The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-05-21
CHAPTER Xv-COntinued


Because" The flush deepened.
because I've been crazy about you
all summer and l knew you were
in love with her and it made me
mad. I mean, / knew there wasn't
a chance of your liking me. /
guess that made me hate her
more"
"But I do like you, Dolly" Jim
took one of her hands in his. "Tm
very, very fond of you"
"You though was getting crazy
about you, didn your" she asked.
"That's why you stopped coming to
see me-"
II didn't want you to be hurt"
Jim said. "That makes me sound
awfully conceited, doesn't it,"
"No," she said. 81 know. But I
couldn't help hating Cecily. So when
Jerry called me that night"
'Did he call your" Jim asked
quickly.
"He called me at the store" she
went on. "When the phone rang,
I thought at first it was you. When
it wasn't, I was so disappointed l
told him I'd meet him where he said
after the store had closed"
'Where was that?"
"By the bridge over the gully at
the edge of town. l knew he didn't
want anybody to see him with me
but I didn't care. / didn't care
about anything. I wanted to do
something crazy and wild. 1t was
exciting, at first, to ride in Miss
Vaughn's car, though we only went
on country roads. He acted sort OF
wild and crazy, too. thought he
was tight, but he wasn't. He was
just mad"
"What do you remember of the
ACCIDENT" Jim asked.
She considered for a moment,
frowning with concentration. 1--WE
turned into that road" she said.
''He wanted to park, but l didn't
want to and / said your riding acad-
envy was somewhere near to sort OF
take his mind off the idea of park
ing. think I said something about
you. I can't remember what it
was, but it made him furious. He
stepped on the gas and the car shot
ahead like a rocket. was scared.
I don't know. Maybe I grabbed the
wheel. And then"
Never mind, Dolly" Jim stroked
her hand soothingly. "I'm sorry
asked. Try not to think of it. 1t
doesn't matter now"
Hes gone away, hasn't he?" she
asked, after a moment.
eyes," Jim replied "You had
something to do with that, didn't
you'll
81 told Dad to keep quiet, if that's
what you mean. After Miss Vaughn
came to see me, I felt differently
about it. She was so nice to me.
Not snooty at all, just friendly and
really interested. Her father is
paying the hospital bills and he's 60
ing to send me to Atlantic City for
two weeks after l get out of here. /
think Cecily-Miss Vaughn-thought
of that"
'She made the suggestion" Jim
said.
$50 why should I let Dad zap
around about sueing anybody"
Dolly went on. GERRY Clyde hasn't
any money. went with him, didn't
I? He didn't sandbag me or kidnap
me or anything. Besides" She
drew her hand from Jim's, CROPPED
under the mound of pillows, drew
out a small satin jewelers. box and
snapped open the lid. Look" she
said.
Jim saw the small diamond set
in a furry of carved white gold fitted
between folds of velvet.
HERBERT" he asked.
'No-the Prince of Wales. He
proposed to me over the radio"
The gaiety died out of her voice.
eyes, Herb" she said.
DO you want to marry him, Dol
ly?"
Her fax-blue eyes looked up into
his steadily, with confidence and Sc
renity. Eyes, do" she said grave
ly Lying here makes you think.
Kindness means more than any,
thing, doesn't it? Herbs been so
sweet to me. He really loves me.
And after all this-Well, know he'd
stand by me through anything"
eyes, Dolly. I think he would"
"Herb isn't exciting" Dolly's
glance wandered from Jim, rested
upon the mirror in the bureau at
the foot of the bed. Hell never do
anything thrilling" she continued,
as though she were talking to her
reflection in the mirror, that UNI
familiar Dolly in a bed jacket of
lace and chiffon with an orchid
pinned on her breast. 81 guess this
has been the most exciting thing
that will ever happen to me. It
will be fun to have a house, though.
And babies, maybe. Penny brings
up the new babies from the nursery.
They're sweet"
BE happy, Dolly" Jim said.
II will" she said staunchly. 81
hate TO leave the kids. though--Joey
arraaof-1fss -