Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-09-12
%%5'Hdzz4u00d]. 81. Story

under any obligation to him. For
one thing. he thought, It rather
complicated the thing that he want
ed 10 say TO her, and 1t probably
would be said awkwardly enough al
best.
Reclining behind the wheel. he
gazed up at the sky, and presently
ne said, without turning his head:
Anne. how would you like to get
married?"
why. DAN" she laughed, is
that a proposal?"
You're darn right IL Is"
Well, ! never heard such a cas-
ual one in my life, i must say"
1T might sound casual" he said.
rolling his head over to look at
her. but there's plenty Of stuff be-
hind it."
Anne made a sound with her
tongue. "Tchk. Such slangl"
Dan smiled. and then ne 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 il;
you've known IL for a long time.
too. Now. what am ! going to do
about it?"
He waited then for her reply. and
Anne said why. DAM confused
iy. and nothing lore. She turned
her 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 1t for a pretty long time. but
II had 70 come out sooner or later.
I'm in love with you. I can't help
1t. 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. ! man
aged % KEEP quiet about II, but"
Anne interrupted him with a
vehement shake OF her head. oh.
Dan. that wouldn't have made any
difference-not a bit. You Just
don't understand"
We'll. II did to ne, Il made a
lot OF difference. You know. Anne
you told me a little while back
that you sometimes thought 7 did
Mt care what happened-whethe.
I went over or not-but you weIS
wrong. ! had plenty Of reason for
csring What don't I understand"
ne asked abruptly.
oh. just-she swung around
and faced him-just that I'm be-
wiidered and don't know what to
say. Her wide dark eyes wore a
worried look. She smiled nervous
y and repeated: Il don't know
what 70 say"
Well, it's either yes or no. isn't
it2' Dan laughed shortly. "Per-
hans you near you don't want 20
hurt my feelings-is that it2"
That was not II al all, Anne &C.
MED. IL tnlhk you're rather cruel
10 saw that. DaA." And she tried
TO exrlain then that marri1- e was
something tina. she thought of only
as a dim far-cff prospect as some
thing probably eventual. but re
mote from her present scheme. she
said. rather alphabetically, as
though there might be something
not exactly normal in the admis-
sion. that she had set her mind
upon q career. and that perhaps
she had made a mistake and let II
matter too much.
She tried to smile. Anyway. Dan,
that's the way ! feel-if you can
make any M out OF what I said
And that's why I've been rather
afraid OF your saying what you did
I had hoped you wouldn't some
how. until I was surer Of myself
I like you. DAM like you tre-
rlerdously. But I'm not az all sure
that I'm in love with you"
Dan said. with a shrug and q
queer little smile: We'll. II you're
not sure. I guess you're not; J
think you'd know. all right. II you
were" and be pulled out a cigarei
and lighted II.
And Anne. watching his face, re-
marked the set look about hi:
mouth ard laid a hand caressingly
On his arm. You understand. don''
YOU, DAMP" she asked a~nxiously
We needn't be so utterly seriou:
about it. need we?"