Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-25

We o w h d. X
Flushed with Sum-
mer toll she sank
back on her heels, &
pushed her huge hat to
her nape and laughing,
looked up at him. Her
pupils were big and
pansy dark and shy
Peter please. 1 beg.
do not look at me.
Where's Jackie? Shall
we go in and have
some iced tea BEER"
IF YOU don't mind" said
Peter, very grave let's stay out
here"
He sat down on the grass beside her so
that they were both hidden behind tall
Iupne and saliva and The high round spicy
heads of peonies. you see, I've quite lot
to say to you"
Her eyes, with fringed lids tanning to
show and then to hide enticing depth
were suddenly quite wild and she was pale
ITO say to me
Eyes You remember my friend, Raoul
de Theirac, OF course"
"Of course" she whispered. Nothing
has happened to him ,"
mo He has gone back TO France.
Before he left he had a long conversation
with me- l.. these perilous days he is
deeply concerned about his country future.
He asked me TO come TO see you just as
soon as | could make it, Lucy. You see
and YOU must believe it because its terrif-
icaly true he he loves you. very
difficult phrase for Peters unaccustomed
tongue which had not yet been able 10 shape
those words for his own Qualification.
Iucy's eyes changed she slipped sideways
from her sandalled heels TO the grass, her
hand gathered the turf her lids ceased fan
ming and throw steady fringcs of shadow
across her gardcn-flush
He told me" Peter closed his own eyes.
frowning. and I've tried to memorizc it, He
said it slowly so that | shouldn't forget You
can't imagine how intense he was. i want
YOU to take to her the ring my father sent
me when he was dying in the last war |
want you to ask her 10 do me the honor and
the mercy to wear it so that when she feels
its weight she will say, "Raoul loves me
am waiting for his return. He is coming back
TO ask me to be his wife.
DETER drew out heavy gold ring and dis
7 played it on his palm, laying his hand be-
side hers which pressed its own palm against
the grass and bending his head down close be-
side hers to examine the token. Lucy looheu
al the ring but said nothing.
How different from Henry Treynes was
this hand Of Peters nervous sldlful, family
grimed from his factory labors
"Ee also asked me 10 make you believe
i'm him and in his love. To feel how
how very true and serious II is. that he can
have no happiness ." Peters reserve WAS
torturng him so that his eyelds blinked
rapidly and his color changed, unless IT con-
sists consists in the hope Of IN the hope
OF you caring for him. He begs you 10 write
" ! have his address
He hopes that when he comes back you
will consider him his suit mat s.
Think what ne called il. And Lucy here
Peter smiled and his face took on the teasing
gamin look of an American boy, "he begged
me to put the ring on your finger and 10 kiss
your hand" After a short silence May IT,
said Peter.
She sat still and did not lift her eyes from
the ring So without waiting for permission,
ne took up with a touch Of exaggeration, her
hand the right one, put on her fourth finger
the too-large ring and then bent down his
head HIS lips felt warm and strong and
urgent
Lucy was shy she was also profoundly
timid but unlike Jackie she had never suf-
fcred from the fear and the pride which
afflicts most mortal maidcns who love without
assurance the object Of their first desrc
Jackie had been deliberately cold and coy
and "fucndly' most unlovcr-lhtc But Lucy
bred 10 idolatry was as naive IN such a stua-
ton as Miranda on her island. as serenely free