The Coolidge examiner., 1937-04-22
CHAPTER vi


Cecily was waiting for him when
he returned to 'Meadowbrook." The
instant he saw her car standing in
the lower end of the drive, Jim
felt that he had known she would be
there. The fawn-colored roadster
blocked his progress.
Good evening"" he said distant
ly.
Il have fiat tire" she an.
nounced.
You could have run up to the
garage on the rim"
Gould but didn't" she said air
lily.
why didn't your"
II thought you would be coming
along this way soon."
"Oh! Well, I won't try to fix it
here. Drive on up to the garage"
'You drive for me-" It was
scarcely a command. Her voice
was as soft as silk. Its so hard
to steer with a fiat on the front
wheel" And taking his acquies-
cence for granted she moved over
from under the steering wheel.
Jim opened the door and took
the place she had vacated.
You don't sound very-clubby,"
she said. Are you hungry or
sleepy or anything?"
mo"
That's good. I want to talk
''But why to me?"
"Oh, enemies intrigue me. May
I have a cigarette?"
Jim supplied a cigarette and a
light. In the flare of the match he
saw distinctly the golden lights in
her eyes. His hands were aware
of her. He fiicked the match into
the drive.
Thank you" She made herself
comfortable again. did you have
a pleasant EVENING""
Very pleasant"
"Dutch's is fun. Good orchestra.
1 didn't know that the girl in the
drugstore was a friend Of yours"
She's a nice kid" he said.
Amusing. Good dancer"
I'm sure she is" Cecily's voice
was Silken. II meant no dispar-
agement. You needn't get out your
duelling pistols"
He deserved that, Jim thought.
He needn't have defended Dolly so
vigorously.
"Jim," she said, breaking a
lengthening silence. will you do
something for me?"
Pm afraid l can't" he said
briefly. He'd thought that to put
her in her place would give him a
great deal of pleasure and satisfac-
ton. 1t wasn't working out that
way. He felt a little embarrassed,
instead. He had sounded like prig.
1T isn't what you think" she as
sured him. Il don't care if you tell
Father that was with Jerry to-
night. That isn't important. Fa-
ther knows how I feel about Jerry.
What want you to do for me is
important"
Jim continued silent.
Il mean, will you hear my side
Of the story?" she continued, in
earnest now, the bantering tone
gone out of her voice. Even if
we are enemies-Let' call it a
courtroom confession. The pris-
oner at the bar has a right to be
heard, hasn't he? You know only
Fathers side. Jim," she said. 1t
isn't infatuation. I'm awfully in
love with Jerry"
He hadn't expected a statement
so simple and sincere. He hadn't
expected directness from Cecily.
This frank appeal to his sympa-
thies was more devastating than
cajolery or tricks.
Fathers so pig-headed," she
went on. He is, Jim. He's as
obstinate as a mule"
THAT doesn't mean I'm not fond
of Father" she continued. Il am
fond of him and proud of him.
But he is pig-headed. l think it's
stupid to be fond of people blindly,
to admire your father just because
he is your father, if he isn't an ad-
mirable person. 1t doesn't make
you love people less to know their
weaknesses. Sometimes it makes
you love them more.
IF Mother had lived it would
have been different" she went on,
after a moment. Father adored
her. After she died he did nothing
but work. We've never known him
until this summer. He doesn't know
us at all. He's never paid any
particular attention to us, except
to blow us up when he couldn't
avoid the issue"
She paused, turned to him with
a. apologetic smile. Am I boring
you unbearably? Tell me if 1 am.
That wouldn't be tactful approach
to request"
I