Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

and let nae tell you. there are q
good many things I've never really
talked out with y0u"
she settled back against the pllIOw8
There are certain things I keep GO
ing over and over With you IN my mind,
and want 10 get rid q all those im-
aginary conversations. ! always begin
them like this:
John. do you know the real reason
why divorced you7s
you always say Jealousy. You let
your Jealousy q other women run away
with you" She settled further back
against the pillowa
Yes. was Jealous. but there was an
Inner reason. was jealous because I
was afraid you'd find out Was nine
years older than you I lived in fear
of growing old before you did Was
always waiting for the first wrinkle.
and couldn't stand the torment.
can see now that above al I wanted 70
save my pride Well. saved It.
Eyes. and let you save yours be-
cause wanted 70 save my own II
you must know the truth. Mary, It
was a relief when you divorced me be-
cause had an inner terror too. was
always waiting for you 70 find out Just
what a miserable failure was as a
doctor"
Nonsense"
Il became a doctor because my IA
Their had been one, and It was expected
Of me. It was q mistake. could have
gotten out. especially after my mother
died and I came into all that money,
but was afraid to have you know
what a failure was.
She sat up again. but that's past
now and behind us, and here's such
a short stretch ahead and there YOU
are living alone on one side Of the
block and here I am living alone on
the other and lying awake nights and
holding these endless conversations
with you. At least, John, II you won't
come to live with me yet. you'll come
around to dinner and let me talk II out
with you In the flesh"
"Of course I'll come around, Mary.
"And do you still love coffee? can
still give you the best cup Of coffee in
New York"
She turned TO Sally. "Ask cook to send
up some coffee and what's left o. the
fruit cake, and tell her 10 make little
hard sauce. I remember. John, how
much you loved hard sauce With truit
cake"
DR.. Print smiled at Sally, and al
though he was surprised 10 see her get
ting up from her corner. he was too
excited and too full Of his past 10 re-
member her. But even this vague smile
that was mostly q confession OF bis
fondness for fruit cake with hard sauce
had that bright warmth that comes
only from q heart with q glow in its
cookies.
Sally went down stairs and immedi-
ately the scene she had just witnessed
grew blurred and rubbed like q scene
left In the theater after play. She Was
quickly folded away from it into the
bitter reality Of her own life. Was she
to stay OF was she to go9 She could no
longer bear the uncertainty which now
seemed to have lasted for years.
She saw Mclaughlin standing in the
kitchen entry, and she found swift
comfort In the thought that perhaps he
was waiting there TO speak 70 her.
He said, Whats the matter2"
Nothing"
BUT her emotions grinding against
the uncertainties and disappointment
Of the past two days had worn her
courage thin, and all those times when
she might have given way save for
Jimmie demanded TO be satisfied, and
she burst into tears.
He said, You'd better tell me"
She told him. But after q while she
saw he was not listening 20 her. BE
was only looking at her, and her tale
ran down under the pressure OF that
look.
He said, "You don't have to worry.
She knew what he meant.
BE said, Perhaps you don't make up
your mind as quick as / do, but my
minds made UP, and one Of these days
when you get around TO agreeing 70 1t
when you get good and ready-were
going 10 get married"
Suddenly she knew it would be that
way He said, Il won't rush you. But |
do you know, the other day when you
stepped up TO the car and asked about |
the dog, began TO think how you'd
look IN q white dress getting married
70 me-"
From the kitchen Jimmie's voice said
@Scuffy, where are you Scuffy2" and
she remembered that 1t was past jim
mics bedtime and that she had to tell
cooG shout fruit cake and coffee, and
she was glad Just then to open the
kitchen door and run in from happi-
ness that was too sudden and more
than she could bear.
THE END
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