The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-31

knew she shouldn't. But there was only so much she could bear. Rin wasn't thinking of her side of this. He wasn't remembering that she had come here to be with him, to have this one day of happiness in an otherwise empty week.
 The trouble was, he saw clear ly, Bill had never looked at this from her point of view at all. Since the day his number was called. he had not stopped to think what it meant to her. Duty. That morning the induction order came, she had seen it as the govern ment exacting a duty of her as well as of Bill.
 Yet Bill himself had never seen it like that. To him, it was some thing he bore while she went on as before. While she-his voice was saving it now, taking up her ques- ton, flinging it bacl. at her fiatly, While you run around with Paul"
 T told you haven't seen him, Bill! I've told you until I'm dizzy with it. I haven't, haven't"
 Tt would be nice, if could be- lieve it."
 She stared at him. Stared as if she had never seen him before. And she never had. Not this man. Not this angry man with the curled lip, the skeptical, chilly eyes.
 Something snapped in her mind then. Something that had been growing these last difficult weeks until now it sprang forth, quiver- ing and alive, but strong and full matured. A decision. A decision she had not cen known she was making.
 Bill Marshall, if you don't trust me-if nothing I can say has any effect on the things you're think ing about me - then there's no use in going on. There's no use in my telling you anything. If we have no trust, no understanding between us any more, it's time to stop"
 She was on her feet. Her cheeks were not, pulse beat in her throat, but her slim body was very steady. And her voice was steady, as if it came from somewhere out side her
 She could hear herself-the cool determined words, the perfect control - and a part of herself stood aside and wondered that she could be doing this thing which half an hour ago would have seemed 50 incredibly fantastic.
 T stayed with my sister, re- signed my job, gave up the money needed for clothes and for free dom and for my own self-respect, just to please you. You asked me to do it only so that you could be sure I wasn't seeing Paul. I un- derstood that, Bill. I didn't argue about it. did I? gave up my job. I stayed with Helen and Eugene. Stayed in a house where I don't belong, doing work for which I'm not fitted, caring for children who aren't my own.'
 Her voice shook just little. and then was low and controlled once more. What have had, staying there? Only days to live through. One day exactly like the one be- fore and the one after. House. work and dishes, sscarcely enough money for a movie. On Sundays every Sunday, came here. It was all I had to look forward to-
 But was there any joy in see- ing you? How could there be- when you choose to quarrel with me? You've hugged this insane jealousy, nrrsed it, fed it on Heaven only knows what scraps of f1imsy suspicion! Because Suzanne Decker lost her head and said a lot of wild things she was sorry for half a minute later"
 Bill lifted his eyes, his mouth opened to speak But she rushed on, the tide of her feeling swelling.
 Its too late now, Bill. I've had all I can bear. I've waited and hoped and tried to convince you.