The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-04-26
CHAPTER Iv-Continued

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"You should have gone back, John
said as he slipped in behind the
wheel. "They would have taken me
or could have stayed here all night.
Do you realize that it's nearly three
o'clock?" He released the brake and
the car moved out into the road.
"What do you suppose Kate is think
ing?"
"The worst, probably" Gay moved
closer to him in the narrow seat.
''What is it, a boy or girl?"
"a boy" She was unconscious OF
having moved toward him, he
thought. Wonderful to have her here
very close to him, wearing his
sweater, waiting for him to ride back
to the cabin. Not real, of course, a
piece of a dream, part of the
strange intimacy of this night they
had spent together.
81 heard it," Her voice was
hushed. ''It sounded like a furious
kitten. I'd like to have seen it.
I've never seen one so-smal."
"They improve with age. He had
a close shave. It's the first one and
there were complications. I'd have
given my soul for hospital equip
ment. That" He broke off abrupt
ly, then added with brusqueness in
duced by embarrassment and the
fear that his enthusiasm might bore
her. 81 shouldn't have let you in for
this. I didn't know it was baby.
Why didn't you take the car back
to the cabin hours ago?"
81 wouldn't have missed it," she
said, still in that hushed and won
dering voice. Nothing as real as
this ever happened to me. I should
think that doing what you did tonight
would make you feel ike-God."
"Good Lord!" he said, trying to
conceal the pride and pleasure her
comment gave him. 81 didn't do
anything she couldn't have done for
herself. Made it little easier, pos
sibly. There's too much sentiment
talizing over DOCTORS" he concluded
severely.
''Oh, John, don't!" she cried with
soft vehemence. "Don't be ashamed
enthusiasm.
"I'm not actually" he admitted,
moved by the sincerity Of her voice.
''Only you're always so controlled
and-detached. You've made me
feel that enthusiasm is-naive."
81 know! I hate it'll" she cried.
"We're all that way, my friends, I
mean. We think it's smart to be
bored and disillusioned. We avoid
any display Of emotion as we would
avoid plague. Even Todd and +"
She paused.
The roadster dipped down into a
hollow where fog moved before the
headlights in wraith-like shapes.
John felt his hands trembling on the
wheel.
Don't talk about it. You needn't,
I mean. There's nothing you're
obliged to explain"
"But want to-, she said earnest
ly. II could have gone away let
ting you think what you pleased Of
me but someone else is involved.
This-yesterday morning when !
pulled my act on the float I must
have given you very unfair i'm
preston of Todd. I'm not being
forced into this marriage"
John gave short laugh. 81 could
scarcely have that impression" he
said.
''None of the things you probably
think are true" she went on. 1--WE
didn't merely drift into an engage
ment. It wasn't propinquity or the
fact that both families hoped and
expected that we would marry. I
suppose that would have put us off
each other, if anything. We're nei-
Their of us lambs which could be led
to sacrifice without good deal of
bleating."
Presently she continued. II like
Todd better than anyone I've ever
known she said, as though she
were explaining the situation to her
self as well as to him. eve enjoy
being together. We think the same
things are amusing or sad or ex-
citing"
ST should think that would be an
excellent foundation for marriage"
John said as she paused.
"But it isn't enough. It's all too
What were the words you used?-
controlled and detached. We hold
things too lightly" Mounting pas
sion famed in her voice. Todd
shouldn't have let me come here"
she said.
Let your"
''Oh, know" She gave a low
rueful laugh. HE couldn't have pre-