The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
CHAPTER THIRTY-sEvEN

1Hl11 -SLt L1N
Linda turned to the a where
Ronald waited as the door closee
behind Robert. 1t was such a fina
closing. Not sharp. Not swift. Jus
Inevitable.
LINDA, Sarah's eloped," Ronald
said. "Eloped with a man from
our band!"
IT didn't know she was interest
ed in any of the men in your band
she answered as she climbed into
the car.
"She isn't. That's it! Don't vol
see? But she thought that it wa!
hopeless to wait around. Oh, I'm
making a mess of it. Sarah fel
in love with me, really in love
Not at first. That was a game she
played. But later :"
His voice was broken and hurt
There was no pretense in it now
Linda spoke steadily.
"You mean since that night or
the boat when I saw you, anc
maybe before?"
He nodded, not speaking.
The road was deserted at thi:
hour. They had gone over to the
streets along the piers and turned
northward. There was a smell O.
fish and an odor of salt in the wind
Ronald spoke again. "She can
marry this man, Linda, because
she doesn't care anything abou
him. He's not a bad saxophone
but he's not for her. Some day
there'n be somebody else. Oh, hang
it, we've got to stop her, Linda!
1t seemed to Linda, thinking
about it afterward, that in that mo
ment she grew up. Suddenly the
whole pattern was clear. She ane
Ronnie had grown up together
They had given their first boy
and-girl devotion to each other. 1
had been a preface to an older
wiser love, but they had not known
They had gone on, blindly believ
ing this was real.
And it wasn't. She knew it now
Ronald loved Sarah, but he hae
felt that the new affection mus
not replace the old one In this
new understanding Linda coule
even forgive him for asking her tt
wait with her evidence concerning
F., Mr.. Parrish. She could forgive him
but not quite forget.
AS the car sped past the steam
ship agencies she spoke simply
"Ronald, why didn't you tell me
you loved Sarah?"
The eyes he turned to hers were
. troubled, not believing.
II love you'll"
So he still would cling to the
fabric of the pattern, still believe
IN something that was beautiful ane
had been lost! Oh, life and love
would be such simple things if sht
could accept his words and make
her heart repeat them.
mo, Ronald, not for a long time
Or why r you trying to rescue
Sarah?"
because L" His voice paused
then finished swiftly. Because
can't bear to see her marry any
n else!"
Linda managed to grin in the
dark car. "Swell, Ronnie, then sht
won't marry anyone else. Vel
get to her. Do you know where She
VENT"
Il think so. The saxophone play
er spilled the beans to some of u
tonight. Wanted me to hear, ant
I got the name out of him. They
have a head start. Maybe we can
overhke them"
I'm holding on tight and your,
stepping on the gas. We will over
take them!"
But you, Linda?" Suddenly h,
remembered that he had been en-
gagged to her.
She tried to laugh, but the soune
was more like a sob. She did no
care-but SO many things w e r
going to pieces. Don't you re
member, Ronnie? I'm the girl wht
told you we were taking differen
: paths awhile ago? We aren't en-
gagged anymore"
But that was foolish"
mot foolish. Just sensible. I like
you, Ronnie. You're-you're tops
But that's all. Now let's think
about getting to Sarah"
At that moment she did no