Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-29


Bings hands held hers. Us it
because you're afraid of being in
love, Mona o"
No" The word squeezed out
of her tight throat. 1t wasn't
fear that held her back. 1t was
knowledge. Shed been in love
once. She steadied herself, re-
Numbering that other time.
Slowly she began to summon her
strength TO fight this moment.
His grasp frightened You
couldn't-like me a little?"
But he didn't mean like" He
meant love" and that she
couldn't. This, she told herself
family is just a form of tenn
porary insanity, this wanting to
melt right into Bing's heart. It's
like sliding down a steep hill into
"A bottomless pit q. one you've
been in before. Remember how
IT was after Bob? Want TO risk
that again? How do you know
Bing's different? You can't
know.
He bent his head closer, his
check against hers. You couldn't
learn TO say 1t, even in Spanish
go. tie amo' ?"...
Panic came to her rescue,
panic that remembered too much
and made it loom bigger than
the sweetness in Bing's voice,
the IeVeIihess of his arms about
her. She pulled herself away
from all that
I'm afraid l don't care for
languages, she said, her voice
distinct and firm.
The familiar coldness was
around her now. the brittleness.
But with a difference. because
she had done this to herself. She
held her head high and started
back through the gardens toward
the club.
1t was Susy's sobs that first
penetrated Mona's awareness.
She recognized then the red
splash Of dress flung violently
on the grass of the terrace. Mona
bent instantly beside her. "Susy!
What is it,"
No answer but Susy's sobs.
Bing stopped on the other side.
You'll take cold, Susy. The
grass is damp, and this wind. D..
You must get up"
Il can't stand it," Susy moaned
/ can't I can't.
What's happened" asked
Mona anXiously.
Susy sat up then. trying to
stifle her sobbing Nothing
new" she said YEARLY. It's been
going on for months. Only 1
didn't know until tonight Fred
told us to go on back when we're
ready. He's staying. With that
woman"
"Oh, no." Mona cried.
Susy nodded. Hes a little
tight, of course. the sap. But
I've had enough. I've got to
leave him. Now" She looked
up with a sudden, wondering ex-
preston. could, couldn't -"
Gould what" Mona didn't
like the frantic look in her eyes.
Leave now. l mean right
away. So l wouldn't have to see
him again. tn be so much
harder if l do. l could pack to-
night, make the early morning
train. You'd take me. wouldn't
you, Bing ?"
He said soothingly Let's go
home and talk this over quietly.
You're in no shape to travel
alone anyway, Susy."
IN go with her" Mona was
startled to hear her own voice
saying that But why not?
Much better TO go now, while
she was still strong in her de-
.ermination, than to risk staying
and repeating the torture of
hese past few moments. =.
/ AONA had been watching that
VI pale glow there on the hori-
.on TO the north for some time
'efore she actually focused on it.
They'd been riding in silence, the
hree of them each wrapped in
lis own thoughts, Monas being
mainly concerned with not think
ne about Bing's kiss. She kept
Ietouring it carefully the way
'ou step over a grave she
bought, with a shiver.
Even when she finally realized
hat the glow might be a cane
ire. she had no inkling Of it's inn
'ortance this night in her life.
'he pointed TO it, asking uncer-
ainly of Bing Is that"
He turned his head. After
1oment's scrutiny, he said, Yes,
think so. Hard TO tell how far
way though. I'll check at the
'asilla. 3" He'd spoken quietly.