Show 8 y H T MARY SCHUMANN A copyright by smith co service CHAPTER VII continued 16 the afternoon over she was dizzy with remorse and told herself she was a weak voluptuous woman like her mother she see him again but she did it became imperative for her to see him fright ened she sent for him to exact his promise to be discreet it was very easy to allow cun to take her in his arms while he vowed his discretion sometimes she he had moods of self loathing when she met some new evidence of hughs affection or of his mothers confide confidence abc acc in in her finally these ceased altogether there were no more struggles to attain the shore she was swe swept pt along by a deep and dangerous current the stolen love stimulated her whole being and life was only a frantic waiting until the next meeting could be arranged with some degree ol of safety her feeling for hugh progressed through several phases apology and pity at first then resentment that he should possess her personality and finally hatred where she magnified trifles seized on each variance of opinion and attitude to bolster up her own position she had come to the point where she felt it would be a kind of pleasure to have hugh know she had often wanted to tell him watch his smug assurance that he could fill her life fall away the sunday morning after her declaration to him she awoke late the chromium framed little clock pointed to ten she looked over sleepily the bed beside her had not been occupied then she remembered and sat up abruptly last night joan and hugh had been in the kitchen it seemed long at the time but perhaps it was a half hour she and cun sitting on the love seat at the far end of the dimly lighted room drugged by caresses whispering had been rather oblivious they were confident that at the sound of returning voices or footsteps they could rise rise and casually survey a book a picture then hughs car ha had s started t art and he had driven past the windows on the drive cun got up and went out to the kitchen he came back with his forehead knitted hugh was sick joan says he must have gone home funny it I 1 wonder what could he have looked in the window no the blinds are down 4 where is joan out there sitting in a chair do you think she felt guilty and uncomfortable then joan had come in hugh had suddenly complained of feeling sick had gone out the back door cun could drive dorrie over if she felt she must go on the way home cun who had recovered his SP spilios ilits r reassured her hugh was too stupid to suspect anything honestly it made him laugh the way she led that fellow around and probably he gone home om e just to a drug store for some medicine why wo worry nothing to worry about at the worst she could f fix ix up a story make him swallow it he had been with joan a half a dozen times when she had been uneasy questioned him A smart girl joan but gullible hed call her on mond monday ay at the same time hugh there ther e or other company say wrong nui nU iber ILber and hed try later she rose and putting on slippers and a negligee ascertained that he was not in the house his car was wads gone from the garage her fingers trembled as she dialed cuns auns number she hoped joan would not answer in a few seconds second s she heard cuns auns cheerful voice hello cun I 1 must see you at once he hesitated then said 1 I dont hear you very well come over I 1 must see you he hesitated again before he replied im not in the marke for a bargain in a car I 1 expect to run my bus until next spring at least I 1 might drop around and look it over r however this years model and only gone two thousand miles ill see you a little later he came in less than halt half an hour he was freshly shaved looked carefree florid and anticipatory he smiled as he entered the door not here no no one is he flung his hat on the hall seat and with his arm around her drew her into the living room she faced him determinedly cun hugh knows he saw us last night the deuce chedid he did didt he was packing his bags when I 1 got home I 1 got him to stay the night but he was gone before I 1 awakened this morning cun whistled did he take his things a no still here he relaxed from his tense attitude shrugged his shoulders 1 I suppose he was furious looking in on our little party but he really know anything you can handle him all right but it m means eans well have to be more careful in the future dorrie felt a nervous doubt of cun assail her but he does know I 1 told him he stared at her unbelieving my god dorrie you told h him im is ane answered a little sullenly 1 I ty I 1 1 you sou wont let me ale down cun lost my head I 1 suppose I 1 was tired of all this pretending what was the need of it this is awkward do you realize what the consequences may be hughs not a bad fellow j i might like him if he married marri eFto to you and theres joan and ane town and my company he seemed positively edgy and there was a queer critical curve to his lip she turned away you dont love me he drew her back to him his eyes still troubled im out of my head about you you know it you dear golden fahed hail ed circe but just the same just the same what dorrie dome insisted tautly youve got us into a sweet mess when it necessary im awfully fond of joan as ive often told you ive outgrown her kid marriage but there are complications alimony you know joan a cent and im not making a princely salary perhaps she wont ask any said dorrie hopefully cant count on that dorrie looked about her im awfully fond of my J home he let me get just what I 1 wanted he take it could he her voice quavered afraid he could although I 1 imagine hugh would be awfully decent cen t 1 she buried ler head on his shoulder 1 I dont care about anything only you she whispered 1 I want to be with you his arm tightened about her then she felt an unease in his muscles this is darn dangerous my being here he whispered as he kissed her and released her but youre a dangerous woman going she faltered but we settled anything Y you au told me what to do he paused on his way to the door ill have to taink anaut it and by the way better not call me at the office again ill find a way to call you he picked up his hat she felt she could not let him go she who was so chary of caresses felt an irresistible longing to hay have e his arms about her her lips trem bled with appeal you wort let me down cun ive grown to love you so terribly I 1 thought be glad we were free of all this hiding youve said so often give anything if I 1 could be your wife he answered with vehement ardor darling id lay down my life for you she gave a gasp of relief she loved every motion of his quick agile body loved his gaiety his carelessness his fire that kindled in her an ungovernable passion she would give up her home her matching rugs and draperies her duncan furniture her silver everything if only she could have him when shall we see each other again he twirled his hat dorrie you must be a good girl be sane and sensible yes yes now youve been rash about hugh my advice is to fix it up hell overlook it he s crazy about you he stopped at the expression on her face love you precious good lord yes but I 1 cant move hand or foot bowl now well not see each other for a while perhaps s things will blow over he was shedding things thing with his easy optimism escaping her she watched him go with P hurt curve on her red lips and a stony feeling in her chest her thought flew here and there like frantic caged birds hugh there was only hugh TO BE CONTINUED |