Show re SU N V I 1 C L lai im A aj CHAPTER XIV continued 19 jim knew that mr vaughn neither expected nor wanted a reply he sat cat in the willow chair silent for or the most part now that he had concluded his story listening waiting for cecily to return he felt a bond of sympathy with mr vaughn they both loved cecily and wanted to help her there was nothing that they could do when she returned to the veranda mr vaughn stopped pacing jim sprang up from his chair for an instant a strained hushed silence filled the atmosphere cecily broke the silence jerry Is in his room she said quietly you can talk to him now father it you think you must it theres anything left to be said has he confessed mr vaughn asked sharply oh dont use dramatic words cecily was weary and white but reassuringly composed jerry has told me everything it what you mean sit down cecily jim said gently youre terribly tired she lay in the long chair her fingers loosely linked against the dull green of her frock 1 I want you to know this jim she said looking up at him steadily nothing that happened was premeditated when jerry called you that night he had no other motive than to gei get help tor for dolly at once the thought of letting you take the blame came later when he realized that you did not recognize his voice that you had n no 0 idea who had knocked at the door 1 I was fairly certain of that jim said 1 if I I 1 been half asleep she nodded her eyes turned from J jim m to her father jerry vicious she said hes merely weak how do you know jim what you would have done it if been in danger of losing everything ery thing that you thought was important and seen a chance to prevent it how do you know 1 I dont know jim said there is such a tiling thing as integrity mr vaughn said soberly the quality inside oneself that makes one do the decent thing whatever the circumstances cecily sighed jerry that she said slowly 1 I think ive always known that something was lacking except just at first if he be run away it would have been different lerent dif I 1 could have forgiven him for taking the car for consoling himself with the quinn girl but to hide bide to leave her hurt and alone in the road to let jim take the blame P A tremor ran through her shaking her composure will you tell me mr vaughn asked grimly how he thought he could get away with it does he think you all of us are morons marons mo rons 1 I dont know yes I 1 do cee cec ilys face white against the dark daric upholstery of the chair was resolute and controlled 1 I cant evade any of this she said ive got to make myself see it clearly I 1 must not keep a shred of any romantic illusion she drew a long breath and went on jerry thought it if dolly should die the truth might never be known there was nothing against jim stronger than circumstantial evidence lie he told me he knew you could get jim cleared father if dolly died well she had gone with him willingly and anyone might have an accident telling the truth bring dolly back his hh I 1 reasoning was all wrong of course but I 1 can see his side of it too was he running away mr vaughn asked when you went upstairs no she replied he was on the point of confessing his first impulse was to run away but he ha knew he in broad daylight with all of us here you see he had called the hospital he knew that dolly had regained consciousness that the hospital authorities thought she was almost certain to recover when did you suspect jeremy jim asked why did you think of him cecily 1 I think I 1 suspected him a little right from the first she replied i he knew the quinn girl and he be was awfully angry that night but I 1 knew dolly too jim said seen me with her at dutcha why were you willing to believe that I 1 was telling the truth A faint tinge of color tinted ceci lys face her lashes curved down against her cheeks screening her eyes 1 I knew she said softly ive i never felt that quality of integ integrity rity father speaks of lacking in you I 1 not have believed you jim jims eyes met met mr vaughns vaughna nt again he saw breaking through the anxiety which darkened mr vaughns Vaugh ng face that halt half grave hall half smiling expression he ha looked away a curious feeling of elation stirring in his heart 1 I tried not to believe that serry jerry might have taken the car cecily went on but the thought kept coming back even though id known he be was in bed before macpherson and I 1 went to chestertown Chester town that night and then yesterday at the wedding jerry acted so strangely he drank quantities of champagne punch which like him at all jerry seldom drinks more than a cocktail or two or a glass of wine taking care of himself Is an obsession with him the punch exhilarated him to an unusual degree he tried to persuade me to elope with him I 1 think now why he drank did you consider the pro proposition post mr vaughn asked looking at her intently no she said simply 1 I had given you my word 1 I father when we got home she continued 1 I called the hospital there was something in Se jeremye yB face as he stood beside me waiting for me to get the connection that convinced me a suddenly terrified expression I 1 suppose all the punch hed taken had weakened his self control I 1 slept scarcely at all last inight bight I 1 knew you accuse him mr vaughn asked you question him even indirectly 1 I was afraid she said 1 I knew that if he suspected that I 1 knew he would run away I 1 wanted to keep him here until you came father I 1 knew you could help him to get out of this with some degree of decency so that it rum ruin his chances tor for a career you expect me to help him mr vaughn asked in startled amazement edorn dona bluster darling ceal cecily said coaxingly let me do the talking now dolly is apparently going to get gel well she continued more gravely there will be no charge against jerry other than taking my car without permission and driving too fast he even been drinking she went to ride with him willingly he told me that he simply lost control of the car in that narrow road if you will pay the girls hospital expenses I 1 dont see why we cant get jerry out of this and let him join the cherry hollow company as soon as possible cecilya Ceci lyl mr vaughn said despairingly are you still in love with the boy A look of pain crossed her face there was pain in the depths of her dark golden eyes 1 I never want to see him again she said slowly but I 1 do know that I 1 want you to help him I 1 want him to have another ell chance ance mr vaughn moved restlessly in his chair 1 I dont know what I 1 can do he said he deserve help or consideration forget him cecily said do it for me she rose from her chair stood looking at her father at jim the generosity of the victor to the vanquished it was a sporting pro proposition position having jerry here tor for a visit A small crooked smile touched her lips gentlemen you win where are you going mr vaughn asked as she took a step toward the door im going to take two of miss parkers sleeping tablets and go to bed she said and when I 1 wake up tomorrow or the day following im going in to the city and buy some new fall fail clothes and then her bravado seemed for an instant on the point of deserting her she lifted her chin and again the smile poignant in its gallantry touched her lips and then she continued im going to hawaii and learn tc do a hula or help jim run the riding academy orp or P her lips trembled tears glistened on her lashes she went into the house almost running something like a sob broke the stillness the door swung to with a briefly resounding slam cecily was gone these modern modem youngsters mr vaughn said with a sort of roughness in his voice bravery and bravado he cleared his throat call bradley for me will you jim the generosity of the victor well see what can be done CHAPTER XV dollys dallys eyes bluer than he be had remembered them under a tilted white bandage shining softly with pleasure and surprise were turned toward the door as tte the nurse admitted tim jim dellol Hel lol she called gaily 1 I expecting company pardon me if the place Is I 1 a mess mesi ive been ironing all day hello dolly Molly jim tood stood beside the high narrow bed looking down at her gentleness in his hl eyes and in hill bis vote voice she looked so small and so thin propped against the smooth mound of pillows so different from the dolly he knew in an expensive looking bed jacket all lace and chiffon with no makeup make up except a dell cate touch of rouge different younger what Wha was it cut off my I 1 hair she said aware of his puzzled gaze look you can see what color it really is sort of mouse brown or would you call it gray brown jim said bald 1 I like it how are you fine going to send me home at the endom the week this is miss penny jim mr fielding dolly smiled at the nurse ashes been swell to me jim acknowledged the introduction the nurse a rosy healthy looking young woman looked at him with interest and admiration dolly is our pet patient 11 the she said displaying large white whit teeth in an amiable smile well be sorry to lose her dolly grimaced apple sauce she said but she looked pleased and a little excited ive brought you a present jim laid a square white florists florist box on the bed for me she cried oh mister fielding how thought thoughtfully full but when she had untied the loops ot of silver ribbon and lifted the ud lid she gave a little breathless gasp of pleasure Is it an orchid she asked lifting maidenhair fern a mauve and purple blossom streaked with white and yellow from a nest of crisp waxed paper ot of course its an orchid miss penny said appreciatively give it to me dolly ill put it in a vase no you won contil tIl dolly guarded her treasure fiercely pin it here she touched the lace and chiffon at I 1 miss bliss vaughn Is lovely she her breast ive never had one before and fix the mirror so I 1 can see myself this is probably the last chance ill ever have to look like constance bennett in bed jim smiled he had known that an orchid would please her more than a wheelbarrow wheel barrow batrow load of less glamorous blooms you look like a million gold dollars he said seating himself in a chair beside the bed miss penny shook a finger at dolly only 15 minutes she said if I 1 let you get all tired out doctor donaldson will give me a scolding 1 1 I think ashes in love with doctor donaldson dolly told jim when the nurse had gone out of the room she stopped admiring her reflection in the mirror turned her head to look at jim 1 I know tor for a long time she said shyly that it was you who found me the night I 1 was hurt dont talk about that dolly but I 1 want to she looked down at her fingers spread in thin fans against the counterpane herb told me all about it that been arrested were you really in jail 1 I spent a night at the state troopers headquarters arters he said they treated in me 0 very politely miss V vaughn aughn is lovely she dolly said with apparent irrelevance yes jim replied she brought me this dolly touched the folds of the jacket a soft rose pink like a sunset 0 id ive never had anything so penny says the lace is re cecily has exquisite tast tasi dolly was silent for a moment then she said 1 I was so ashamed when she came to see me why dolly because id hated her why I 1 went driving with jeremy clyde that night because I 1 thought it would hurt her you hated her because of jeremy jim asked himl him I 1 should say hotl I 1 never liked him it at all she looked up at jim looked away her face flushing under the tilted aldage dont you know she asked in a low voice why I 1 hated her jim why because the flush bush deepened because ive been crazy abo about uly t you all summer and I 1 knew you were deou in love with her and it made me mad I 1 mean I 1 knew there a chance of your liking me I 1 guess that made me ma hate hat her fier more but I 1 do uke like you douy dolly jim took one ol of her hands in his bis im very very fond of you i you thought I 1 was getting crazy about you you she asked why you stopped coming to see se me 1 I want you to be hurt jim said that makes me sound awfully conceited it no she sha said 1 I know but I 1 help hating cecily so when jerry called me that night JI did he ha call you jim asked quickly he called me at the store she went on when the phone rang I 1 thought at first it was you when it I 1 was so disappointed I 1 told him id meet him where he said said after the store had closed where was that by the ridge over the tha gully at the edge of town I 1 knew he want anybody to see him with me but I 1 care I 1 care bout about anything I 1 wanted to do something crazy and wild it was exciting at first to ride in miss vaughns car though we only went oni on country roads he acted sort of wild and crazy too I 1 thought he ha was tight but he ha he ha was just mad what do you remember of the tha accident jim asked she considered for a moment frowning with concentration we wa turned into that road she said he wanted to park but I 1 want to and I 1 said your riding academy was somewhere near to sort of take hla his mind off the idea of park ing I 1 think I 1 said something about you I 1 cant remember what it was waa but it made him furious he ha stepped on the gas and the car shot ahead me like a rocket I 1 was seared scared I 1 dont know maybe I 1 grabbed the tha wheel and then J never mind dolly jim stroked her hand soothingly im sorry I 1 asked try not to think of it it it matter now hes gone away he she asked after a moment yes jim replied you had something to do with that you I 1 1 I told dad to keep quiet it if what you mean after miss vaughn came to see me I 1 felt differently about it she was so nice to me not snooty at all just friendly and really interested her father is paying the hospital bills and hes going to send me to atlantic city for two weeks after I 1 get out of here I 1 think cecily miss vaughn thought of that she made the suggestion jim said so why should I 1 let dad yap around about anybody douy dolly went on jerry clyde any money I 1 went with him I 1 he sandbag me or kidnap me or anything besides she drew her hand from jims groped under the mound of pillows drew out a small satin jewelers box and snapped open the lid look she said jim saw the small diamond set in a flurry of carved white gold fitted bt folds of velvet herbert he asked no the prince of wales he proposed to me over the radio the gaiety died out of her voice yes herb she said do you want to marry him dolly her flax blue eyes looked up into his steadily with confidence and serenity yes I 1 do she said gravely lying here makes you think kindness means more than anything it herbs been so sweet to me he really loves me and after all this well I 1 know held hed stand by me through anything yes dolly I 1 think he would herb exciting dollys dallys glance wandered from jim rested upon the mirror in the bureau at the toot foot of the bed hell never do anything thrilling she continued as though she were talking to her reflection in the mirror that unfamiliar douy dolly in a bed jacket of lace and chiffon with an orchid pinned pined on her breast 1 I guess this has been the most exciting thing that will ever happen to me it will be fun to have a house though and babies maybe penny brings up the new babies from the nursery here sweet be happy dolly jim said 1 I will she said staunchly 1 I hate to leave the kids though joey especially an idea occurred to jim do you think he be asked that joey would like to work with me her face brightened she turned to look at him swiftly gratefully could you give him a job she asked 1 I think so jim smiled at her obvious delight lie he afraid of horses Is be jocys not afraid of anything she said proudly thais swell of you jim she caught his hand held it against her cheek ill feel so relieved to know hes with you take care of him tor for me wont youl you I 1 dont want him to hang around with that tough gang in hi town TO BE CONTINUED |