame la Du duchesse chesRe next sunday she stopped and put her elbows on the desk dek and tier her face into her ber hands for sheer ecstasy she had no trouble getting her sunday photographs now Som mitties it amused her to remember with what a panic of apprehension she had once faced the necessity of getting them every week it was all quite simple when one knew how and tony did know how now she wn was in touch with all the good photographers and whenever neier they could they helped her out and whenever she could she gave them credit in the newspaper when distinguished strangers came to town tony called on them asked quite frankly for photographs and whenever any especially significant social gathering took place she went to it and tool took her cameraman along always in her middle right desk drawer there were ten or a dozen shiny prints in reserve during the week she would make a selection from them find and write the sentences that gave them their reason for appearing in her columns these scrap of composition with clippings from kastern eastern papers about notes from her own daily column were all pasted tri zether and connected hv by chatty little phrases such as 1 speaking peaking 9 of luncheons or by the way betty and joan are both to he bridesmaids before they are brides it was hack back work now now and then she had to stay very late for one enuse cause or another stay after most of the men had drifted away nt at mid bight until frank fitcha office was mm dark and only two or three of the city room reporters remained and falth faithful ful ingersoll was at the assoil doted press desk and drunken gold berg was the night editor tony always found this experience thrilling the she felt her hair getting and her ber face hot an utter titter wen weariness of if nords would possess her yet it wa was a wonderful thing thin to be a part of the old paper and have ones share in putting it to bod bed in and out of the big hotels meeting ministers and ambassadors on their way to and from the orient and writers and actresses and film folk foils in and out of the city hall getting to know tile the mayor meeting the governor known to the presidents of the clubs miss tart tan went her tireless and busy way vay all june nus as busy with coin men cement exercises and the latter half balf of december was tilled with yuletide cheer youngsters were here coming home bome frow eastern schools every club had a dinner or a tree tony violets on her shoulder her checks rosy in the cold air played her own part or I 1 it lc all al their lles youre so sure of yourself erenda brenda said admiringly youre dlf dif ferent I 1 hardly know you tony youre neier neer sure of yourself in the newspaper game bendy anyone nay may be out and anyone may be in at a moments ts notice boti dont have to worry brenda said bald in fond pride she stood with ter her back to the microscopic sink sh had bid just reduced iced to immaculate cleanness and smiled at her sister A bankers convention was meeting at do del monte near monterey anil and tony had been bes n sent down to cover the feminine interest of the occasion she and brenda could he together for long quiet hours during the three lays days for the busy times for tony were in the late orter afternoon norin and diening ei ening when the hankers bankers came in from meetings or golf nar and social activities began Bren arendas das small domain was one of the least expensive apartments bolt tony somehow found the little atwater home touching and charming for one thing thine larenda loved ceery inch of if it with nn an almost solemn do de tier her idolatry or of MOD included everything that concerned him quite simply and without apology brenda put pill alvans ft lightest latest wish above oil nil other considerations anil and aunt meg was not to come down adf visit them tope because ause my dear hp he s sars avs old ladles indies get him nervous brenda was not cot to n hospital in july oh it just cots costs money and yon have bave to have nurses and their meals and I 1 can acet some good gond old mc melcon d vorn nonien rin in rond nave it without the slightest hore alvin worries to so about money noad and I 1 dont want this or of mine to riegen by our burdening dening ln b him I 1 rn well weli all adore it tony said and brenda rr endl smiling extolling at her with a n face already a little drawn rind pole said gold gratefully ali ah I 1 love you for or saying that tony in these days tony felt much older than brenda her tire life moved in wider channels than the peaceful ones that brenda knew now the cheerful buying of half a pound of hulter butter half a dozen eggs the thrifty hoarding of the cut lemon the cut onion brandas Bren das evenings were vere spent talking with al aln listening to tile lie working out the crossword puzzle in the evening paper the older sisters complete tion alon in her new role made tony feel oddly lonely she had no part in arendas Brem Bren las das life now much is as they loved each other much as they loved to be together brenda was only a background for alvin alvan and alvin felt for tits his handsome successful young sister terin in ln law only the rather nervous liking of a busy boasy and worried young do doe tor toward the person closest after himself to his big wife tony was smartly dressed successful perhaps alvin alvan atwater was a little more conscious of Bren das tiredness and paleness tile the flatness or of Bren das purse the inevitability of dishwashing and for brenda Rr enila when tony was by on a hot bot february day the last of the convention they took their loinch down to the shore of pebble beach and lay talking on a worm warm strip of sand that lay between the rocks you go up tonight triny tony ali ah its been so delicious dell elnus having yon even for this long iong arrenda said youve done me I 1 cant tell you how much good I 1 was sort of dragging about a and nd I 1 seem to have any ambition ambia t about lagos clothes ond and youve braced me so wonderfully I 1 knew you would I 1 and tell cliff and tell darling aunt neg slip she was full fill of messages for them all cut but tony knew that she and alvin only allied of them just now to he be let alone they had lost bendy for a while they were all eclipsed by the figure of alvin cut but she would come bark back oh my dear we forgot to look up tip doctor at carmell carmel she exclaimed suddenly we could do it this afternoon I 1 brenda said stricken we could not this Is too nice but arter after a moment tony reconsidered it perhaps I 1 should she said reluctantly ruth Is sure to feel hurt if I 1 dont V CHAPTER they had nod nad their lunch now and the little basket that had held eggs and cookies and lettuce sandwiches was empty the sun still was benting beating town down steadily there wits was shelter down here in this little ingle of beach and a sense of security and protection brenda sold said on a long yawn lets do it lets be decent we can go home by way ot of carmel and look him up all right tony dropped her head on tier her arms again dues does he be like you madly ll adly if we find him at home see well crenda brenda protested laughing pleased with the idea he pro probably bable display it in company oh but bill just what flat lie he does had he asked you brenda asked it a little self con and tony loorine up tip law laughed hed with a suddenly flushed face re heatedly peat edly in company and out always and you dont like him 1 I admire him enormously I 1 think hes splendid lles hes tall and fair and full of fun lies nice not reliable As rel reliable lable as death iles hes young tony said raid but hes going to be one of our pest best known americans with capitals bendy then why no morley money As a matter of fact ho he has money after hed sent me enough violets and orchids to sink the bremen I 1 asked ruth iles hes rich at least to our way of thinking he is does des he know youre aown own here im not dot sure ile he goes skimming about front from montara ilon tara to laguna hunt ing rock parasites I 1 believe it Is ile ie sent me a frightful english magazine with an article in it about the parn para sites of kennebunkport or something brenda was silent for a long while then she said simply youre not happy are you tony 11 1 I ought to be tuny tony temporized 1 I try to be sometimes when I 1 to look back on the old days she said anil and remember how young we were and how poor we were and yet how wp we used to laugh end and carry on and aln sins it seems so contrary its just I 1 ve life I 1 suppose she added as brenda watching her intently did not speak tony may I 1 ask ash you something ask away bendy Is it barney for a minute tony stared at her sister in amazement then her color came rushing back bach and she burst into laughter ierra good heavens heaven si well said lie he heard lie be was going to be married iod and so lie he Is an and the girl hates me ns the siren who ali aelia we liA cd ills lip and broke his heart lour simp tony salil gold amusedly looking very handsome some in her thin white frock with a while hat flat on her dark hair and her skin all the browner by contrast shell spoil tile the life out of him and sho she has money and hat flat his mother wanted hell lie he nil fill right then if it carney barney who ho Is 13 it it tills this doctor crenda brenda mused tony was wag silent for a space ling bing file facing tier her sister with till her elbows planted in the sand and her chin in her palms Is it who aho I 1 think it 1 Is 19 9 tony brenda sol said acry cry low 1 I guess so prenda brenda was silent for a while then she said poes doles he know yep tony answered briefly ton tony y she know of of course not of course not tony said impatiently theres nothing to know anyway I 1 broke down tile the nl night ait you were married it happened to be and blubbered hered out something I 1 dont know what and a day or two later he be said we would act as if it had bad neer been and all there Is to it you mein mean brenda said troubled that ile he pretended tried to pretend that there was nothing to it that you must just forgot forget it what else in heni henkens ens name could he do tonys tone was one of lifeless patience grenda brenda wits was silent watching and pondering 1 I think youre being beang a tremendous sport im trying to be noblesse oblige something I 1 suppose tony slid said in a bored voice no girl has a right right y for a minute tony stared at her sister in amazement to like a worried married man and if she does I 1 the sooner she gets out the he better you dont go to their house any M more orel na now and then cut but I 1 dont often see him there but bui then P renda brenda began with nn an eloquent spread of her hands I going to happen nothing tony answered briefly she got up and took tile the basket and walked toward the car brenda fol loed her spoke again timidly does it it must get easier wo no tony said raid neier neer get easier ill never dever get over it they drove for a while in silence where you going bondy well arent we going down to see doctor Vander walls place oh I 1 forgot it pretty late crenda brenda answered the question with another you really dont lilie like him do you yoa lore ile he Is I 1 here he was in the busy little struggling straggling main street of carmel his big arms till hill of bundles from tile gro cery aery tits his round fair face shining with pleasure in the full light of the descending sc sun ilienia saw him tumble his pur purchases hases into his own parked car and come coma up to tonys side of the car and rest his folded arms there as he talked aliat hat lie he was thin thinking hing was in his big blue eyes that till all the world orld was just this one slender girl with a white hat on dark ganir and a brown hand lying close to tits ills tony he be said ye gods what lucli luck brenda glancing sI deIse ot at tier her sister saw that tony was looking tier loveliest tier her dark blue eyes close to hla his own where here are you gals going joe demanded have you time to come down and see the place 1 I thought you told me that it was in 1 a moss mess joe and you wanted us to to get tile the whole overwhelming effect at tile the housewarming ali ah well I 1 uld well I 1 to do lie sald said laughing confusedly they were tall drig olline now for some nm iii binl col chipi it on the drivers irl rs ade rf er flip aliff car c r to to amid 1 I lii talking to in loii jiin loop salil silil alls its luu ou ln alie ile flesh tony lowered her lashes her lips crinkling 13 Is that so exciting I 1 have to go back tonight im really on my way now let me no I 1 cant joe sold remembering mem Wern bering im taking poor allen alien the fellow who has the place next nest to mine mille YOU yon know to the hospital tonight having a bad time two kids kid and hes got this bone rot or what whatever eier it Is and I 1 promised id go over find and get him after dinner and take him to watsonville Wat sonville ashes got a brother chos a doctor there joe youre good youre always doing such kind things when are you going to do one just a little casual one there you go 1 I know I 1 said I 1 I 1 cut but think of it tony you and me shopping here at the giggly and then driving home with chops and asparagus and honey for your biscuits 1 I do think of it joe tony said very low after a moment she went on suppose pose you yon billed some splendid woman worth three of me joe only you vou neer could get her would you leave me for tier her the blood rushed up under his fair skin 1 I I 1 suppose its like that of course its like that and now the little blue C yes eyes were raised raise looked full into tits his own so you see then said tony so I 1 see then I 1 suppose he sol said after a moment shrugging when brenda turned around they vere nere hoth both laughing and tony was saying of joes oceanside farm it must be simply disgusting I 1 hut but afterward when she was saying goodby good by hy in brend as little apartment she was serious again brenda had shyly detained her a thin hand on tonys shoulder and had asked do you do you imagine hes unhappy too tony lorry larry tony had said rather than asked 1 I dont know tony rested her hend head against arendas Bren das temple like a tired child 1 I love yon 11 pridy bendy slie she said youre sweet dont think im a fool playing with fire thinking its smart to fall in love with the boss I 1 hate it I 1 want it to be this way ay 11 there must he be some way out I 1 brenda said desperately there Il lere any way out bendy darling tony kissed her and lert left her there getting into the car entering once more upon the life that was so eapp dully tier her own the tire life of newspaper gossip and newspaper work tony felt in a wistful fill sort or of fas lilon that she ila had never loved brenda quite as much as slip she loved her now or been so alienated from her it was eleven at night when slie she and tile the other reporters reached the city to report their task done greeny was there grudgingly content with what they had sent in nobody else was there except a few stragglers and poor entirely unconscious and sprawled on his desk tony went home to find tier her aunt alert and interested and man aged to report tile the major details denlis regarding 11 renda anil and Fren 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