The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-04-19

whats the use? I'm licked be-
fore I start"
Her face sobered. The smile, curv-
ing her lips, trembled.
John" she said, hesitantly.
eyes, Cay"
But she ducked her head. When
it emerged, water streamed over
her face as though she were weep
ing.
The bow of the boat cut through
water which shimmered with the
reflected glow of the sunset. Gay
lifted and dipped the paddle slowly,
watching circles, trimmed with gold
and flame and amethyst widen out
across the still surface of the lake.
The wind which had blown all day
had died down but the air was grow
ing cold. She wished she had
dressed more warmly but the sun
had been hot when she'd set off,
alone, directly after lunch.
He'd thought she was dramatic
ing that afternoon. Well, hadn't she
been-a little? The rebellion beneath
the words she'd spoken was sincere
enough but her expression of it had
been theatrical. Why couldn't she
have talked to him directly? He'd
given her an opportunity. She'd felt
very close to him, for moment,
nearer to mutual understanding than
they had ever been. Then pride had
gotten in the way, had checked the
spontaneous response to the tender
ness in his voice that she had want
ed to make. It was just as well.
She was leaving tomorrow to keep a
promise. What John thought of her
was unirnportant. She would, in all
probability, never see him again
after tonight
No use thinking of that. Gay, at
some distance from the shore,
turned the canoe in toward the land
ing. There was only one explana-
ton she wanted to make. She'd
been, when she talked TO John this
morning, very unfair to Todd. Re-
morse for the impression she'd prob
ably given John of him had nibbled
uneasily at her thoughts during the
afternoon. She was fond of Todd.
She loved him as her best and dear
est friend. Strange But that was
true. He was her best and her dear
est friend.
But how could she explain Todd to
John? The bow of the canoe bumped
gently into the landing. Gay dropped
the paddle and held on to the plank
ing with one hand while she reached
for the rope. Wouldn't anything that
she might say be too much or too
little? They hadn't merely drifted
into an engagement. 1t wasn't only
ptopinquity or the suitability of the
match which had eliminated in the
promise she was leaving tomorrow
to keep. They'd been dearest friends
since she could remember, separat-
ed for long intervals when he or
she had been travelling or in school
or involved in a temporary infatua-
ton, but always coming together
again, taking up their friendship
where they had dropped it, never
admitting but mutually conscious OF
the fact that they liked each other
best.
Johns voice called her name. She
turned. He was walking down the
path toward her, a dim figure in
the deep twilight of the thickly
crowding trees.
81 was just setting out to look for
-you," he said.
"Were your" Her voice steadied.
Supper over?"
.Some time ago." He stepped
back to allow her to precede him
up the narrow path to the cabin.
'sKate took her car to the garage in
the village"
'sWhat for?"
"To have everything checked be-
fore you start in the morning. Of
fered to take it for her but she
seemed to prefer to 60 herself.
Where have you been all after
noon?"
"Just drifting"
didn't it occur to you that L
that we might be concerned about
your" He held the screen door open
for her.
mot especially" She glanced up
at him as she stepped inside. He
was frowning and the set of his
mouth was stern. IF you were, I'm
sorry" she added.
A fire blazed and cracked in the
fireplace. She went to the hearth
and held her hands to the warmth.
"Are you cold?" He struck a
match to light lamp.
"A little. The air is chilly after