Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-08-27
HELEN WELSHlMER
CHAPTER 1


hand was actually trembling as
she dialed Craig Denby's telephone
number. She looked at 1t in as
Punishment. 1t was ridiculous fol
her nerves to grow acrobatic just
because she was telephoning a tall
Young man, with humorous blue
ewes that could be very serious
when he said, IT love you." and a
profile that would have meant bet
ter business for Hollywood.
The hand wobbled a little more.
So Judy hung up.
She met her own reflection In
the long mirror of her dressing Ia
BILE. No, she hadn't changed much
since morning. No one, unless ne
looked deeply into her brown eyes,
could tell that she wanted to cry.
Wanted to cry dreadfully. The
dark hair, that she wore in long
bob on her slender neck, curled just
as it always had. Her tilted nose
retained it's seven freckleS, donated
by the summers swimming, golf
ing and tennis.
Outwardly nothing about her
had changed. Nothing at all!
That was funny-your whole life
could be upset and yet you looked
the same. But inWardly
She clutched the telephone again,
and sank back among the lowered
cushions of the chaise lounge. This
time her hand was steady on the
dial.
She loved Craig. She had known
It all summer. She had not real
lied how much until lately. Now
she wished that she had told him
so Thursday night when he had
asked her, as he had been doing for
SO long now. Thursday night
that was four days ago-she and
Craig had been dinner guests at
the Bantrees, on Long Island. Late
in the evening they had gone walk
ing, along the terrace, and Craig,
tall and handsome in white fan
nels and blue coat, had caught her
hands with swift impatience.
Judy, sweet, how many more
times must I ask you to marry me
before you'll say yes? Or aren't
you going to say it, my darling ?"
She had worn white chiffon
dress whose ruff1es were edged with
silver, and there had been silver
leaves in her black hair, silver
slippers on her feet. The dress
was new -.
"The last new dress I'll have for
q long, long time," she murmured
Aow. For she would marry Craig
because she loved him, but she
would not let him buy her any
dresses or shoes. Not even a pow
der puff! Not until he understood
that she was coming to him be-
cause she wanted to, not because a
headline in the paper had fright
ened her.
IF only, only she had told him
she loved him before!
While the telephone peeled in
Craig's apartment far across the
city, Judy remembered her answer
to Craig on the moon-bright ter
race, with a blue sea far below.
I'm afraid, Craig. Haven't !
told you before ?"
But I'll cure your fear. Well
be happy forever:"
She had been sweet and serious
In the moonlight. Forever is such
a long word, Craig. And it doesn't
stretch down the years. If love
lasted-but it doesn't! My mother
and my father were divorced when
I was six. Aunt Polly's been mar
Eied three times. Your own par
ents, too, Craig! And at boarding
school there were so many of us
from broken homes, we had a DID.
club-daughters Of divorce. No,
Craig, I'm afraid of marriage!"
you've said all Of this before,
honey" Craig had reproved her.
Lets skip it. Here's the issue!
Judy. do you love me?"
She did. But if she told him so,
he would sweep all Of her fears
into the shining sea. So she hest
tated, and in that moment some
one joined them. Sooner or later,
though, she knew she would marry
Craig. Maybe love deceived you
but you couldn't hold out against
it forever.
The bell was ringing loudly in
Craig's apartment, but he did not
answer. She waited. He must
he must be there!
! AS he left her Thursday night
he had said: I'm going away 70,
the weekend, Judy. I'll be back
sometime about noon Monday. Al
the apartment, probably. Til give
f1ou ring"
r. Well, he hadn't. So she wa:
..telephoning him.
+ ."Hello" That was Craig. But
! his voice sounded drowsy. Hall
asleep.