The Washington times., 1936-05-12
By ELENORE MEHERIN

night. That's a date"
1T costs a dollar EACH"
'I'll have three! Come on. we
get off here"
so Soon?"
They ran down the narrow bus
steps. After they crossed the
street and had entered Central
Park. he made her close her eyes.
He wanted her to get the full ef-
feet. Then he took her arm and
led her on a block or two.
Nov, openw
Before them was long line of
cherry trees in white, radiant bios
som. The breeze Swayed the
branches, which looked like great
snowy plumes. The petals fell to
the ground, where they glimmered
q sea shells might.
The girls eyes shone with ten.
derneSs and joy. She loved him
for this thought of her. she loved
him too much. He was always
doing odd, unusual things like
this. She said huskily: They're
too beautiful wouldn't have
come out here. I wouldn't have
seen them. Rick, thankS!"
They went over to a bench and
sat there in silence, looking at the
lovely trees and at the western
sky which was shot with crimson
flame.
After a long while the boy said:
cts twilight-the best hour of the
day, though the loveliest, and
we're the only ones enjoying this
beauty. Sometimes I'm glad I've
had these years of doing without.
So many things are beyond the
power Of money
81 wish everything was. I wish
] could marry you, Ricky, now"
I'm glad you don't get violent
about that Nell-the way do. .
It's good for both Of us that you
keep your head"
What do you mean, Ricky?"
Three and a half years is a
deuce of a long time to wait"
She was afraid of these angry
moods of his. She didn't want the
lovely twilight hour to be spoiled.
Chapter II
what is the job you had last
night?"
Nothing to make you proud,
but I don't care. i can dig bitches
and just wish I could find a few
that needed to be caved in. I've
got enough stored-up mad to knock
down a mountain"
Don't let go now, Ricky, and
spoil the nice time"
I'm not going to. I'm darn re-
lieved to get any kind of work
dish-waShing or not. That's what
I'm doing-earned So and I hope
It keeps up for a month. Why, we
could almost get married if I had
$50 to the good and was sure Of
earning more. Nell, do you think
we ever will be sure. or is this
depression going to last forever?"
ut can't! 7 know we'll come out
of it-you and I will, anyway.
Well think UP some way to beat
It,"
He gave quick, care-free laugh.
"That's what I think, too, in my
secret mind. and I suppose there
are a million couples just like us
and each figures to himself-ha-
let the other fellow be down and
out perpetually If he wants TO,
but I'm much too good to remain
with the incompetents and the
morons. Isn't that what nine
tenths of the fellows on relief
must be thinking?"
"But you were exceptional, even
In a class of college graduates"
"Ah-Nell-just you keep on
holding a little faith in me and
I'll climb up to freedom and happ1-
ness for both of us, somehow"
"And in the meantime we can
have the beautiful trees to look At.
They were made just for us, Ricky.
Whenever I see cherry trees I
think Of Madame Butterfly. Re
member the night you took me
there, Ricky.
'"That was the first time you
kissed me-"
"And loved you-oh, so terribly.
I went home and cried thinking
of little Cho Che San and wonder
ing if you'd vanish as her lover
did. You seemed too good to be
true. Often I wonder if you can
possibly love me one-tenth as I
love you"
She looked up as she spoke, her
white face close to his. He
looked down and drawing her
TREMENDOUSLY near, closed her lips
with a young, hungry kiss. They
looked a moment into each others
eyes and then looked into shy and
troubled distance.
After a while he said: IT don't
want to love you too much, Nell.
try to keep from thinking of it.
Tonight you seem too frightfully
dear. You have such a pale. little
Iace-you have such wonderful,
trusting eyes-and your mouth,
it's SO warm and sweet, like
cruShed-up flowers. Come on
let's go-1'm treating you to din
ner. :"