The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-09-23
CHAPTER THREE

ROSE OPENED her mouth,
gathering strength for q definite
refusal, but Ylena silenced her with
a quick, stern look. Meanwhile the
hotel attendant, evidently believ-
ing the man In the station wagon
a Joking friend Of the two women.
placed the luggage on top the We
hicle inside the rallied protection.
While Ylena was tipping him, Rose
moved nearer the driver.
You are the most outrageously
impertinent young man"
III you're trying to make the
$40 train" he interrupted. you'd
better quit fussing and get in here
or I can promise you 1t will be no
gentle ride
Ylena seconded the idea Eyes,
Rose. You've been condemning
western hospitality. Here's an ex-
ample and you snub It" She pushed
the pudgy little gray-haired woman
ahead of her onto the small middle
seat Of the station wagon" Quick
ly the driver headed for the depot,
The blond girl continued:
II think you owe few apologies,
thanks at the very least, for these
accommodations" She nudged her
companion, who in turn made few
perfunctory gracious remarks, In
splurtering, unwilling fashion.
For a lengthy moment Rose
scanned the man seated directly in
front Of her, noticing the breadtf
of his shoulders and the good shap
Of his head. Then suddenly she
caught his clear-eyed glance in the
rear vision mirror. Even before he
smiled she knew he was aware Of
her scrutiny. Not really wanting
to, she smiled back, then suddenly
felt much better for having done 1t.
The train was In when they
pulled up. without losing time,
their volunteer chauffeur grabbed
Roses bags and headed toward the
train. The two women followed him
through the hot, blackish, tropical
like dusk. For a few seconds they
stood, unable to voice the words
they wished to say, then the con-
ductor shouted his unintelligible:
"All aboard" and they gazed help
lessly at each other while the tears
shook in their eyes. Their helpful
new-found acquaintance rejoined
them, then as quickly moved aside
to give the women privacy for their
heart-touching farewell. For now
they were open about their feel
ings; no longer could they hide
them beneath barbed speech.
Suddenly the girl kissed the old
er woman's cheek and whispered:
Things will be different some day."
Then she fed across the platform.
She ran down one Of the cobble-
stone walks through the cactus
garden beside the station and
stopped in the shelter of q fra
grant, Towering oleander bush.
The rasping tones OF the locomotive
bells were as mournful as those OF
ancient cathedral chimes. Ylena,
listened, thinking. The train is
pulling away and when IL leaves, I
am completely alone" She began
to weep violently.
Several minutes later, she dried
her eyes for the hnal time and
looked about her In the still hot
night On nearby bench sat the
young man in the white linen suit,
waiting. She started toward him.
At the same time he approached
her.
rs there anything I can do 10
help your" Not trusting her voice,
she merely shook her head. He Of
fered: Then Ill take you back to
your hotel"
In her room once more. Ylena
realized she had forgotten TO ask
his name. All rational procedure
had been lost in her grief. But she
could learn HE name later, this