The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-02-07

without any sense Of surprise.
He looked sallow. tired. and
serious. and said Immediately.
Mind getting down. jan l
want 10 talk 10 you.'
They let Their horses stand to-
gether in the long grass. Jan sat
under gnarled apple tree while
Peter threw himself al her feet I
want to apologize for last night
he said Il won't make any excuses.
drank too much. Made fool ~
myself. guess
No one saw YOU but Fania and
l."
Don't suppose you're used
tn heavy drinking. ! went out
like light. don't remember
what happened"
Forget il. she said terselv. Is
that ALL"
No" He drew a blade Of grass
through his fingers Il want to let
my hair down. as the girls say I
don't know how come, but I've
made up my mind that the time
has come for me to turn over
new leaf. I want to straighten up
and settle down
You sound like a contortionist"
when I'm through. l have
proposition TO make. All right,
here goes You know all about me.
the poor little rich boy. none too
bright. parents divorced kicked out
Of one school after another. I'm 81
and haven't the ghost of a chance
Of graduating from Harvard or
anywhere else. I've sowed wild
oats in my day. and personally.
I'm pretty sick of oats. You see
well. there was a girl"
Evelyn Webb
He twisted around to look
mp at her. How - Yes.
that's the one. You probably
know who she is, then. She
was dancing in a show which
closed a couple of weeks ago.
Il saw her every weekend I
could get away from Cambridge.
which meant just about every
weekend
She seemed to like me. was
the big man among the boys. the
perfect stage door Johnny. Orchids
and stuff" He laughed.
Jan looked down at the
blond head so near her knee.
and wanted to move away. 4
growing irritation with him
made her fidget uneasily. She
didn't want to hear this con-
fession.
Peter didn't sense her annoy
ance.
when the show closed, thought
l had to keep on seeing her. so I
followed her to Florida Turned
out l wasn't the only sucker. The
other guy went along He didn't
follow. and he wasn't any college
boy. His money held out longer
than mine did"
She didn't tell me to go away.
but. luckily, l had sense enough to
leave before l made complete
idiot of myself So l bought an old
plane and headed for Hollymount"
He cleared his throat and went
on, 4 didn't stop to think then just
why hit on Hollymount as place
TO go to. But I've been turning It
over in my mind. and it seems to
me I had you in the back of my
head all the time"
Jan said, oh" eyes flicker
ing, but without any inflec-
ton.
He sat up and looked at her.
Maybe, while I've been playing
around with other girls. I've always
known | could come back here.
There's something steadying about
you. Jan, something to cling to.
I'm putting it badly. and l realize
you may be surprised. Jan, need
you. Dad might not like it AT first,
but will you marry me ."
Jan pushed his hands away and
jumped To her feet. standing
braced against the tree with her
breast rising and falling with her
quick breathing Peter rose. too,
puzzled
Il suppose that wasn't the best
way to put it. But you know what
I mean"
"fes, ] think do. No.
thanks" she turned TO leave.
I'm not having any today"
He caught her shoulders and
turned her around forcibly.
Jan, don't you understand ? I'm
asking you to marry me"
Il understood perfectly" she
cried. You're looking down from
way up there and doing me
great, big favor I ought to be
grateful I ought to throw myself
at you,
We'll, / won't. know
what's the matter with YOU.
You've just gotten yourself out
of one mess by the skin of
your teeth. and you're afraid
the next time will finish YOU.
You want TO Use me TO pull
you out and make your ex-
cuses."
Rot, jan he said belligerently.
You've got some wires crossed.
That isn't my idea at all"
It's no good, Peter" she said.
shaking her head. obhvious Of his
words.
What you want isn't a wife. but
someone tn lean Or n, s,L