Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-23

IT WAS ended as swiftly and
! impulsively as it began.
Rosemary drew away quickly,
startled and embarrassed and up
set. a red flush burning her
throat and her face. her eyes
hiding a sick look of shame.
"Jeff-I'm sorry! must have
gone crazy for a minute--life was
just-too much, all at once.
couldn't bear it-and / had-no
one but you!"
jeff let his hands fall and
walked away a pace, folded his
arms and stood staring through
the open door at nothing what
ever.
1T was-all too much for me.
for a minute too, Rosemary. This
weather-everything. We-don't
have to explain things, do we?
We've been pretty close for a
long time"
No" Rosemary said. rather
fatty. She was shivering all over
and strung taut. as though a
cracking current had run
through her body. as though Jeff
were part of it, would always
be a part. Her hands moved in
a small. helpless gesture, and
there was a husky break in her
voice as she said, Move don't
have to make explanations. Ever.
/ was-just being silly. I'll 60
away now-and you can forget
it."
But she did not move, for
somehow there was no feeling in
her body at all. Only her heart.
where burning. ragged pain
tore at her. Suddenly the bot
tom was out of the world and
all her blithe assurance. her cool
defenses. were gone. She was in
love with jeff She had been in
love with him forever. not know
ing, stupidity unaware She was
in love with Jeff-this must be
love. Nothing else could hurt so
much.
And there was Jeff, standing
with face like a stone. not look
ing at her. his hands in his
pockets, only the little twitching
muscle in his face showing that
anything had happened. Jeff,
aloof from her. holding away,
trying to think of gallant things
to say. no doubt, something tha>
would ease her pride and her
feelings - Jeff. who had not
wanted her this morning-who
did not want her now.
LIE was essaying some sort of
- casual speech. but her ears
scarcely heard ii because a wild
wind was roaring in them, and
her heart was pounding and cry
ing. so that she bit her lip.
Jeff was saying. Rosemary,
for a long time now you've been
very precious TO me-"
Il know" she said, steady
again, stony, frozen somehow.
II don't think you do know
Because I've never told you. I
couldn't tell you. There are-rea-
sons. Things had hoped to put
an end to-forever. Long ago.
But, l haven't been able to do
that. So 1 had to keep you
just precious-and far away
IT know. Like a little sister.
You told me. that once. long ago
before went north last Fall
remember? We sailed the old
Katsi down to Palm and the wind
died-we were so long getting
back, almost all night. And you
told me how precious / was to
you-you told the Sergeant that
too. that I was like your own
little sister. Jeff-cant we just
go on-from there ?"
He shrugged a little, as though
he shook off something that had
laid cold hands upon him. She
saw suddenly how tall Jeff was,
and that his face which up to
now she had accepted so casu-
ally, liked and trusted and never
looked at with a critical eye, was
dark and strong and handsome.
with something behind it as
though gold skin and veins of
silver, were laid over a frame
work of steel.
There was no yielding in his
face, and no compromise. and she
Lpaxar sAtc