The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-18

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 They went back outdoors to the baby and Mrs. Aicott It was aHi uninpugtant incident. but it served to warn Judy how much talk was being aired around the station.
 She wondered, too, if Jack Ham Hey was angry at having had his orders changed. He'd know, all right, who had changed them: She thOught she couldn't bear 1t if he leaped to the conclusion that 1t was her request to her father that had done the job.
 But he telephoned her that night, and his voice was almost cheerful. Man proposes, the ad" miral CispoSes," he said. I'm too valuable to the Enterprise to be lost without a replacement, or some darn thing, and when I do get my shore duty, it1l be on North Island"
 "Oh", said Judy.
 "As long as didn't succeed in running away from you, may l come over?"
 She remembered the things he had said. Crumbs" "The most sensible way is to cut it short" But she could understand, too, that a man who had said, T haven't for gotten in five years would still want to try again-if he had to remain close by.
 She wanted to see him. That was the worst part of 1t. She didn't want to lose the dependable friend, the fine companion, that Jack had always been. But she had lost him the moment he told her he loved her.
 "Come over, if you like" she said. T haven't an engagement. '"
 Coming" he said,
 She waited for him restlesSly It wouldn't be easy.
 The silence was strained be- tween them, the first few seconds, as they looked ct each other Then he said, Judy, you're thin ner than yesterday. There's soime- thing-something gaunt in youI cheeks"
 She laughed. You're cpazy Nobdoy loses weight overnight"
 If they don't sleep"
 T slept"
 About as much as did. I'll bet"
 "why couldn't you sleep2 You thought you were going to Pen. sacola - getting away from Il all-"
 T never wanted to get away from you"
 Listen, Jack," she said steadily we talked 1t out. We decided something. Now you're not going But what we decided still stands Can't we be friends = the way VI used to be?"
 The brown eyes held her. "Il do anything you want" he said "On any terms"
 "All I want Is that we = we act natural = that I don't keep feeling l." the words that came to hel lips were, ''That I've knifed you But of course she couldn't say that, so she said nothing.
 II can't pretend I don't love you," he said earnestly. "It's toe much to ask. But I'll never men, F ton 1t again. We'll dance, ano ride, and 90 to parties just as we used to-and--well-it'll all be tht same as 1t used to be-" It never would be. She knev that But she did need him, in curious fashion. As Diane had said she couldn't stand up to Dwight ant Marvel without the solid bulk O Jack IIanley behind her. He was & fine. tI was Q pity to use his low only for a shield, his deep concerr for her only to hide the blow an other man had inflicted, She grip ped his hand. You're swell, Jack You're the best friend ever had Mrs. Alcott was wotdlessly con tent, pleasant to Jack, never st much as asking 8 leading question of Judy. But the girl knew tha' her mother was waiting. Waiting For the maneuver to work. Fol the wild 1nfatuation to die. Fol Jack to win.
 Night after night she said tt herself desperately, Why can they see? This isn't an infatua' ton. This is real. This is the big gest thing that can happen to woman. I see him everywhere go. I hear his voice, and it come' between me and the voices O other paople. It doesn't mattel