Evening star., 1941-05-13

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really mad TO think about things.
He'd felt beWildered since the death
of his parents, trying to cling to the
remnants of the old life, and search
ing with frightened eyes for some
sort of stability in this new perilous
sea of responsibility into which he
must plunge.
He'd always had some one to do
his thinking for him; he'd never had
30 worry about money, where it
came from, how it should be spent;
he'd not thought about what lay
beyond college, because it had been
q foregone conclusion he'd have a
fine job with the firm. Now the
firm was gone and the money was
gone, and those who had done all
his planning and thinking were
gone, too. And there was Lucy.
And, to top everything off, he
didn't want any one to guess how be-
wildered he really was, inside. He
must make show of decision and
responsibility. He'd get a grip on
himself this summer. He'd have
plenty of time to think things
through.
AS he rose and went into the dark
house at last, a strange thought
came to him. He wondered if it
had been something in his Subcon-
scious mind connected with Mary
Crews that had led him here to the
farm. 1t occurred to him that he
wanted to show her, more than any
one else, that he could stand on his
own two feet.
Decides to Take Swim.
The next morning the sun shining
on his face awakened him. Lucy
was already up. He could hear her
racing about outside somewhere,
whistling exhuberantly.
He found, when he tried to rise,
that he was stiff and sore from
yesterdays unaccustomed exercise
He had promised Lucy they'd go
swimming the first thing in the
morning, too. He put on his SWIM
ming trunks, threw an old Terry
cloth robe about him, and went
downstairs.
The path to the pit was complete
ly overgrown, and they had to cut
through brambles until they came
to a place where the path forked.
There it seemed well worn. Lucy,
impatient and excited, ran ahead
Of him, chattering happily.
Were almost there, now" Court
said as they came over the brow
Of the hill He caught her shoulder
suddenly, held her quiet for a mo-
ment. 1T sounds" he whispered,
"as if some one is there having a
swim now. Hear the Splashing?"
The sounds ceased. Hello there!"
Court shouted warningly.
"Hello!" The answer rang back
clearly. 1t was Mary Crews voice.
The well-worn path led around
the edge of the cliffs leading down
to the pit. Mary Crews was perched
up on huge boulder cleft from the
sheer rise of the stone cliff. She
wore a faded yellow bathing suit,
and the sun striking her light hair
made her seem golden all over.
Mary warns Lucy.
~You look like you're all made of
goldl" Lucy cried frankly, as she
scrambled down to the waters edge.
Mary Crews laughed delightedly
at Lucy, but her laughter faded, as
1t usually did, when she caught
sight of Court. The fact had never
struck him before.
why" he burst out, as he came
up to her, do you despise me SOP"
He'd forgotten Lucy's presence.
"I don't despise you" she said,
with more calmness than she felt.
She turned quickly to the child.
'HCan you swim, Lucy?"
"A little" Lucy replied. "Just
watch me-" She made great
plunge and started, her stringy little
arms failing the water wildly.
Don't go any farther than the
beach there" Mary warned. Its
swfully deep beyond that"
Court settled himself on the rock
with Mary. They both watched
Lucy's progress.
"You think I'm no good" he said.
whatever gave you that idea?"
well, it's quite evident"
"But it's not true, Court. I've
always admired you. Tremen-
dously"
as that the reason you kept those
clippings?" He said it before he
thought. He was surprised to see
her face and neck redden, and con-
fusion widen her eyes, as she turned
to look at him.
''Why-I-"
Lucy let it slip. She didn't in
tend to tell me-"
"Well, If you must know" she bit
her lip, 81 used to have girliSh
crush on you. I knew you when
we were just-children and then
when I first saw you at college, I
thought you were-good looking.
I'd forgotten I had the clippings,
until happened across them when
I was unpacking my things" The
words tumbled awkwardly from her
lips.
Court Is Confused.
81 see" 1t was his turn to look
confused. Funny how you get
those crushes on impossible people,
when you're pretty young"
Eyes, 1t Is" She stood up suddenly
and plunged into the clear water
and began swimming with long,
graceful strokes toward the sandy
beach where Lucy played.
A sting of anger pricked Court.
He tried to think of something smart
to say to her, but he couldn't. He
could hear her and Lucy talking and
laughing together about something.
He took off the terry cloth robe
and plunged into the pool himself
and began swimming toward them.
He passed the beach and swan on
into the deep part of the pit. The
water there was very cold, and the
distance to the far end of the pit
greater than he had thought. He
made It to the end and was SWIM
ming back when the cold numb
ness In his legs suddenly cramped
them, doubling him up. He felt
himself going down and could do
nothing.