The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-03-19
q Ida Larrimore.
wNU Service.

bands don't understand them"
They sat on the bench in the
summer-house, smoking companion
ably, talking, sharing the intimacy
of laughter. Jim could scarcely
distinguish her features. Her dark
dress of some fllny material melted
into the shadows. Her face, her
arms, her hands, moving In charac-
teristic gestures, were pale in the
darkness, as thick and soft as plush.
Her voice, low and silken at times,
light and gay, her voice and the
springlike perfume she used, were
all that identified her as Cecily-
that and her effect upon Jim, the
reluctant admiration he felt for her,
the protecting concern she had
awakened in him the night she had
talked of Jeremy Clyde.
Jim talked of himself. 1t was in
keeping with the felicity of the eve
ming that Cecily should be friendly
and charming, interested in him,
candidly admiring and sympathetic.
81 think it was fine of you to
have worked here for u.s." she said
warmly. "It must have been aw-
fully difficult. How have you en-
dured us? You are-rather splendid,
Jim"
"That's the result I've been striv-
ing for" Jim laughed self-mocking-
ly. 81 wanted to make myself sound
splendid. Self-importance. Conceit.
See what fine fellow 1 ami "
"You are," she said. "Father
thinks so, too. He's always holding
you up as a shining example to
Tommy"
"Example!" Jim produced an ex-
aggerated groan.
"But why not?" she asked, with
the gentle gravity more disturbing
than banter and gaiety. "We-our
generation-think it's smart to ridi-
cule courage and honesty. You do
it. And so do I. l think it's be-
cause we realize how important
they are and are terrified for fear
they've gone out of the world. Jerry
doesn't believe that" She sat very
quietly, now, her hands folded in
her lap. Gle"
Jim moved restlessly. The rosy
glow dimmed a little.
Must you talk about him?" he
asked.
"You don't mind, really, do your"
She glanced up at him quickly,
questioningly.
He had sounded surly. Jim hast
ened to make amends.
SIT isn't complimentary, is it, to
sit in a summer-house with one
young man and talk about anoth-
err"
"But it is compliment" she as
sured him. 81 never talk about Jer-
ry to anyone. / can to you-since
the other night. That's strange, isn't
it, when we started out loathing
each other. 1t means so much to
me to have someone to talk to. I've
felt so-alone. Please let me talk
about jerry"
She was not dramatizing herself.
The emotion she felt was sincere.
II don't mind" Jim said. "Talk
away"
His voice was sympathetic but his
thoughts were rebels marching with
bayonets fixed. This was his role,
he told himself through the soft ca
dences of Cecily's voice, confidante,
extra man, guardian angel to the
Vaughns. 1t was a role to which he
was totally unaccustomed. Not that
it mattered-
But it did matter. He resented
Cecily talking with complete alb
sorption of Jerry Clyde, of his child
hood and early youth in a small
middle-west city, of his family so
unappreciative of Jerry's talent.
GERRY isn't perfect" she said.
"But his weaknesses are the fault
of temperament and not of char
acter. Women spoil him because he
is beautiful-yes, beautiful" she
said softly defiant. "He has no il
lusions about life. He says he
doesn't believe in anything-except
me. That makes me so proud ]
could burst. And humble, too" she
added. "I'm not all that he thinks
me. I'm afraid that sometime I'll
disappoint him."
"Cecilyl" Her name, pronounced
with low vehemence by Jim, was
a warning, caution. She inter
preted it as ridicule.
II know you think I'm young and
idealistic," she said, again on q
note of soft defiance. "But I don't
love Jerry blindly-if that will make
you feel more comfortable. Any
way" Her voice was not quite
steady. I'D rather be desper-
ately unhappy with Jerry than"
HAPPY with somebody else
Jim concluded not without mock
cry.
"That's a popular song, isn't it?
I was sure it had been said before.
There is truth in banalities, though,
because they are the expression Of
universal emotions. That isn't orig
inal. I heard it-Oh dear!" She
Sneezed.
you're catching a cold" jim