The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-09
CHAPTER xv-Continued


the leather upholstery, looking out
across the dance floor where cou-
Piles lcircled in q wash of artfully
mellowed light.
"You called me up one day and
asked me to take you dancing" con-
tinued Todd.
Because he was magnificent in
the sky but no use at all on a dance
floor. And you took me. AS I re-
member the subject Of aviation was
never mentioned between us. Not
for six months, at least. Yes, all
that's true" she added thoughtfully.
WED have something
"a great deal. I'd try not to be
too much in evidence. You could
consider me part of the landscape,
until .8sl 4.s
''Todd!" she cried in soft protest.
She turned to look at him, her eyes
Swallowed, thoughtful, a half-smile
trembling across her lips.
The music had stopped. It began
again, a familiar tune. A voice,
meltingly tender, sang
"Red sails in the sunset
Far out on the sea-"
Their eyes met.
"Our tune. You bribed them to
play it. When you spoke to the
waiter a few minutes ago"
''All's fair in" He smiled with a
twinkle in his hazel eyes. "Will you
dance with me, Gay?"
In silence they walked to the edge
of the floor. She slipped into his
arms, so accustomed to his dancing
technique that her position, her
steps, conformed instinctively with
his. They circled out across the
floor, rhythmically, with practiced
ease, moving as though they were
one person, her red-brown head
close to his blond head, her dress of
cream-colored lace, starched to
crispness, as fragile as frost-work,
a delicate silhouette against the
black Of his evening clothes.
s'That's the way it is with us,
Gay" he said after moment. "No
false starts, no stepping on each
others toes, no necessity for apollo
gies."
''I'd rather dance with you than
anyone. But life isn't all dancing,
Todd"
Dancing is a symbol. We under
stand each other"
Her head turned, drew a little
away so that she could look at him.
His eyes met hers steadily.
"There'd be sailing and dancing"
he said gently Friends, home,
children, if you want them, friend
ship. They're good things, Gay"
Very good things, Todd. But are
they enough-for your"
81 told you, I'm conceited." He
smiled.
You're darling"
''Will you, Gay?"
''I'll think-I'll try-I'll see"
Gays evening wrap slipped from
her shoulders, fell to the floor. She
walked across to the desk between
the windows. When you killed a
thing, you killed it quickly. She
seated herself, selected a sheet of
note paper, drew the pen from it's
holder.
"John, darling" The pen moved
steadily across the sheet of cream
colored paper, beneath the engraved
address of her mothers apartment.
1--WE have hurt each other too
much and too often. It isn't your
fault or mine. I love you. I have
tried as you have tried, but trying
does no good. I'm going to marry
Todd, very soon, by the time you
receive this, perhaps, we will have
been married. He understands, as
you must and will. There can be
no peace for either you or me while
we continue to fight something that
is too big for US, something which
we cannot alter or control.
want peace for you, for myself.
YOU will find it in your work. I
will find it, eventually, in the life
which Todd and !, together, will Gre
ate. Don't be bitter or self-reproach-
full. u don't regret having loved
you. You must not regret what has
ldppcuSu. hGep Tie memories OF
the happy times we've had and for
get the others = q
The pen came to q stop. She
read what she. had written. IT
seemed adequate. There was moth
ing to add except her name. She
wrote it quickly, folded the sheet of
note7paper, enclosed it in an enve-
lope, found a stamp. CDR. John L.
Houghton," DR.. Sargeant's address
in Portland. Her writing was clear,
each letter distinct and carefully
formed. It betrayed no sign of emo
ton. She was glad of that. There
was nothing to indicate hesitancy.
She glanced at the clock on the
night stand beside her bed. Better
to mail it now than to wait until
morning. She rose, stopped, picked
up heraevening wrap. Standing be-
fore the mirror, she slipped it-un,
secured the fastehings with delib-