The Waterbury Democrat. [volume], February 21, 1936, Page TEN, Image 10

About The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
An Exciting Romance By The
Popular Author
BUI AMIS
WILLIAMS
Small Town Girl
Illustrated By The Celebrated
Artist
MUM MONTGOMERY
FLAGG
and
"Remembering are you?" Emily
aaked, amlllnc faintly. “Yes. Carvel
la nice, Kay!"
"Even the boealp'a really Just their
way of being Interested and friendly,
X think" Kay declared.
Kmlly shook her head, amused.
"Everyone takes some satisfaction
In other people's troubles," she ad
mitted. "That's as true in Carvel
as anywhere else, But I've been
happy here ..
Kay had her most complete sur
prise when she met Elmer Rad
ford again. She encountered him
In the pastofflce. Instead of over
alls and a broad leather belt hung
with electricians’ tools, he wore a
decent suit, and Ills nails were clean,
and he met her with no least embar
rassment.
"Hullo, Kay" he cried. "I heard
you were back! Say, it’s great to
see you." He pumped her hands
hard, looked at her with manifest
approval. "Staying long?" he de
manded. "You'd better. Carvel's
getting to be quite a summer resort,
you know."
"I’ll be here quite a while, I ex
pect," Kay told him. And she could
not wholly stifle her Incredulous
curiosity. "You’re looking fine, El
mer. Not climbing poles any more?"
"No, they dragged me Into the
office to help Mr. Pastor," Elmer
explained.
Kay cried: “Why, you mean you're
assistant superintendent?"
"Well, I suppose so," Elmer as
sented, chuckling. "When there’s
anything he doesn't want to bother
with, I do It. I’m a sort of goat,
that's all I"
Emily, later, was able to give Kay
details of Elmer's progress. "Lil
lian has told me about it,” she ex
plained. "Apparently Elmer's pretty
clever, Kay. He worked out some
device—I don't know what It was
— that the Company Is using. It
saves them a lot of money, some
how. They had him at Concord for
slg months, and then sent him back
here. Ned Pastor isn't well; and
ha expects to give up pretty soon
and go west to live, and he told me
Elmer will probably step Into hi*
shoes." She added: "Carvel's pretty
proud of Elmer, Kay I The Com
pany gave him stock, a bonus, for
this Invention of his. He's going
mighty welll"
Kay saw Elmer more and more
frequently. Lillian and Elmer came
sometimes to have supper with
Emily and Oeorge, and Kay was
likely to be there. Success, even
tha beginnings of success, had
given the boy strength without In
flation. He bore himself well; and
ha made no secret of his liking for
Kay — and at the same time never
forgot her estate as a married
woman. Once he asked If Bob
would come for part of the sum
mer; but Kay said Bob was very
busy, and It was long before Elmer
mentioned him again.
• * •
Early In Auguat, Kay had word
that Bob waa gone to Nevada, with
flahlng aa a pretext. She told her
mother; and aha triad to keep her
head high and har voice atendy,
But Mr*. Brannan with no word
took Kay In her arma, and patted
har ahoulder mutely while Kay
wept the keen edge of pain away.
••I'm a fool to cry," *he pro tented,
through her tear*, "It'a what he
had to dp. what he wa* bound to
do, what I know he would do. I'm
not going to cry any more, Mother.'1
But ahe did, and could not atop;
and Mr*. Brannan aald, "Cry, Kay.
It will be good for yau,"
"I'm an Idiot r" Kay Inalated. "It a
what I wanted him to do. I ahall
atay In Carvel, and marry Elmer,
and go on and on . ,
Mra, Brannan aald nothing, while
Kay aald many thlnga.
She told, no one elae, aa yet; not
even Emily. 8he and Elmer aaw
each other at firat Interval*, and
then more regularly; and with
Oaorge and Emily they aometlme*
made excuralona to the nearby
monutalna, to aome lake not too
lodieattc
with ingrodiont* of
Viekt VapoRub
Vicks Cough Drop
GOING TO
NEW YORKr
? ]
Stay o» thi* 32- '
itary, 1200 room
»ky»crop*r hoftl.
Th# utmoit in
hotol Iwivry.
•I doily for room
wlthprivotabofh.
Includti h»» uto
of twlmmlng
pool, gym, tolo
rlm.llororyond
roof forra eo.
The Story Thu* For
Kay Brannan. late of Wellesley, elopes with Bob
Dakin, medical doctor. He Is drunk, but sober again,
hi horrified because of Priscilla, his fiancee. Priscilla
openly Insults Kay so Bob reluctantly consents to
Kay's plea that they wait until spring for a divorce.
As the months pass Bob and Kay achieve a sort of
strained companionship. Priscilla visits Kay one day
and Bob drives her home. Hours later he returns from
a successful operation, highly jubilant. The hospital
had located him at PrisclllaTs. But in the hours of
waiting Kay has suffered. She knows now that she
loves Bob and that he loves Priscilla. She leaves bid*
ding no one goodbye but Bob’s father. In Carvel, she
settles down to a listless existence, with Elmer Radford
hovering around.
remote. Picnic suppers, swimming
parties, or outings with no pretext
at all, Emily was never active on
these occasions; she had always the
baby to tend, and she would sit
beside where he went sprawling and
creeping on the ground, while
Ocorgc and Kay and Elmer turned
to their own bents. Towards the
end of the summer, Emily some
times did not feel well enough to
go at all; and once and then again
Elmer and Kay went without the
others.
Elmer took her fishing for boss
In Coss Pond: they climbed Carvel
Dome together more than once.
On a Sunday In mld-Scptembor
they had gone thus to climb the
Dome. Elmer drove his car up a
wood road on the south side of the
mountain till the road became Im
passable; and then they went on
Afoot, and Kay, small and straight,
kept pace with his longer strides.
She was flushed and panting before
they came to the top, where n
smooth ledge caught the sun. and
on every side the forested hills ex
below them, striding up the last
pitch to the summit ledge.
Elmer was on his knees, facing
Kay, facing Bob who came up the
slope behind them. Kay, half-turn*
ed. looked over her shoulder at Bob.
And Bob, breathless and panting,
slowed uncertainly, and camo on not
so swiftly, and stood three paces
off, smiling down at Kay.
"Hullol" he said, and wiped his
brow.
Elmer scrambled to his feet, and
Kay rose. Her heart was ehoklng
her. "Hello. Bob!" she said care
fully: and then: "This Is Elmer
Radford, Bab.”
Bob shook hands with Elcmr. "I
know," he agreed. "Kay's told me
a lot about you." He wiped his
brow. "I'll have to apollglze for
following you up here. Kay, your
mother told me where you were. I
might have waited till you came
home, but I've only a little time. . ."
He spoke lamely to Elmer. "How
are you?" he asked.
Kay smiled. "He's very well,
Then she was still and
trembling (or she
saw Bob ...
tended, end Coon Pond, end the
Lake to the northward, where blue
mirror* for the *ky. They lay at
length on the *unned ledge, warm
beneath them; and with their heads
pillowed on their hand* let their
eye* drift here and there across the
wide sweep of beauty all about.
Frost a day or two before had laid
a touch of color along the hardwood
slope*.
"In another month, It will be
grand," said Elmer. "I like to come
up here in the fall."
Kay, lying beside him, looked at
him sidewise, "I never think of you
a* taking a walk Just to see the
view," she confessed, smiling,
He nodded, "There are a good
many way* you never think of me,
Kay,” lie said gently, "I used to
dream sometime* that you might,
some day.”
She met his eye* steadily; and he
sat up, leaning on one hand, looking
down at her, Then he looked away
and she could see only hi* cheek,
the side of his head, the firm line of
his Jaw, And he said slowly with
out turning back to her.
"Maybe I'm wpeutcms out oi turn.
I’m playing a hunch, Kay I Are you
going to — atoy married to Bob lor
good and all?'1
She did not anawer at once, and
he Initialed nwiftly: "DonSt tell me
unlcaa you want to! It'a none oi
my bualneaa, probably, I don’t mean
to—hurt you,"
Hie hair wan ruffled by the wind,
"I don’t mind telling you,” ahe
aald at laat, gently. "I don’t mind
telling you thl* much, Bob’a In
Reno, getting a divorce from me,
right now,"
(She aaw the quick light In El
mer'a eyea; and he leaned eloae
above her, "KayI" he cried huaklly.
"I knew It, I knew there waa aome
thing I And Kay .you know I’ve al
waya ,, ," He blurted: "Kay, when
It a done, marry me!"
Bhe watched him for a long time,
"I uaed to laugh at you, Elmer," ehc
aald, amillng faintly, "Your eara got
no red, whenever you talked to me,
But I'm not laughing at you now."
"f wlah you would," he pleaded, i
"hough at you?” ahe teaaed.
"Marry me," he Inalated,
Bhe ahook her head, "I’m atlll In
love with Bob," ahe aald gravely,
He atared at her, "What?" he
proteeted. "Then why—why are you
letting him , .," And he cried, with
a audden clumay paaalon In hla
tonca: "But Kay, will you alweya
be? Couldn't you ever let me , .
"It doean't aeem aa If I ever could
—feel differently," ahe told him.
"I know, but you might not . . ,
I mean, maybe, after a while."
Kay aat up, amoothly, facing him.
"I've done one rotten thing already,
Elmer," ahe aald honeetly, "I mar
ried Bob without loving him; but 1
won't do that to you I"
He atarted to apeak; but then hla
eyea left her face, and looked pant
her, Bhe nay hla color fade; and
ahe utrned her head to aee what It1
waa tliat had dfameyed him.
Then ahe vaa atlll and trembllug
for ahe aaw Bob, two or three roda
thank you, Bob,” she retorted,
amused. "And so am I, You look—
a little tired. I thought you were
out West, fishing, on vacation."
« i had to come back for a few
days.”
Elmer said awkwardly: "Dr. Da
kin, we were Just talking about
you.” He looked at Kay, and
grinned. • “You two will want to —
have a visit together,” he decided,
and he asked Bob: "You've got
your car?"
"Oh, yes," Bob assured him, "I
left It down by yours."
"Then you can fetch Kay back to
town. I'll go along.”
He started to move away: but Bob
said thoughtfully: "Hold on! I didn't
mean to—butt In on you. I Just
happened to be in the neighborhood,
wanted to say hello to Kay. But
you don't need to run away."
"That's all right,” Elmer Insisted.
His cheek was pale, "I know she’s
glad to see you. I’ll go along,”
And he went, with no further
word, He strode down the sloping
ledge and across the descending
pasture land to the border of the
wood; he looked back and lifted his
hand to them, where they stood
watching him; and then he disap
peared among the cloaking spruces
and was gone. They were alone
upon the round summit of Carvel
Dome, the world far away below
them, the clouds and the bright sky
above their heads, A light wind
blew here; but Coos Pond In the
valley lay like a mirror now, no
current riffling It* surface. To the
west, the valleys were deep with
color, and the shadow* reached to
ward where they stood.
Elmer disappeared; and Kay
turned composedly to face Bob. "Hit
down?" she suggested. Bob obeyed,
and she seated herself beside him
and said reflectively: "I've always
liked to cflmb up here, with some
one, or alone, and Just sit and —
watch the shadows move,”
He nodded. "It's a grand view I”
he agreed.
She said nothing; and presently
he looked behind them toward where
Elmer was gone, “Nice of him to
pull out," he remarked,
"Elmer's very thoughtful and con
siderate,'1 she agreed. "I’ve grown
so. fond of him,” And she said, a
mischievous light In her eye*
averted from his; 'He has come
ahead pretty fast. Invented some
thing or other that the Power Com
pany thinks is pretty important,
and he's assistant superintendent at
the plant here now, and slated to
be in charge. Elmer's going to be
a big man.” Her heart was racing,
but her tone* were calm.
"I liked his looks,” Bob agreed.
"I used to be amused at him,” she
confessed. "He was a funny, em
barrassed youngster. He’s always
been crazy about me, of course; and
since I came home , .
' . .
Cff APTIVl XXX
Kay did not finish the sentence,!
left him to find the fitting words !
Bob chuckled u thou(h at aone
rich Jest which only he couM know.
'Why, that'a treat." he told her
steadily. "I’m (lad (or you I"
There was Uchen. close growint.
on the ledte on which they eat. She
picked email bite of It free with
her finger nail, and nibbed them
Into little balls between thumb and
finger.
"I’m glad you’re going to be-all
right,” he oaM.
"All right?” she echoed, and
looked at him with dancing eyes.
"Why, I’m perfect, Bob.”
He nodded. "I want things to be
the way you want them,” he ex
plained. He added, slowly: "It’s all
set, Kay! I’ve been In Reno for
several weeks, you know. The case
comes up next week; and will go
through without any trouble and
without much publicity. I suppose
there will be a little something In
the Boston papers.”
"Naturally,” she assented. "It’s
too bad for you, but people will
forget I”
•But I had a fool notion," he
admitted, his cheek ablase, "that I’d
better see you, first, and make sure
It was what you wanted."
"You’ve been so considerate of
me, always," she told him grate
fully. "You’ve been mighty decent
Bob. I appreciate It”
"So I came East by plane,” he
explained. "Drove up to see you.
Now that I know everytihng is all
right with you, I'll hop back out
there and clean everything up right
away!”
She flipped a bit of lichen away
from her and watched it roll down
the ledge, and looked at him
thoughtfully. Then she smiled.
"You mean, all right because of
Elmer?" she suggested straightfor
wardly.
"Why yes," he said, with honest
good will. "He seems like a first
rate chap. I'm glad for you."
"He has asked me to marry him.”
she confessed. “If that's what you
mean.” And she added: "We were
—discussing it, when you came. Of
course, Elmer never forgot you,
never forgot I was married. He
seemed to suspect that things
weren't quite right between you and
me; but—he's never made love to
me. But I expect when I'm free ..”
Bob did not speak, nor for a while
did she. Then he laughed shortly;
and she asked:
"What is it? What is—funny?"
"I was Just thinking that Elmer
and I are in the same boat,” he
told her. "I mean, neither of us
has ever made love to you."
She smiled. "That's so!” she
agreed.
Her eyes were averted, and he
said uncertainly: "Perhaps if I had,
things would have turned out dif
ferently.”
She watched the toe of her stout
walking shoe; she turned tier foot
this way and that, as though inter
ested in the line of her ankle. And
after a moment she said quietly:
"You didn't need to, Bob."
• • •
He was rigid beside her. She felt
his eyes upon her. felt her cheeks
bum uncontrollabyy. He said in a
husky voice:
"Kay, what do you mean?”
"I Just mean, there wasn’t any
obligation on you to — do that,"
she said, in a half panic. "Just be
cause we were married."
He touched her arm. "Kay?” he
demanded. "Kay!" And when she
did not lo&k at him. he cried: "That
wasn't what you meant, at alii”
So she turned toward him slowly
at last, and Ills face blurred before
her eyes. She shook her head. "No,"
she admitted. "That wasn't what I
meant.”
And she said honestly: "I meant,
you didn't have to make love to me
"Tell me the truth,
him. "I’ve told you.
me. Why did you
duyr
nit eyes were
he mated
"But — Ml met
you tell
"Too
a UtUe Ucfat. I wu a rascal to do
toot and you onto a hussy. You
and I at* Just a couple of outra**
out people, ctaar outside tot polo
at decency!”
I like It" eb
He chuckled. "And toon — we
ao alee to me,"
n hop* th«r stn
he paid.
about your people? 1
. -other. Z oouMnt tell
_«u thinking, Jeff; but I'm
tnc shell — approve of me. Do
know all about lt?“
"Mtoher
t fill .1 IS s
can't believe it hai
me." And she aaid: "Emily
and married, and X wouldn't
home, but we're both aU :
now! It doeen’t aeem to matt
doee it, email town or Mg town."
•Tye told you before, Kay," hee
mother reminded her, "that it isn’t
where you do a thing: It’s what
you da Now slice the bread and
well be ready, child I"
• • •
Bob and Kay had that night thi
“I wonder If you’d bo on nice to klw an I think!”
//#/ 1
*C*njO»»O'
And he said slowly, looking down
Into the valley far below them:
"Why. after you left, I was — sore
as a boil at you! I cut loose. Kay.
Pretending I didn't care, pretending
I was glad. And then I went to
Reno and established a residence
there. Fished and gambled, and
flirted with — the sort of women
you find there. And started pro
ceedings;. and three days ago I got
notice that our case would come up I
neat week."
He hesitated. "Well. I went into
a panic," he confessed. "The
thought of letting you go, for good
and all. was too much for me. I
woke up, Kay, to what I was losing:
and I thought there might still be
a chance for me. So I flew back
here to see you, to And out, to beg
you . . ." His voice failed.
To beg me for what," she
prompted.
"For everything!" he whispered.
She said gravely: "Bob, there
needn't be any — pretending be
tween us, I love you, and you love
me.”
He laughed, like a man freed
after long captivity. He laughed,
and stretched his arms wide, and
hugged his knees. He looked at her
with twinkling eyes. "How arc you
so sure about me," he demanded,
chuckling.
‘You wore so darned noble about
giving me up to Elmer!" she told
him. "It stuck out all over you!"
He nodded; and after a moment
he said soberly: "You know, I can’t
help seeing the funny side of this.
both went noble!” He said soberly:;
"I liked that, Jeff. I liked the feel
ing of behaving myself, and work
ing hard and being with yon.”
She laughed happily. “You i
haven't called me Jeff since before .
we were married!" she e:;ciaimd.
'At first it was 'Jeff', and then it
was 'Miss Brannan.' andd then fin
ally it did get to be plain 'Kay.* ”
“Like Jeff better." he demanded?
“It was Jeff who married you."
she retorted.
He chuckled: and he leaned
nearer her. looking at her deeply.
“You know what I'm wondering?"
he asked.
She shook her head. "I haven't
the least Idea,’ she mendaciously
assured him.
“I’m wondering," he said. “If
you’re going to be as sweet to kiss
as I think you're going to be."
•I don’t see how you can ever
find out," site told him, laughingly.
“I'm really curious about It," he
insisted seriously, and she said:
“Well, it's high Ume you were, it
scents to me!"
• • •
Their thoughts and their words
for a while thereafter concerned
themselves alone; but by and by
she confessed: “I'm thinking about
your father and mother. Bob, will
they be sorry?"
He shook his head confidently.
•I saw father this morning," he ex
plained. “He told me where to find
you!”
’Knew you were coming up here?
Knew what you meant to do? • she
insisted.
added: “You'll like mother — and t
father. And Emily!"
He stirred. "Let s go tell them. !
It will be cold up here, soon."
• • *
So they went, with many pauses,
down through the dusky wood to
where his car was waiting, and-thus
they came home to the big brick
ended house where the rivers meet
to make the Weare. Kay took Bob
Into the kitchen where her mother
was: and she said simply:
“This la my husband, motherl”
“Oh. 1 Introduced myself, this
afternoon," Bob explained, and he
kissed Mrs. Brennan on the cheek.
The older woman smiled faintly.
"But 1 didn't know then that you
were Kay's husband," she said. "Of
course, I knew your name ..."
Kay cried swiftly: "Everything’s
fine, motherl Settled for good and
all."
Mrs. Brannan for a moment did
not speak, and Kay saw her color
return. Then she said: "Take Bob
to your father, Kay. Then you can
help me with supper here ...”
• • •
So Kay and Bob went to find Will
Brannan; and when Kay came back
to the kitchen, there were happy
tears In her eyes. She found Mrs.
Brannan busy, and smiling at her
own thoughts; and Kay whispered:
"I’m happy, motherl”
Mrs. Brannan chuckled. "X see
yuo are,” she assented. "But—the
water’s boiling, Kay 1 retch the
tote"
Kay, busy, confessed; “I still
room Kay and Emily had used to
share, the big room toward the
river; and when they had turned
out the lights and Bob went to open
the windows, Kay came to stand
beside him. They heard Rapid
River tumbling down the last quick
water close below the house.
“I used to make up words to that
music, when I was a little girl,” Kay
said softly. "Used to sing myself U
sleep with them!" She smiled in the
darkness. “The two rivers meel
here, you know, and make the
Wearc. New Hampshire people al
ways say -the Weare rises down
back of Cap's Somes's baml”
“He was your grandfather, wasn’t
he?”
Kay said: “YesI A sea captain,
but he left the sea.”
He held her close. ‘‘We’ll stay
here a few days, shall we, Jeff?’
he proposed. "You're—lovely, here I
Like a picture In its proper frame.’
"If you like," she agreed, and
added: "Whatever you like, my
dearI"
He hissed her; and in his amu
she laughed a little breathlessly
and said: "You've no longer any
scruples against making love t<
your wife, it seems to me."
He chuckled: but when he ans
wered her his voice was shaken
so that she scarcely heard hit
words. The night was warm aw
still. Below their window, ttM
running river sang,
corviafet sa»i tr an a. wiiiismi
THE END
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That's why. without even considering the beauty
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Before you choose any car, learn at first-hand whet
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\alue far beyond the Price
mu
and or, r. a §, omen—
OW TWP. Mn—FORI) SYMPHONY OMMim*, MIWDAYt » P. M. t. ». T.. COUMW* NlTWOW-rM» WAKING. TUMDttl an ,