Follow a Stranger

sharply.

“Then don’t you ever again suggest that I could live

without you,” he said deeply.

She relaxed against him. “Just as you say, my

darling,” she whispered.

And Marc laughed, softly, and began to kiss her again

with a passion that convinced her that any further

argument would be a waste of time.

Next day he called for her, at the Murray apartment,

and drove her to his Paris home, to meet his mother

again. Mrs. Lillitos was overjoyed by their news. She

welcomed Kate with open arms, her eyes filled with

tears.

“I am so glad! I knew you were the girl for my son

when I first met you. The way he looked at you, spoke to

you, and of you—I could not be mistaken. But then you

told me you were engaged, and I was worried and

unhappy. I foresaw grief for Marc.”

Marc looked down at Kate with amused eyes. “How

right you were, too, Mother! She has given me more

headaches than any business deal I ever put through.

But I’ve got her now, and I mean to keep her!”

Kate grimaced up at him. “You talk as though I were a

valuable piece of property instead of a person!”

“You are valuable, to me,” he teased, and his mocking

eyes brought hot colour into her cheeks. “And as for not

being a person ... if you have forgotten how human I can

be then I’ll have to take you out and show you all over

again, and it will be a pleasure, I assure you!”

“Children, children,” said his mother gently, smiling at