The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-08

days? Queer how all the certainty had left her, just because she saw Dwight gaain. The serene content ment, the quiet happiness that she had experienced in this room with Jack, contemplating their future, had evaporated. There was nothing now but the old uncertainty, the same endless doubts, whirling in her mind, never getting anywhere.
 Commander Sloane dropped in, to pass the time of day. He said, Pretty soon you'll have your cava- Her home, Judy" But in his Shrewd eyes was gleam that told her he, too, had heard the gossip. It didn't take long to travell It was like leap ing flame. Five minutes after thing happened, every house on the station was ringing with it.
 After the doctor went out again, Jack tugged at the heavy Academy ring on his finger. We ought to do this right" he said. "I'd like you to wear my class ring. At least until I get out and we can pick out a diamond ring-whatever you want"
 Judy thought of the square, emerald-cut diamond that Marvel had worn. Everyone said maliciously that Dwight's pay had never paid for it.
 She said, TT don't want 8 dia- mond ring, Jack"
 Diamonds aren't Navy" he said. But I thought maybe you like them They're your birthstone. April" He remembered all the little things, she thought, in a sudden wave of ten- derness. The colors she liked best, and that she preferred sweetpeas to gardenias Her birthday. All the dear, unimportant little trif1es that because they concerned her were important to him. She wondered wearily if Dwight so much as knew exactly how old she was. He prob- ably didn't.
 She hugged Jack impulsively, and then put her hand out while he slipped the ring on her third finger. It was far too large. The heavy gold mounting slid to one side. She said shakily, "I'll have to wrap string around it to make it it."
 He touched her chin, and then his lips were pressing down on hers. While he kissed her, she thought steadily, 'I'll never do anything to make him unhappy. He's too fine. Too trusting and unsuspecting." But the kiss Dwight Campbell had given her yesterday burned on her lips even while Jack Hanley's mouth touched them.
 Wearing the ring, Judy went to Mazda Hamiltons cocktail party. It wasn't really party-just bunch of people coming in informally for a drink. Two or three times week. Mazda telephoned everybody she knew and said, Come over."
 It didn't take long for the sharp eyes, of the wives to spot Jacks class ring. "Judyl" they squealed. "Oh, how sweet! I'm so glad, dar- ling"
 This, Judy told herself, made it official. Irrevocable. She was en- gagged to Jack Hanley. She was his. She wanted it to be positive. She didn't want to be able to draw back.
 "As if were safeguarding myself from backsliding," she thought. But it was true. She couldn't trust her self. Even her pride had come dan gerously near crumbling, that mo- ment in the car when Dwight took her in his arms.
 If Jack were out of the hospital, able to spend most of his time with her, it would have been easier. But there were so many empty hours in which to think! And her thoughts were treacherous. They were all of Dwight.
 She was not really surprised when he telephoned her, two nights after she had worn the ring to Magdas. It was as if she had expected his voice. He said, Judy, may I come over?"
 TT don't think Mother" she said guardedly into the phone.
 I'm losing my mindw he said. I've moped around on the ship until I never want to see it again. I must talk to you. Surely there's no harm in our taking a ride together, or going to a movie?" Then he said swiftly, "No, not movie. Some place