Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-05-15
CHAPTER XIII

weeping stOrmily, her slim shoulders
shaken with her sobs, while Eddy
stood awkwardly before her, sadly
watching. After a while, unnoticed.
he sank down beside her, and waited
for the passion of her emotion to
spend itself, and at last, unobtrusive-
ly, he put his arm about her, by gentle
pressure drawing her from the shabby
slken cushions to his shoulder.
Don't cry, Ginger. 1t isn't so bad.
They'll fix 1t up all right, and no one
will ever know. Your father will just
have to assure your good conduct In
the future, that's all. Don't cry"
Ginger was not to be comforted
Her beautiful dream was dead-nay,
had been ruthlessly murdered, choked
by coarse hands, crushed by heavy
heel. All that she had hoped for,
planned for, worked for, had come to
naught.
1T was so beautiful" she sobbed.
1T was just beautiful while II lasted
And now 1t is only ridiculous"
"Oh, no, Ginger. Nothing can be
ridiculous that Is done In love-" he said
wisely.
She squirmed uncOmfortably. "Oh,
| did it in love-" she admitted, but
l was pretty stuck on myself for doing
it, just the same. was awfully
hipped on myself thought ! was
pretty smart all right"
ssVaIl n In no
said carefully. "Of course, it was
wrong, tOo-in q way. 1t really was
false pretenses-and using the mails
to defraud, and all that. But you
didn't know 1t was wrong"
But Ginger was not willing to be
lifted ever so little from the depths
of her establishment.
swell, | wasn't at all sure it was
right" she confessed ruefully. 81 al
ways felt ashamed because the people
said such kind things in their letters.
and l knew they were being fooled
But told myself that such good
man as father, and minister and
all, had a right to be taken care of.
And / tried to tell father about II.
but-always didn't. | told myself
wanted to surprise him later On-but
! think I knew he wouldn't LEI me-"
"The trouble with you, Ginger. is
your mathematics" he said very
gently.
She gazed at him a moment in
speechless wonder.
"Math-"
"Yes. You know that whole lie
is wrong-but you figure thai half
lie is no lie at ALL rve-er-noticed
that about you several times"
Ginger smiled TREMENDOUSLY at that.
and fresh rain Of tears swept her
face.
81 know It," she confessed abjectly,
II know it, But II Is so much easier
to get what you want that way"
"Oh, Ginger!"
How Ginger wept! The past was
a wreckage of delicate dreams, the
present a wave Of establishment. the
future swept bare by the relentless
winds Of certain privation.
"Oh, Eddy. can't stand 1T sim
| ply can't!'
Slowly, very gently. he turned her
head upon his shoulder, lifted her
face to his. and, for the first time.
kissed the trembling. tear-wet lips
Ginger's hand gripped his shoulder.
He held her close In his arms. moved
his lips gently across her wet cheek
pressed them upon the damp curls
that clustered at her temple The
slender little figure grew suddenly
| tense in his arms. her hand chung to
| his shoulder. AT long still mo-
/ ment she drew away from him. slow.
i ly, and looked at him mistily, with
troubled eyes. whose tears seemed lost
In wonder Eddy did not finch be
fore that wide-eyed questioning gaze
Firmly he patted away the last OF
her tears, and then. almost defiantly
before her very eyes, he leaned
toward her. kissed her again She did
not protest. When he released her
she lay Imply In his arm. her face
close to his face, and stared as one
Ill