The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-16

/ Hoyt asked her, gripning from be-
hind the wheel.
al am, and | don't mind admit
ting it." Coral said. "Please don't
/ drive so fast, Hoyt. You may be
used to it, but these narrow es-
capes scare me silly" She tried
to make her tone light, but the
nervous culver in her voice be-
trayed her real emotion.
"Say. you really are scared,
AREN'T you?" Hoyt said in sur
prise. That's no way for you to
feel. The only fun there is in
driving is in driving fast. I'll show
you what | mean" He pressed
| his foot down on the accelerator
! and the car leaped ahead. Coral
/ covered in her corner of the
front seat and shut her eyes us
houses, telephone poles and 9TH
er automobiles sped past with diz-
Tying rapidity. When at last the
car came to stop in front OF
the Tavern, she opened her eyes,
her face white, her hands Shak-
ing. Without a word she opened
the door and got out of the au-
comobile.
She walked wordlessly toward
the entrance of the Tavern, and
for the first time Hoyt seemed to
realize the genuineneSS of her
fears. He caught up with her at
the doorway and put a hand on
her arm. "Im sorry, Coral. No
fooling. | didn'r think you really
meant it. You know, most girls
just want you to think they're
feminine and easily scared. |
should have known better about
you. Say you'll forgive me. Please,
COralw
There was no use making a
scene, Coral thought. She smiled
ut him Shakily. IL suppose you
didn't understand how | felt,
Hoyt."
II was Il silly ape not to I'M
derstand," he said boyishly. 81
should be horSe-whipped for
frightening you"
well, as far as that goes.
suppose it was stupid of me to be
so frightened, but ever since that
awful accident that happened in
front of our house at home last
summer, I've been jittery. Let's
not talk about it any more, only,
please drive Il little slower on our
way back to town. Will you,
Hoyt?"
you regulate the speed, lady.
Wen travel at any rate from
eight miles to so an hour. Any
thing you say"
Coral laughed. an compromise
for somewhere along about As,
since we're in no great hurry"
Hoyt shook his head dolefully.
GAS you say, but Pm afraid the
old bus will think there's some
thing wrong with me-"
As they entered the Tavern and
were uShered to their table, Coral
replied gayly, Maybe the car will
be glad Of Il little restw
"You may be right, at that, F."
Hoyt said as they seated them
selves. "She'S been driven a good
many miles today. Now them" he
opened the menu, what would
you like for dinner?"
After they had ordered, Hoyt
recalled the waiter. Don't you
want drink to calm your
nerves." he asked Coral. IL GER
tainly need one, and | wasn't half
as scared as you were"
Coral took one sip of her cock
tail when it arrived, then set it
back on the table, pushing it a
little away from her. 1t had a
sharp, Bitter taste which repealed
her. Hoyt, on the other hand,
drank his and ordered two more
in quick succession. By the time
their soup arrived, Coral noted
with uneaSinesS the rising flush
on his face.
when are you going to set
the day, baby" Hoyt asked her.
"June's not far off, you know.
We'd better begin TO make plans. "
She tried to laugh his question
away. Goodness, don't start
talking about those plans till Pm
safely graduated. | may have to
stay another year at Elton. We
all funk, you know"
His face darkened. "Why do
you keep putting me off? I've had
about enough of that technic.
Let's set the day right here and
now. Or" he eyed her slyly,
"have you changed your mind?"
Cant we let it wait a little
longer?" she asked. Why couldn't
he see she didn't love him? Why
must he torture her so?
"No, we can't" His voice was
angry. 81 want your answer now.
And if you don't give the right
one, well, my father can call that
$4,000 loan of your dads, and I
don't mean maybe. I'll give you
! till midnight to make up your
mind. If you don't know then,
I'll know my next move, Coral,
and don't think anything will
change my mind"
(To be continued