The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-02-03
En- b. att ed Love
CHAPTER ONE

was N0i AZ Jan - AoaASA9NC'
Not black-dark with a blackout,
because this was only 1871. ARMS
tice Of l941, a holiday that wob-
bled With fear. It was dark In San
Francisco. but white-dark with a
thick, thick fog.
The young man creeping ginger
ly through shrouding darkness was
whistllng the A-Minor Chopin
Valse Brilliante. Partly to apprise
other creepers Of his proximity. In
case they were foolish enough to be
out and about. Partly because It
was the only piano composition he
had managed to remember from a
$4,000 dollar musical education In
Baltimore, Boston, Paris and Wen
ma conservatories.
But mainly he was whistling be-
cause he was so miserable that
Chopin's melancholy theme intensi-
fed his misery and filled him with
a glory that, anonymously, resem-
bled happiness. At any rate, all he
wanted was to keep edging his way
through the fog and absorb his own
thoughts to the accompaniment Of
his whistled dirge.
For that reason he was angry
when he collided with the woman
and knocked her to the wet side
walk, although he did not know 1t
was a woman until he heard the
sound Of mufied feminine sobbing.
Get up" he said with churlish
impotence. He made no move to
assist her. "Ill buy you a drink or
a dinner or whatever 1t is you
want. You must want something or
you wouldn't have bumped into
me"
He could hear her scrambling to
her feet and could make out a
blurred shape standing near him.
II bump into YOU? I didn't
bump into you. You bumped into
me. You fat old fool" she cried.
With. slow, rude insistence the
mans voice froze into that Of the
woman. you deliberately bumped
into me. You couldn't have helped
knowing I was there. Didn't you
hear me whistling ?"
Il heard something that sounded
like a sick kitten"
Sick kitten?" he exploded. Say
you, whoever you are. I've studied
music for almost ten years"
Then you'd better go back and
study some more--still, l don't
know One can't expect the impos-
sible
The man could sense the insult
ing shrug that accented the insult
ing words and his cheeks became
a mixture of ice and flame. For
some absurd, unwelcome reason the
woman's jibes had affected him.
Delayed resentment rushed from
him. am not a fat old fool. I
weigh exactly 1872 pounds and I'm
only "a years old"
'Well!' she drawled with mean
ing And she laughed.
When she did the man realized,
whatever her appearance, she was
not old. Her laughter, though
haunting, was too beautiful for
anything but youth. But 1t also
was sad. 1t affected him like those
glorious ponderous chords Of the
Tschaikowsky B-Flat Concerto, be-
fore transposition and the intima-
cies of juke-boxes had accom-
plished utter ruin. Her feet began
an explanatory shuttle and the man
knew she was leaving.
He called out sharply: you've
no business here. It's dangerous
here on the waterfront" The shut
fling steps did not slacken. Hey"
he yelled, determined to make her
wait for him.
You'd better be careful" she an
swered. Il might runsnto you and
knock myself down again..
Her mockery bothered him.
please wait" he begged. AT least
let me apologize" The shutting
noise ceased. When he could see
again the misty outline Of her fig-
ure, he began to speak rapidly. II
behaved like a dog. I'm always be-
having badly. But tonight I'm
worse than usual" There was a
break in his voice that made him
sound like a small boy confessing
a misdemeanor. Il cant help 1t.
I'm so wretched. I'm so wretched /
wish I could die"
You could" the girl inserted
bluntly.
The words shook the breath from
the man for an instant. "Well," he
managed finally, Il must say you're
unsympathetic. I'm afraid you
don't realize how unhappy I am"