The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-04-02
Blu Ida LARRlMORE'
g Ida Larrimore.
WNU Service.


tive baritone sang
'I've told every little star
Just how sweet think you are.
Why haven't l told your"
"Cecily-"
She lifted her head, glanced up
questioningly.
Listen, Cecily-! If 1 could sing
and knew all the words"
"Jim - ?" She pronounced his
name softly, breathlessly, looking
up at him steadily. There was
suggestion of alarm in her eyes,
more than a hint of compassion.
He saw the pulse in her throat stir
and beat, as though something alive
were imprisoned there, something
that wanted to be released.
The orchestra repeated the re-
frain, playing softly now, with low
muted rhythm.
"Jim-" She stirred gently in his
arms. "Jim, are you-?"
He hadn't intended that she should
know. The compassion in her eyes
brought him back to reality. He
didn't want her to pity him.
"Tm making love to you," he
said lightly, smiling down into her
eyes.
"Are you-Jim?"
Shouldn't II" he asked teasing
ly. when it's a party and there
are lanterns and music like this
and pink punch and prospective
bride?"
"Silly!" She laughed naturally,
with relief. "You frightened me.
I thought-for a minute-you meant
it. Conceit!"
When the dance ended, she led
him to the changing group at the
end of the terrace. Presently she
slipped away. When he saw her
again, she was dancing with her IA
Their. He thought, watching her
above his partners head, a sleek
head, blue-black as an eggplant,
that her shining look was intensi-
fed, as though, in the interval since
she had left him, something, some
one had given it a new breath-tak-
ing luster. Cecily, Cecily darling!
She came to him at the end of
the dance.
"Will you excuse me, Millicent?"
she apologized to Jim's last part
ner. II must drag Jim away. It's
awfully important"
Certainly"
where are we going?" Jim
asked.
"Out to the summer-house. I've
something to tell you" Happiness
sang in her voice, lent wings to her
golden sandals. She picked up her
ripping skirt and, catching Jim's
hand, ran with him down the CEN
trail path of the garden. Beside the
fountain she stopped. 81 can't
wait!" she said with a little laugh.
"The summer house is too far
away" She lifted her face, her
hands touched his shoulders, her
lips touched his. "Thank you," she
said softly. "Thank you, Jim"
Jim collected his scattering wits.
what for?" he asked, feeling the
light touch of her lips, hearing, as
though it came from far away, the
splash and drip of the fountain.
Father just told me-" she said
breathlessly. Jerry is coming for
a visit. couldn't wait to thank
you. do thank you, Jin!"
81 had nothing to do with it,
Didn't you? Early this evening
when you and Father were talking
in the hall-Didn't you suggest it
to him them"
"No." Jim said roughly. give
never mentioned it. You've moth
ing to thank me for"
"Why?" she stood very close to
him, looked up at him searchingly.
Because" The moon, rising
above the woods at the crest of the
hill, sprayed the garden with light.
He saw her distinctly, her parted
lips, the question in her eyes. She
saw him with equal clarity. Some
of the brightness went out of her
face.
"Jim!" she cried on a soft won
dering note of alarm and compre-
hension. "You meant it, didn't you?
When we danced-That song"
eyes"
"I'm sorry" She swayed toward
him. He caught her in his arms,
held her, bent her head back to
press his lips against the soft hollow
in her throat, kissed her with pas
sion and with gentleness, her hair,
her eyes, her lips, released her
when. through the splashing sound
of the fountain, through distant mu-
sic, through the drumming in his
ears, he heard her soft shaken cry.
They stood facing each other in
the diffused white moonlight. He
saw that her lips were trembling.
"Are you angry?" he asked. The
surge of passion receded, leaving
only gentleness. "Have hurt you,
dear?"
She shook her head.
you're weeping"
That's only because I'm sorry"
''Never mind"
"And because I'm afraid it'S-iny