The Washington times., 1936-05-21

was someone else! even heard
about it. And it's I who have
come to you. It's been I always
who cares the most!"
Their beautiful mood was gone
the mood of joyous approach
when they had come too trem'
blingly near. The sweet, exalted
moment was stained now and lost,
They walked along blindly-in
harsh, wounded silence, stopping
only at the waters edge. They
stared away from each other to
the distant, miSty-blue mountains
where a crimson sun trailed rain
bows of flashing color.
Each moment the river changed
Now it was pure silver against the
black Jersey cliffs; a stream OF
lighted silver. Now it turned to
fire. Roses doomed on the water
great, shimmering pink roses.
The girl thought: cts so beau
tiful!" and longed to cry.
His hand reached down. It
closed on hers. He said, huskily
Nell, look!" and pointed to the
sky. Clouds Of cleaning copper
took form like birds. The birds
had wings of flame. They drifted
onward with a faint music
through the sky.
Ricky said, watching them and
blinking: "You don't care the
most, Nell!"
But couldn't stay away from
you, Ricky?"
And you think I could?
waited for you often. Had to look
at you. Had to know if your eyes
and your hair and your little
white face were real. almost
hoped to find you changed. Each
time I went near that office you
were dashing off with him. You
seemed to like it. You laughed
and were happy. Then went out
with her. Three or four times"
They stood on the curving
shore in the shadow Of an old
warehouse. The water Tapped
with gentle murmur against boats
fastened to a pier.
Ricky slipped an arm about her
waist. Don't be so cold and
angry about it, Nell. It was stu.
pid in me. I was sore and jealous.
Look at me, Nell. Pleased"
She didn't want him to see
tears in her eyes. He put his
hand under her chin, raising her
face. He looked into it, startled
and touched.
Nell. you're crying. Oh, please,
don't"
She gazed at his young, impet.
uouS boys mouth and into his ten
der, pleading eyes. She said,
waveringly: I'll cry all I like!'
She thought he had a strong face:
a clean, beautiful, exciting face.
She spoke again, unevenly:
"Ricky-you love me. You're 50
so gloriouS!"
He pulled her to him with a
hurried: STOP" He held her in
a long, trembling embrace, kissing
her eyes and holding her lips hard
against his. He said: Nell, this
seems right. You belong to me.
to you. I'm glad when you're
around. Just being near you. It's
the strangest thing. want to
laugh. I want to shout. I feel
blazingly alive. There's no use
fighting it. You're mine. You've
got to bel"
Then let's get married, Dick"
He turned suddenly white. The
blood ebbed visibly from his
cheeks. Slowly his arms relaxed.
He asked in a hard, ashen tone
What do you mean, Nell?"
Gust that. I've thought it all
out. I've lain awake night after
night. I can't give you up. ]
won't! Ricky, I want us to be
married. Now! Any time-right
away"
He repeated dazed: Married?
How can we? Things haven
changed"
mo, they haven't changed. It
may be years before we'll have
money enough and be free. We're
going to lose each other if we
wait. I love life. think it's
beautiful and precious even when
it's hard. But I'd rather die than
look forward to a future with you
gone"
He took out his handkerchief
and slowly wiped his forehead. He
said bruSquely: Lets sit down"
He took fine pebbles and strained
them through his fingers. "How
can we work this out, Nell? God
knows want you. I'll take you
on any terms. But I'd like to be
in a position to look out for YOU.
A little anyway. If we marry, all
kinds Of things can happen to get
us down."
Ito Be Continued
(ConyrisIf 1924 nv TSin1 rastur..