The Washington times., 1935-09-19
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CHAPTER v


that. Why was she asked to all
the Harveys' parties and rushed,
with Jean, for three sororities
when she entered college, if it
wasn't on account Of Jamie?
Why, they wouldn't have looked
at her twice-Mary Shannon,
who lived practically next door
to a chain store on Twenty
whose father rode around in a
lcp-sided old coupe he'd painted
himself, selling cutlery to second
class stores.
Oh, yes, he'd cared all right
once.
Hot tears squeezed through
her tight-shut lids again, rolled
rapidly down her cheeks, wetting
the pillow.
He'd cared, and he'd got tired
and quit caring. And now it was
over and he was going to marry
someone else.
Well, it might be hard, but
she'd get over it. Nobody'd get
the chance to be sorry for her.
The time would come when he'd
wish his Vesta Granger had
never been born, when he'd want
her (Mary) back more than any,
thing in the world, and she
wouldn't have him-not for
a million dollars. She'd show
him, She'd...
Tears rained down her damp,
hot face. She tasted their bit
terness with mournful surprise.
Rain beat on the roof, slanted
against the upper panes of the
half-open window, the palm
leaves lashed against the side
Of the house, her cretonne cur
tains blew out into the wet. But
she didn't care. She didn't care
about anything but Jamie.
She didn't want to show him.
She didn't want anyone better.
She didn't want to forget him
:. AL she wanted, all she'd ever
want, was Jamie. And he was
gone.
Unless. E.
She sat up, blew her nose.
There must be a reason why he
had stayed away from her.
Afraid. He knew that if he saw
her again.
If she wrote, found some ex-
cuse to see him again. =.
Slowly, doggedly, she groped
for the words, the excuse, that
would bring him back.
When your head aches, when
your eyes are heavy with the
tears you've shed in the night,
when your heart is broken, and
you wish you could sleep on and
on into forgetfulness, it doesn't
matter. you have to get up
just the same when you have a
job and are a commuter.
Though the only boy is miles
away, and you care less than
nothing what others think Of
you, you have to dress care
fully just the same, because Of
flee girls must be smart, and
neat.
So Mary Shannon put on q
clean blouse, and brushed her
blue suit, and carried her black
fox fur instead Uf the old tweed
top coat, because the rain had
stopped, and caught the 8
o'clock train this morning as
she had all the other mornings,
before her heart was broken.
And the sun came out, and
the day was so warm and bright
that Ethelyn Piper wanted to
sit out on the back deck of the
boat. Mary, who was cold in
spite of the sun and half sick
from forcing herself to eat a
breakfast she didn't want, just
to stop Ma from arguing. would
have preferred to slump over
her book in a corner Of the
cabin inside.
But it was easier to give in,
and after a few moments the
fresh, salt air made her feel a
little better, though the bright
blue sky, and the bright green
water, and the glare of the sun
on the deck, hurt her swollen
eyes.
She had felt self-conscious
about her looks. Was sure that
anyone who took one look at
her could see she had been cry
ing a lot. But people don't
notice. They aren't interested
in you. They don't care.
Ethelyn said, you look cute
today. Have you got your hair
different? I wish mine would
curl up that way on the ends.
Would you let it get longer, and
have q permanent, just on the
ends, If you were me?"
Look cute. With your eyes
like two burnt holes in a blanket
81 don't know, Ethelyn. Your
hair looks all right to me, the
way it is"
"Oh, do you really think so?
I just don't want to look man.
nish, that's all. The chief abomi-
mates manniSh looking women.
I don't dare get one Of these
new tailored suits, though I'm
TeallXj the tailored type, But
when he has such a horror about