New Britain herald., 1930-09-09

and there they swung down to the beach. The ocean lay in front of them, heaving and murmuring with whispered song and bearing a grateful breeze to them. And there they sat and talked for a while in muted voices, but present. ly both were silent with thoughts of their own.
 Dan smoked, and after a while Anne stirred ands said the ocean was like that. Tt takes all the talk out of you, doesn't it? I mean at night. In the daytime it's a gay, frolicking thing, but at night it's so solemn. It seems to be saying hush all the time."
 That's very true" he gravely agreed, and he took her hand and held it in his own and seemed to be studying it. And finally he looked up at her face again. T was just thinking, Anne. You've come long way since that first night we came down here"
 And you too, Dan," she smiled.
 No, it's different. I had every thing in my favor to begin with, and I came very near to making a mess of it."
 But you didn't. You've done something to be proud of. And where would I have been if it hadn't been for you?"
 Do,, el,r svo, ,,,,,,,,@ ro., that. Sooner or later they'd have found out what you're capable of Why, all I did was to put them wise to themselves.
 Anne gave a little pressure to the hand that was holding hers. It was just like him, she said soft ly, not to want any credit for what he had done.
 And Dan insisted that none be- longed to him. He told her again anyway. He didn't want her to feel under any obligation to him. For one thing, he thought, it rather complicated the thing that he want ed to say to her, and it probably would be said awkwardiy enough at best.
 Reclining behind the wheel he Gazed up at the sky, and presently he said, without turning his head:
 Anne. how would you like to get married?" y
 Why, Dan," she laughed, lis that a proposal?"
 You're darn right it is"
 well, 1 never heard such a cas- ual one in my life, I must say"
 Tt might sound casual" he said, rolling his head over to look at her, but there's plenty of stuff behind it."
 Anne made sound with her tong. "Tchk Such slang!"
 Dan smiled. and then he became suddenly serious. Now, look here, Anne. Tonights the night we get the record clear. There's no use kidding ourselves any longer. I'm crazy about you and you know it. you've known it for a long time, too. Now what am I going to do about it?"
 He waited then for her reply, and Anne said why, Dan," confused ly, and nothing more. She turned Ter eyes away and looked troubled.
 Dan said gravely, You knew it would have to come out sooner or later. Anne. You've kept me from saying it for a pretty long time, but it had 10 come out sooner or later. I'm in love with you. I can't help it, Anne; I just am."
 He waited for her again, but she continued to gaze ahead of her to- ward the dark ocean. and so he spoke again.
 There for a while. when things weren't breaking for me. l man. aged to keep quiet about it, but"
 Anne interrupted him with a vehement shake of her head. "Oh. Dan, that wouldn't have made any don't understand"
 Well. 1t did to me; 1t made. lot of difference. You know, Anne, you told me a little while back that you sometimes thought I didn't care what happened-whether ] went over or. not-but you were wrong. l had plenty of reason for caring. .. What don't I under stand ?" he asked abruptly.
 "Oh, just" - she swung around and faced him just that I'm be- wildered and don't know what to say" Her wide dark eyes wore a worried look. She smiled nervous ly and repeated: T don't know what to say
 Well, it's either yes or no, isn't