Seasons of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

dress.”
    Nevertheless, one afternoon the next week as Stella walked out through the employees’ service door, she found Roger Haas waiting out by the curb. He was even more handsome than she remembered.
    “I just happened to be passing,” he said, “and thought that maybe if you weren’t busy for dinner this evening, I might have the pleasure of taking you out.”
    She had no idea what she said, but it must have been yes, because a short time later she found herself sitting across the table from him in the dimly lit dining room of the Palace Court. It was so elegant, and Roger was so attentive, that Stella was swept off her feet. She was entirely ready to believe that he was smitten with her.
    Later that evening Stella never stopped to wonder whether it was naive to allow herself to be seduced by Roger. She only knew that he thrilled and excited her more than she had ever dreamed possible. And she had every reason to suspect that Roger was in love with her. Just a few days later he declared, “I’m mad about you, Stella. Come live with me.”
    But however persuasively Roger argued, Stella couldn’t bring herself to live with him publicly unless they were married. In spite of the loosening of morals that followed the first world war, Stella was basically conventional. Finally they reached a compromise: Roger found her a tiny apartment near the beach and she became his mistress. He stayed with her almost every night until the small hours of the morning, but always left before dawn.
    At first it was sheer ecstasy. Months passed and everything was wonderful. Then one evening Stella said, “Roger, there’s something we have to talk about.”
    “What’s that, Stella, my love?”
    “Well”—she smiled up at him—“I think that the time has come for us to get married.”
    He disengaged himself from her embrace, got out of bed, and slipped into his robe. “What brought this on?” he asked.
    “Roger, I just can’t go on this way.”
    “Oh? I thought you were happy.”
    “I am happy when we’re together, but I’m devastated whenever you leave. I love you, Roger.”
    “And I love you, too, Stella. In fact, I adore you.”
    “Then prove it.”
    Roger poured himself a drink from the bottle of brandy on the bedside table. Why had he been foolish enough to assume that Stella would be content to go on like this indefinitely? He took a sip. “Darling, this isn’t like you at all.”
    “How would you know what’s like me or not?” Stella asked bitterly.
    “Well, my dear, we’ve gotten to know each other rather well these last six months.”
    “Well, then—how much longer do we have to know each other before we get married?”
    “Stella, my love, I never promised you anything like that.”
    “Maybe not,” Stella cried, “but things have changed!” She had hoped that it would be unnecessary to force his hand. Roger had been so wonderful, so generous and considerate. But it seemed she would have to tell him her secret. Painfully, she blurted out, “Roger, I’m pregnant.”
    Dear God, Roger thought, how could I have been so stupid as to fall in love with this girl? Personally, he didn’t give a damn that she had no background, no education. To him, she was as elegant and refined as any of the society girls Eva paraded before him. As lovely as Peggy Morgenthau, to whom Eva was currently urging him to propose. But he knew Eva would have a fit if he suggested marrying Stella, and he also knew he did not have the guts to defy his sister. She had been a mother to him. She was the one who had loved him and reared him.
    When he finally recovered his composure, he said gently, “I’m sorry, Stella … truly. But, darling, I just cannot marry you.”
    “Can’t? Or won’t?” she cried out. “For God’s sake, Roger! I’m pregnant, can’t you understand that? This is your child!”
    “I know,” he said quietly.
    “Then marry me for the baby’s sake.”
    Roger looked at her, not saying a word.
    On the