Evening star., 1941-09-20

r? Where was she going? Her mind
She swan easily, unbuttoning her
skirt. kicking off her shoes as she
slid through roller. The ship was
already far ahead, its lights reflected
eerily in the swelling sea. She had
not been seen. 1t would be morn
ing before Mike was notified. BY
that time she would be many miles
from Miami. The night bus to Key
West. A plane from there. Mike
didn't know that she could swim
so well-he'd never guess
Julie headed toward shore, Miami,
like a huge tiara of Neon gems, on
her right, Key Largo, still and dark,
ahead. She swan with effortless ease,
her body moving rhythmically, up
with the great sWellS down into the
| darkness. Swimming, she cried for
lornly, desolately. Slowly the frantic
disorder of her mind cleared. All
| at once she saw her escape from
seemingly intolerable situation in
its true light, that of melodramatic
| gesture, cowardly device for re-
venge. Revenge toward Mike whom
she loved, whom she adored, who had
| given her the most happiness she
had ever known. She shuddered and
moaned aloud. At that moment she
marveled that Mike had put up
with her caprices, her vanity, her
utter folly.
He said. I was a brat" she
moaned. And I AMI am"
Reaches the Lodge.
She tried to let go, to sink under
the black waves. 1t was useless
Julie was as much at home in the
sea as in her own soft bed. Fierce
ly ashamed, she swan on. At last
the shore line of Key Largo was
plainly visible, objects picked out
and italicized by the rising moon
Locating Mixes lodge, she made for
it. Then she was in the breakers,
lifted and swished onward. Drag
ging herself up on the sand, she
staggered to the lodge steps. She
sat down, closing her eyes against
the moon Moonlight meant Mike
and Hila nights.
The contorted emotions of the
past "a hours had been washed
away. They were replaced by bitter
regret and kind of childish amaze
ment. What had she done? And
why? Julie was unable to recall
what chain of events, what willful
Juggling of facts had tricked her
into this supreme act of folly. Even
Rita had lost significance. jules
soul had been purged during the
long swim she had grown up at
last.
Shivering with nightly chill, she
rose dizzily to find the key behind
a loose stone. She had put it there
an eternity ago. Inside the house,
she stepped out of the playsuit and
listlessly rubbed her body with a
soft towel. Opening the suitcase, she
caught at pink chenille robe. Mike
had brought the robe to her one day
when the barometer was falling. He
had seen it in a window-thought it
looked cuddly like Julie. She had
lighted a fire and she went to stand
before it. Her teeth chartered. She
sank both hands into the deep
pockets of the robe.
81 Love You"
Her fingers touched folded sheet
of paper and she withdrew it,
creasing it absent-mindedly as she
stared unseeingly into the fire. Ex-
tending a hand to toss the paper
into the blaze, she started. Her
name was written across the folded
sheet-in Mixes handwriting. Trem-
blingly she opened the note, The
hastily penciled words danced before
her eyes. Slowly they took form.
Julie, darling; you didn't push
the suitcase far enough under the
bed. It's all right, dear. know
that man can't bully girl into
marrying him and then expect her
to love him. Good luck, darling"
Below his signature he had added
postscript: "If you ever change
your mind I'll be waiting, Julie. I
love you"
She crushed the paper against her
breast. Then, cheeks flaming, lips
parted. she read it again. Mike
loved her-he loved her. Her knees
shook and she sat down on foot
stool. She covered her face with
both hands. Mike had loved her
when he wrote the note, but he
wouldn't love her when he learned
of her treachery, her cruel stupid
ity. She dragged her hands down,
letting them fall helplessly into her
lap. Raising her tormented eyes, she
saw the telephone. 1t seemed to
beckon. Slowly she rose.
Waiting for the Miami call to go
through, she prayed: Please, God,
let him understand when I explain.
I'll go on my knees to him, God
Please help him to forgive me-"
Waiting. she cried quietly. She'd
have to call the docks. If she told
them that she had changed her mind
about sailing at the last moment
Mike would be saved the humili-
alton of unpleasant publicity. Oh,
why didn't he answer? Why?
Then, "Yes-yes-" Mixes voice,
husky and unsure.
'Mike-it's Julie"
"Julie-dear-"
"I-I've been silly, Mike"
"Never mind-never mind. Where
are you?"
She faltered. I'm down at the
lodge on Key Largo. It's lovely
there's a moon"
Mike said: I'll start right now.
Hold the moon. darling"
(Copyright 1941. Chicago Daily News, Inc.)
E,oJ