Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-21
Chapter V

Over tall stems and thick steaks
with onions, neither was inclined to
lament coming on wild goose chase.
Despite his annoyance, Merle faced
the rather disquieting fact that he had
had fine time. He had been having
fine time all day. It had been many
moons since he'd been able to relax
completely, without thought of the
proper, the shrewd, the profitable
thing to say.
The last time he had been in Hc-
boken his host had been the editor
of Forsythe's Magazine and he had
been preoccupied throughout the meal
with making a favorable impression,
and of course, even with Sonia, he
had to be on his guard lest, he do or
say something to impair their splen-
did relationship. She was tempera-
ment, highly organized.
They sat with their coffee cozily
Merle knew Sonia had probably called
and been disappointed to find him out,
but, after all, there were years for
Sonia and not long for Mary-Lou. 1t
would, he treasured himself, be
tonic to give himself this day with
her. Undoubtedly they'd quarrel
again fiercely before they parted, and
when he got home he'd experience
surge of relief that she was gone.
He'd go to the phone, call Sonia, and
tell her, perhaps, all about what he'd
been through. They'd smile about it
together.
"Now," Mary-Lou purred, shaking
her head slowly up and down in a
sort of rapt languor- "now you're
your old self again. I thought for
a while didn't like you any more.
You know, I like to eat with you.
You're fine person to eat with,
somehow, or other"
She smiled, and Merle leaned to-
ward her intently. "Big Eyes,, he
said, and gave short laugh in his
throat that would not, casual as it |
was, sound right. He'd call her Big
Eyes endearingly in the old days. He
saw quickly that he shouldn't do it
again. 1t did things to him. Resur-
rections.
And all the time he was mentally
kicking himself for being a sentiment
tai fool. Mary-Lou's face grew pink
and then pale.
merle, I hope we'll always be
friends, darling. Because I'm going
to marry Noel Goss sometime in the
spring"
He jerked up in his chair, rafting
his coffee cup with an elbow.
you're not! Why, Goss is years
older than you! Good heavens, honey,
you can't marry him!"
81 like him." she stated levelly.
81 like him lot. He's been around
and he's got some sense. He'll make
good sort of husband. You know
there was only one other kind for
me-some crazy Teller like YOU" She
smiled tiredly. "And I'd never be
happy for long with anybody like
that"
He didn't reply Immediately. He
began to describe little person on
the cloth with spoon. He had been
so proud and sure, but now the high
wind had died. He was abruptly sur
rounded by walls not to be scaled. And
he felt creep over him a slow tide of
loss. His heart was tragic and alone.
They went back on the ferry to
Twenty-third Street. He was to take
her to the Vanderbilt Hotel, where
doubtless there would be some mes
sage by this time from Aunt Alice.
It was raw, even in the long pas
senger cabin of the boat. A few
bearded and chattering foreigners oc-
cupied the far end of the curving bench
Across from them sat boy and a girl
holding both hands because one was
not enough and whispering hoarsely
SkSzASS - -.