The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-05-24
BY ADELAIDE HUMPHREYS
cAsT OF CHARACTERS

ROGER BREcKNER--hero; b
wanted to test the. stratosphers'
BERYL MELR0SE.- wealth
widow; she wanted Roger. >.
EVELYN LA FARGE-Jaek'e
mother; she wanted q son''n-i~~
Yesterday: Heartbroken' JACK
10 decides to leave, tells beryi'
But she 10 to have a chance TO
prove her love for Roger soon
er than she had ever hoped.
CHAPTER Xxx a.s -.
"Rogcr, | have something q
tell YOU" Jackie said that mex
morning when she arrived at tnt
Iospitai. Roger looked so prign'
and cheerful today, so much more
ike himself. His head was nc
longer swathed in bandageS; nc
wore his gamin-grin. his blue eyes
had lighted up as she came 'ntO
his room. IL decidcd-yeSterday
that I had better go home to-
day." r 1900 -
"That'S why you didn't come 20
sec me them" Roger asked. IL
her sudden announcement was a
surprisc-or diSappointment-he
did not give any sign Of either.
He smiled at her now, so that
hiseyes crinklcd at their corners
in the old way; he motioned
tnyard a chair. Aren't YOU go
ing to sit down." he asked. as
though he would tease her a lit
tie. Aren't you going to take
off your hat so may see your
pretty hair? You aren't going to
run away this minute, are you,
Jackie"
"No," she answered, though in
her heart she wished that that
were possible. If only she could
have run away without having to
say goodby. A goodby that was
the most difficult one she had
ever had to say. That might be
forever. But even that was not
the something she had to tell him.
That was going to be the hardest
of all. This thing that she had
decided she must do.
She sat down obediently. taking
off her hat, as he had asked her
to. The sunlight streaming
through the window blazed across
her hair. making a golden halo of
her flushed, young race. The
same warm sunshine that only
yesterday had caressed the bent
dark head of Beryl, kneeling at
Rogers side.
"fm sorry you have to go"
Roger said now: the same phrase
that Beryl had used when Jackie
had told her she was going home.
Then, amazingly, he added almost
the same words, too. "But may
be after all, il is best, my love"
,JarSic's heart gave little
twingle at the old familiar, mack
ing words. How often she had
told Roger in reply that she was
not his lQve--and now she never
could be. Now it was indeed a
mockeIy.
That wasn't what wanted to
tell you," Jackie said. She must
get this over as quickly, as pain
lessly as, possible.
What is it," Roger asked.
"You may tell me anything. l
guess i can take it-now." He
still wore his gay grin, but his
blue eyes were serious $500
es. you are almost well
now, aren't you? You ought to
be out of the hospital and hob
bing about on. erutch before
long" Jackie tried to be gay,
too. She did not see the look that
swept across Rogers face, wiping
away his grin, making his eyes
more sober. A look that would
have denied, his quick reply.
I'll say! Clutches nothing! Do
you think I'd bother with such
things, Jacket Oh, yes. Pm
sure to be out Of here now be-
fore long"
Taking wings again, | ex-
peet" Jackie added. For she
knew that one nasty crack-up
would not stop Roger. He would
never be happy, unless he could
go on with his flying.
That's right" Roger said, al
most too cheerfully, A forced
cheerfulness that again belied the
lash las OF pain in his blue ewes,
But what was il, you wanted TO
tell me, Jackie-besides goodbv ,"
$50
JuSt-that you are free" she
answered, hurrying on unicklv
Free-of our ridiculous trial en-
gagement. | mean 1t really isn't
necessary TO go on with it anv
longer Roger. can exnla;n
Things 10 Mother. She and / nm
dersstand. each other better now
emu sn9 She is going to marry Mr..
AND you still feel that Won
aon,t want to marry anyone-at
least not until you're old and
bored and feeble?" =.
Maybe not even theH," Jackie
forced another little laugh. So
Hoger was not even going to nro-
test, OF try to hold her TO his.
idea. He wanted TO be free, then
There could be no doubt of that
Jackie had tried to tell herself
that she must expect this, but il
all that. = ''0t
:" see." Roger said. He turn
ed his head away a moment ne
though the sunlight were too
strong for his eyes. But when
ne looked at her again his eyes
were smiling. That's all right,
Jackie; understand. lit didn't
turn out so hot, did 'it-my swell
Idea? Though there was a little
before l went away
after that night in the garden
I. fbon,h+