The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-01
CHAPTER w

could get out OF taxing Molly u
the Motions after their picnic. He
didn't want Jean to meet her yet
not until their relationship was or
a firmer basis. Molly's Have you
had regular girl all this time?" re-
quired some sort Of reply. He woulc
have to wiggle out of the situation
somehow.
Nothing to get suspicious about,
he said evenly. Jean Reynolds is
girl I've known a long time. She
came down today and is visiting Sue
Melton. Look, there's our rock. It's
flat, so we can spread out our lunch
and pretend we're at the Capetown
Inn"
But Molly wasn't so easily put
aside. Come, now, Johnny. This
Jean isn't your own true love, and
you're holding out on me? I'd be
desolate"
In trying to look at him she rode
perilously near the edge of the cliff.
swatch yourself, kid" Johnny
called. you'll get off the road. Jean
and lever hear of puppy love?"
"Sure about that?" The relief in
her voice encouraged him into
thinking she cared.
Absolutely. We have to walk
from here. Guide your bicycle over
to that rock and leave it. See, the
tide is out"
He sat down on a rock and took
off his shoes. He walked across the
sand, reveling in the way the mud
felt between his toes. He ran his
hand down a hole where quahaug
had burrowed. Summer hadn't be-
gun officially for him until he had
dug for clans.
"See," he held the small thing up,
Its shell still dripping with wet sand.
"How ooky," Molly murmured. Il
suppose Jean loves this sort OF
thing"
"Yeah, we've collected bucketsful.
Go barefooted, climb over rocks. At
first she was scared to death OF the
things. Somebody had told her that
If one caught your finger it wouldn't
let go till thunder"
It wasn't until they were seated
on the rock eating their lunch that
he realized Molly hadn't spoken for
some time. She was lovely, leaning
against the bank, her cheeks pink
with new sunburn, the kind f1eck-
ing her hair. Instinctively he knew
that this was one of the silver mo-
ments in his life. He put his arm
around her, but she drew away.
"Woman," he said sincerely,
s,youre doing peculiar things to me
here :" He pointed to his
heart.
She turned to look at him, slow
", as if this were a scene from a
play The curtain of the second act
with a back-drop of sea and sky.
"Really? Now I am surprised.
Ever since we've started, it's been
Jean this and Jean that. I'm an
outsider. Outsiders don't appreciate.
Sorry I intruded on your little Cape.
I had no idea -. :"
what on earth are you talking
about?" Johnny asked, astounded.
But Molly was tying the bandana
under her chin with firm, angry
fingers.
Eighteen and one make nine
teen. I can add. break a date to
60 on a picnic with you. Then, this
Jean comes unexpectedly. Your
whole plan is to get me safely home
again, so you can play at the Mel
tons. I wanted to meet people for
the patrons list. The people are at
the Meltons.' That wouldn't do" she
finished sarcastically.
Johnny pushed her back down
on the rock. "You can add, all right,
yourself from this scene and it's a
washout as far as I'm concerned.
The Cape Cod I love is a sandy in
let, three sides water. Call it what
you want to, I've never felt like this
about anybody else except you. Jean
Reynolds will tell you that our af-
fair was just kid stuff" His voice
was husky. She must believe what
he was saying.
"Then why can't We go to the
she asked.
I'VE can. People around here CAB
so. And Jean and I have been pals
for years"
She was laughing now and he
was happy again. Close shave, that.
sAnd you hadn't the nerve to
walk in the old groove with a
stranger?" She was close to him,
and he was inhaling the delicate
fragrance Of her perfume. He kissed
her then and held her to him for
moment. The kiss was as he had
dreamed 1t.
sThen well go to the Meltons'