The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-16
NOW READ ON
BY ELEN0RE MEHERIN

UG44USA dIS4y hASS0U &SANAJ' AVN
Toward dawn, Sunday morning,
Ricky stood with her at the door
of her home. He said, humbly,
adoringly: "Nell-I've put you on
the spoS, haven't I? I forced that
promise from. YOU"
IT wanted to give it. I'm so glad
you made me give it."
IT had to, Nell, really had to. I
love you-too much"
CHAPTER VI
Nell couldn't sleep. She felt gen.
tie to the whole world. She en-
dowed even the gray morning sky
with a tender beauty. He loved
her more than he could bear
wanted her more than he could
stand.
For a week they were joyously,
hilariously happy. Then his tempo
rary Job in the restaurant ended.
And q letter came from Lee Ed
wards. There was no opening.
Ricky showed her the letter. He
said very little. But he grew so
thin she was thoroughly fright
ened. She said one night when
they walked down to the East
River and watched the moon rise:
"Ricky-do me favor-take this
from mel" and tried to press a
SO bill into his hand. She had
kept it out of her own lunches and
clothes money.
He said, almost sobbing: "Oh,
lord, Nell; do you want me to sink
this lov do you want me to
take money from YOU -. ="
Moneys not so important.
You're hungry"
Don't get dramatic about it..
There are soup Kitchens, you
know. Besides, you can live six
weeks on water alone"
He sat in grim silence, looking at
the now darkly purple waters.
Without a word he reached over
and drew her to him. He held her
in his arms, very close-very quiet.
Finally he said: "Nell-I'm not
going to see you any more"
She cried out sharply. II won't
take it! I can't"
He was very grave. Listen, Nell
this simply can't continue. I've
thought it all out. I've been saw
age and resentful. but we might as
well face facts. don't want to
crush you, but I will if we go on as
we are, hopelessly, any longer. I
wouldn't trust myself. I've got to
get over dreaming of you and want
ing you, or. the first thing know
We'll be in a jam and you'd never
be able to stand it. I'm not seeing
you any more. I don't say I'm not
thinking of you and hoping. But
I'm leaving you. This is our part
ing"
She chung to him, weeping while
the bright young world of youth
within her slowly died.
She didn't believe he would leave
her. she put her hands on his
coat, pleading with the ghost of a
smile: cts no world at all without
you, Rick"
He clasped hard, trembling fin
gers over hers and didn't answer.
Alone, she told herself grimly:
HE can't go. I couldn't"
Days passed. She hurried from
the office each evening. In the
doorway she glanced about eagerly,
always hopeful he would be wait
ing as he so often used to be. He
was never there.
A week passed. Saturday noon.
She stood before the mirror
smoothing rouge on her lips, her
eyes glazed with excitement.
Lovely holiday weather. Waxy red
geraniums blooming in the pot
near the window. Breeze warm
with youth and spring. He would
be there today! She felt it with a
strange shivering premonition of
joy.
Outside the building she waited.
Scanning with secret expectation
the hurrying faces. Tall figure like
his. Swinging arms. Thin aqui-
line face. Where was he? Where
was the blessed spot of earth that
now held his beloved form? Wait
ing eagerly, distractedly. then
with dumb, sick, weighted despera-
ton. He wasn't coming to her.
He meant what he said.
She couldn't accept it. She
thought of him hourly, daily; night
after night. She wrote long letters
which she didn't send. He'd re-
turn. He'd have to!
Scraps of their last argument
hooted in her ears. Blazing she
had said: "Ricky, we have a right
to each other!"
This vas his answer: 1--WE have
o right to life and a job. Try and
get them! Nell. we're the lost gen.
GRAFTON. We're not needed and
we're being rapidly scrappd by a
world which can find no place In
the sun for the lot Of us!"
Rick, we're towards if we 40,