Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-06-29
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CHAPTER ONE

LINDA HAD SEEN Ronald last
OF a rainy night. one year ago, ot
a railroad station. A train was
coming ana Ronald was taking il
Now. as she slimpsed him
through The smoke-togged drawins
room in a Manhattan penthouse
high above the East river, where
too many people talked too much
and To" fast, the cup in her slim
hand wobh!ri.
rau. Drowned, lean, moving
slowly in his expensive tweeds.
EonatI crossed to speak to the
hostess. His profile WAS toward
IAnGa-that profile which had
coaN"d her eyes away from the
movie screen back at Hamilton,
Va, because he was SO much bet
tex looking than cinema men.
Ronald turned and stood quite
still. He narrowed his eyes a little.
rs though SonlSC:--e had told him
something he didn't quite believe.
Then he smiled. his mouth twisted
into the grin she had known since
she was ten and he was twelve, ami
he started toward her.
Linda and Ronald had intended
10 say goodby quite casually that
rainy April night just twelve
months ago. She mad thought that
Ronald would kiss her lightly, as
though he were going back to col
lege and would see her at 4 game
or a house party somewhere. After
all, it was sort of maudlin to get
excited because all of that was
over. ROn2li'S fathers estate had
yielded nothing but debts, and Ron
aid needed 4 job.
Then, as the train slowed down.
Ronald put his arms around her.
He didn't kiss her. Just stood.
clutchin& her. as though he wanted
to miss the train. At last he said:
Il feel-things about YOU, Linda.
You know them. Always remember.
won't you?' Then he tried to be
gay. Some night. when my names
news, I'll give You ring from
Singapore or Trieste or the Ho-
bokcn ferry
He picked lip his well-worn pig
skin bags. the case which held the
trumpet on which he intended to
swing to fame, and climbed on the
train.
One year before . and now
he was coming. Not by intention
BY accident. And she didn't know
how to act. Lots of things could
have happened to Ronald in this
year which had started with two
letters. 4 card from a ship whose
orchestra he had joined, and a
cable from London when he landed
o.. obscure place in a famous band.
r.. he had slipped into strange
s...~.@ months ago.
L.-;1 Steadied her wide green
eye With conscious effort she sent
GGck ,EeoroWS and the corners of
her red mouth flying upward. She
even wrinkled her short, straight
nose little, never guessing the tall
young man who was almost in front
of her remembered the gesture.
But when Ronald's strong hands
closed over herS. her heart became
a traoeze that swung madly. She
spoke calmly. though.
Hi. Ronnie! I've been waiting
for the telephone to ring" Not one
tear tripped her sweet, husky
tones.
Il couldn't call, I ran out of
niclles," he answered in the mood
she had established, but his eyes
searched hers. You aren't the
same. Linda. You've changed"
Wiser, I think" she parted.
Ronald. Ronald, you could have
reversed the chargesi Only YOU
wouldn't. YOU'RE too Independent.
There wasn't an hour that didn't
listen for the bell, or watch for the
mailman"
Ronald didn't smile when he re-
piled. His gray eyes were serious.
Il had your old number, Linda.
The one for your phone down in
VirG .nia-CcNtcr GO3. I did call,
and they said the telephone was
disconnected"
you did CALF" Now her smile
vas radiant there were stars in
the deep green of her eyes. You
remembered. Why. Ronnie?"
because we had a compact" he
answered. just as though a year
was nothing but the SPACE between
two dances or two games. He said
the words slowly. gravely, like a
prayer you laid by remembered.
"You stopped writing so long
ago" Linda said. Where did you
go?"
Il stopped writing" ne said
chccrfully, because l had nothing |