The Dark Passage — Alice Lent Covert

Marian Shelby and Alex Converse had been childhood sweethearts, and their love had bloomed with them into adulthood. Radiant and happy, Marian had no doubt that her marriage to Alex would be a good one.

Then flamboyant Kit Stewart entered the picture. Marian could hardly believe she was falling in love with him, but she found his persistent attention irresistible. Almost before she knew what was happening, Marian and Kit were married and Alex was a thing of the past.

But that was a long time ago. Marian had learned the hard way just what kind of man Kit was. She was getting over the heartbreak and rediscovering Alex, when Kit came charging into her life...once more.

Marian Shelby and Alex Converse had been in love ever sine they were grade-school pupils together in the Midwestern suburb of Lichester. And when they were old enough, they became engaged. Alex was studying to be a lawyer, and a successful and happy future for Alex and Marian seemed assured.

Then Christopher Stewart, who had moved to Lichester with his widowed mother several years before, saw Marian--seemingly for the first time. Perhaps it was because of her new radiance made her so lovely; perhaps it was because Christopher wanted anything that belonged to someone else... Whatever it was, Marian forgot everything for the fascinating Kit.

Kit and Marian were happy those first few years. But the dullness of what Marian considered and "average" marriage palled after a while for Kit. If beautiful Angie McManus had not come along just then, it would have been someone else. And Marian, her pride hurt, would not fight to hold him...

Again paired with the faithful Alex, Marian was beginning to picture a new life for herself in Washington as the wife of a brilliant young lawyer, when Kit, injured in an automobile accident, insisted that she be sent for...

Hero: Alex Converse
Heroine: Marian Shelby Stewart