The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-04-12

ing ln1ectlon.
81 asked you if you were bored"
Certainly not"
"You weren't listening"
81 was"
"Don't be polite" He sat up to
light a cigarette. "There's no rea-
son why you should be interested.
1t must seem very dull and, as you
said, unrewarding."
81 can think of gayer Subjects"
she said, wanting to hurt him be-
cause he had hurt her.
"Such as"
"Well, aquaplaning, for instance"
Cali right. Talk away. I'll listen"
GAS penance?"
81 shan't be able to add anything
to the conversation. I've had nei-
Their the time nor the opportunity
for luxury sports"
Skiing, then"
"You're good at that, aren't your"
''Fairly. 1t was included in the
curriculum of the school at Gene
va"
81 can't add much to that SUBJ
ject," he said. "I've done little
skiing on the hills at home. Nothing
sensational. You'd consider my ex-
PLOTS amateurish, I'm afraid"
There was no humility in his
voice. His obvious intention was to
imply that an interest in sports was
trivial in comparison with his more
serious aspirations. Gay turned her
head and looked out across the wa
ter toward the shore. If it was de-
Tense, she could break through it, she
thought. But was it defense?
Didn't he, hadn't he always, con-
sidered her interests trivial? Heav-
en- knew, she thought they were. If,
in Justification, she could talk to
him, tell him why she'd returned to
the cabin
st can't talk about polo, either"
he said, breaking a lengthening
pause, COR horse shows or yacht
races or the Costume Ball at South
hampton"
"Weu," she said, presently, ST
suppose we can talk about the
weather"
always" She turned her head to
find him smiling at her, not the IRON
ical smile which fostered hostilities,
but smile which widened into his
engaging grin. 81 understand there's
been heat-wave in New York"
''Idiot!" Gay laughed. They
laughed together, amused friendly
laughter which narrowed the dis
lance between them, laughter which
held trembling vibration more con-
ciliating than words.
''That's better" He offered her a
cigarette. 81 suspect your motives
when you're polite"
"When you're polite, I know very
well what your motives are"
"What?" His eyes met hers above
the match that he held to her ciga-
rette.
you're filed with disapproval."
''I'm not" His smile softened the
contradiction. "I'm filed with sup
pressed curiosity"
Scientific curiosity?" She sat
back on the float, her arms around
her knees.
mo, purely human" He hesitat-
ed, then asked, "Your experiment?
Is it working out? Or have you bur-
led it under pine tree?"
His question caught her off-guard.
Her eyes turned, again, to the canoe
tied to the landing.
"It isn't so easily disposed Of"
she said.
"Are woodworking at it," His
voice was very persuasive.
"Not seriously. / never seem to
find time. I'm always sleeps or
hungry or interested or-contented.
- A shout hailed them from the
shore. Gay turned to see Kate ges-
turing from the landing.
'sHello!" she called in reply to the
hail. Kate eased herself down into
the canoe, unfastened the tie-rope
and picked up a paddle.
"The marines are coming" Gay
looked at John, not knowing whether
she felt more relieved or annoyed
by the interruption. What he felt
was obvious.
"Tell them to go shoot an Indian"
he said.