The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-06-18


have my car downstairs and I'm
going to drive. I'll telephone you
tomorrow. Forgive me, Wenaa'
and thank you for everything.
She climbed into the roadster,
stepped on the accelerator, and
began to go faster and faster.
She wondered what excuses her
mother would make to the wed,
ding guests-maybe she would
pretend that her daughter had the
measles or appendicitis. Everyone
would be polite but no one would
believe the story. She might have
been driving for two hours or ~
Iminutes--she didn't know-when
she came down Park Avenue on
the east side of the green carpet
of grass that runs through the
center of the street. 1t was dark
now, quite dark.
Maybe her father would put
private detectives on her trail: lie
might be afraid that something
would happen to her. If there was
a chance that detectives would
recognize her car she must dis
pose of it. She pulled in at the
next garage and left it. She hailed
cruising taxicab. 49,
Drive" she commanded the
cab driver.
where, Lady,"
HYo,, tbink of q Mace
"Okay by me-"
A long time later the driver
spoke again. Gosh, lady, you're
running up a. whale of a meter
Don't you want to go some
place."
mo place. Just drive"
"But you aren't getting any
where" he muttered, and sped on
again. =, 90, o..
Central Park, isn't it?"~ She
glanced from the window;
We've been through 1t seven
times"
"Make it eight" She had dry
en- here with Bob, skated on the
lake with him, bicycled in the
spring when the debutantes haa
been gay with wheels and hoops
and roller skates. She had taken
a ride with him in a painted boat,
ON the little lake where the sail
ors took their girls when the boats
came in. She must stop beng d
sentimental idiot! She had better
see if her money was in her pag;
Her father had given her roll
of bills that morning. 10 ouy
Yourself some beads and gloves IN
PARIS" he had said. Yes, here
thew were. Her hand touched
something firm and smooth. her
passport. Two passports. Bops
was with hers.
Suddenly her mind began to
function. She would go to Eu-
rope! She would sail alone! Alone
at midnight, in the bridal suite.
"Pier Number SO, North NV
err" she told the driver, one eye
ON the sapphire-studded watch on
her slender wrist. Hurry! The
ship sails at ~" ,on
"But, lady, why didn't you say
500" the cab driver eJaculateu,
and suddenly sent the loiterihg
car flying across town.
Marcia sat tense, holding the
wrist with the watch, so she could
tell the time. Now they had
turned into the street along the
docks-she could smell the water
could catch the tag ends of the
davis odors from the fish markets
Her pier-the lighted ship beyond:
"Maybe we're too late. It's II,
the driver warned her.
Marcia pressed bill into his
hand and ran across the floor to
the elevator. There was one pas
senger on it, a tall young man
whose face was Drowned as
though he had been in the sun
and wind for long time
Up, up, up. Slowly. On, why
did all elevators that carried peo-
pie to the floor that was on a
level with the gangplanks proceed
so calmly? 1t stopped. She got on
and began to run. So did the
young man. They could hear the
waves of laughter and chatter on
the pier. Chains were beginning
to rattle as they grew nearer to
the boat.
"Gangwayw the man called
and reached out a hand to her.
Laughing, she took it, and fol-
lowed his broad shoulders as he
cleared a passage through the
crowd. They were on the gang
plank. They were on the ship!
cit came on earlier" Marcia
answered. She turned to thank
the young man with the tanned
face, but he had tipped his hat
and disappeared.
She gave the number Of her
cabin to an attendant. Mon
sier?" His eyes followed the
man.
"I'm alone" Marcia answered,
and quite suddenly a wave of
longing engulfed ,her-a wave so
fierce that it swept away all her
resolutions, dissolved her courage,
tore down her pride. She wanted