Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04

Charlie Demar rose with an offhand, ooh,
sure That's reasonable enough"
Ethel didn't like it very well. Her pretty
mouth had set a little. Not much. Just q
little. But Nathan had reason to know the
sign. He was looking at her with new eyes.
AS if he'd never seen her before.
''Wel?" she asked, no smiling -. aren't
you going to sit DOWN."
Ethel" he said, looking straight down at
her. Il want to talk with you. Not long.
Ten minutes or so. Well have to go some
where"
I'VE can talk here" said she, with an air
Of resigning herself to fate
mo. This won't do. You brought your car,
didn't you. Isn't it on the forward deck?"
That startled her. I'm certainly not going
down there"
You evidently don't quite understand, Ethel.
I intend that you shall understand. You have
a perfect right to make any decision you
choose. grant that But. if you refuse to do
as ask now, why. that's all.''
She knit her brows.
IT mean shall never bother you again.
We can very easily slip down there and sit q
few moments in your car. Nobodyd see US.
I'd feel free to say the thing that's on my
mind. I can't say it here. won't try. But,
If you fatty refuse . j. well, it's the last thing
shall ever ask I'm through"
not trying to say that our friendship could
hang on an absurd"
He broke in, but without hurry or excite
ment, "Iu tell you what I'll do I'll 60 down
there now. Find the car and sit in 1t, say
he glanced at the watch ON bis wrist-'Tu sit
there Is minutes. II you don't come then I'll
accept 1t as an answer. It'll be quite all right.
But it will mean that shall never bother you
again. Our friendship does hang on it. I'm
not planning petting party. No fear! But
what I've got to say is altogether too peculiar
and important for place like this I'm going
now. III wait exactly IS minutes. After that,
If you haven't come. you're free Of me forever"
With which he walked away
HERE was lobby ON the main deck aft
at the foot Of she saloon stairway. The
barber shop. There was a passage beside the
stairway and the engine room leading to a door.
He opened that door and found himself in
the darkish forward space where all the ears
were slowed those for Nantucket in the ex-
treae rear, right at hand. He found the
familiar green sedan and got in. Looked at
his watch. Settled back to wait.
The car door opened. Ethel got in she
looked blazing mad. Nathan" she said, t'itis
simply not fair of you to-"
WAIT" said he, gravely. at was nice OF
you to come" he said. 1T won't take me long
to say what's on my mind. And it won't hurt
you to listen You're perfectly free to do as
you like. But, as I told you, I'm through.
You've kept me dangling for o year. I'm
through. love you You know that"
"Oh, Nathan, for heavens sakeI I didn't
come here To-"
Let me finish, please. You don't know why
I've hung on so. I'll tell you. It's because
you seemed decent and steady and fine I've
been unhappy. I've longed for something.
somebody stable to tie up to. Somebody I
could work for, slave for. helpmate. I'm
pretty old-fashioned. you know. want you.
Want to marry you I've made plans I'm
going back to Bedford with this boat EheW
be at Nantucket only an hour or SO. Tn goinR
back with her. And you're coming with me
today"