The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-01

him stick around. now that dad
was gone, This strange feel
ing Of freedom, this sense of es-
cape, couldn't have anything to do
with heartache. Lettys folks
had lived next door to them before
her old man got caught in the
crash. Too bad, 1t had given Let
ty a taste for nice things 1t
was SO good not to have to ride
home with Phil and quarrel and
quarrel. Odd, she didn't feel
furiously angry with Phil; not any
longer. Odd, she didn't seem to
feel much of anything. Numb? No
not exdctly. Excited? That would
pass. She was not lonely, as yet.
She was not sad. She would be,
later.
The edges of the road were light
ed now; fruit and vegetable stands
were spreading on either side;
places to eat-Chicken-Chickei1--
Chicken, Places to dance; places to
get gasoline: bright. bright lights
but with big dark spaces crouch
ing among them.
emil onri -adgSbey eric
ooh" he laughed, wouldn't you
know about that?"
Ann started. For more than a
mile she had not heard a word
that he had said. I'm fraid 1
wouldn't" she answered.
"Gee!" he said. you're great!
I'll tell the world that's the best
swap / ever made in my life, and
I'm some swapping yellow-haired
boy, II do say It,"
II hope" said Ann, that
haven't made a lot of trouble for
you and Miss King and that you
get things Strengthened out
"Not a chance!" he Interrupted
happily. III acted like the devil
back there on the road, but that
was because I was sore Mt being
made a moneky of--nothing more
nor less. I guess I talked pretty
rough. I didn't know you then.
Sorry and everything" -.
"1t's all right. I think you had
reason enough to be angry"
'I'll say I did. But so did you.
All that lovey-darling baloney-on
purpose for you to hear. But you
weren't Sore
Yes, think was, I've for
gotten" -
ANY girl who'd do that to an
other rirl. horn in like that and all,
Ia a bum sport. It's not square
shooting. It's rotten - that's what
it is"
There was the explanation.
There was the reason she was
not suffering not heartbroken.
Phil had not been sporting--he
had lied to her. He was not q
square shooter, rotten - perhaps
she could forestall the heartnche
entirely. And the loneliness? And
the long days coming on to long.
long evenings? And the long, long
life? She had forgotten that life.
all of life was ahead. Life without
Phil? But that. too, could come
"Or." Kenneth said, wouldn't
YOU know about that, either?
His voice had been going on, all
this while. What had he been say
ing? What had she said before?
"Well, yes" she answered, Il might
possibly know about that"
Gee! But you are great. You
are - well, II do say 1t, you are
absolutely the most different girl
1 ever met in my life."
How restful this boy, this Funny
impossible boy was. How easily
pleased. How uncritical. There
was q poem she had read. She had
liked 1t we'll enough to copy 1t;
she had had Mary-Frances IN
mind, though 1t did not entirely
suit this boy. How had 1t gone!
"Innocently wicked - innocently
wise. Innocently impudent - in
nocently gay" That was
- 1,
he was over being cross. He was
rav CAV. The rest of the poem.
after that? Something about youth
being an alien race, speaking an
allen tongue, and then the lines
for Mary-Frances, "These are the
darlings of my heart; These are
the young"
He had come to another short
silence, and she spoke impulsively,
iYou are so young" she said.
IT like that" he disputed
youths ears are seldom tuned to
tenderness--I am not. If / do say
1t myself, I'm a lot older than you
are. Experience and everything. !
don't want to hand 1t to myself.
but Just the same :"
She let him run along with that.
She listened but lightly. She
thought only to postpone think
ing.
DO you know, girl like you.
she could really mean something
in mans life? Just having this
ride with you tonight--it's meant q
lot to me. can't tell you how
much driving with you tonight has
meant to me. 1t would mean a lot
to any man.
But" she protested, not too
tactfully, II haven't said anything
at ALL"
That's It," he pronounced. It's
what you don't say. No line - no
wisecracking, or trying to, or any
thing. It's the way you listen to q
man and understand. You - well.
you're deep. Deep. Knowing you
IL I do say 1t myself, Is like-well.
it's kind Of like going for q swim
in the surf after a fellows been
wading In a kids wading pool. Do
you know, you are the first girl
absolutely the grst girl who's come
into my life that understood, just
right off without asking questions
nor anything-well, all about me,
and my getting kicked out Of the
university and all. What you are
I know. Wait till / get the word.
Inspirational. It's what you are.
Inspirational."
Ann had no idea what to do with
that, there was 30 much of It, SO
she said nothing.
'Gee!" he said, "but you're
great"
Il suppose he said, when finally
and to Ann 1t had dragged out to