| Show I A Kiss That Is Prelude to Love Guess you have priority at that The most and only thing its it's been for me is a sort of communion spot Its It's about the only place I have found in town where I can think things out when they get too mud mud- died good enough Well We'll share equal rights He turned to her herand herand herand and laughed and suddenly his hand found hers She looked over at him and won wondered dered how this simple conversation and the warm protection of his hand could mean so much to her It was a conversation that Basil would have termed silly and child child- ish But somehow sitting here be be- beside beside side Johnny Davis made her feel that everything was right in the world That she was very young again and could have been sitting on her back porch with the high school football captain It made her ber feel that there were more im im- important important things in the world than money and security At this last thought she stopped and quickly withdrew her hand from Johnnys Johnny's There was wai nothing more Important titan fui bi-fui se ity ty Her mother ti tru u I proven en that U and It wi n a urn urn- 11 not 1101 tn to be fin forgotten gut ten I hats wrong ron Kit All Ale Annu Null nu afraid He lie 11 looked at her hel ques- ques Afraid Afraid of what hat she site answered defiantly def antl Perhaps of of- of yourself of-yourself yourself No Johnny Im I'm not afraid of myself m or what I 1 might be bo thinking You see tee Im I'm engaged to Basil and its it's Important to me Inc ine Very Yer im tin Johnny Johnn I She stood be t beside beside side him You really think youre you're in love lo with him Kit He 11 looked deep into her eyes ees wanting to find d the thereal thereal real answer Yes she answered him as di dl- directly as he had hud asked her Im quite sure Im I'm in love 10 with Basil Hasil You dont don't really reull know him Johnny Hes He's kind and und generous and well I 1 love him She held her I head a 1 little higher and took n a few few- steps from tram him AU All right Kit Youre You're a good kid and I just dont don't want to see sec you get any an wooden nickels Dad Dud thinks the Ute world of ot you and well so do I Kit He Ill put his hand on her shoulder shoulder shoulder der and turned her around to face fHe him again So you both feel teel sort of ot responsible sible for me me-is me is that it She Sill looked at a t him smiling He looked at nt her for a minute be be- before before before fore answering searching her face face for his reply finally he lie said Yes I guess that's about it I Well J J. J D D. is an old dear and so BO are ar you for tor worrying about me but you can stop because Basil will wm take awfully good care cure of me he i promises They started to walk together in inthe inthe i ithe the direction of the town then U The i moon was still riding fast through i a bank of clouds and Johnny looking look look- looking i ling ing back saw sow the mansion of Mar Mur- Martindale Martindale above bove a them silhouetted against the bright moonlight sky He lIe turned her touching her shoulder shoulder der so that she might see Bee It too i and its ns she looked at it she site leaned against him for a second But Dut the the second was too loo long for both of them felt the Ule current that passed between them I She turned and looked up at him and knew instantly that the moment was charmed She knew too that Johnny was going to 10 kiss her and knowing she did not stop him It was vans useless to stop something that was stronger than both of them It was Johnny that finally I let tet her hergo hergo hergo go determination and will power in his bis quick action and as he did she site sheran sheran ran from him across the moonlit fields He Ill watched her until she disappeared into the dark streets of the town Johnny was at the office early next morning Lexington was celebrating celebrating ing its centennial this year and there was much to do He lIe was as as- assuming assuming suming full responsibility in J. J Ds D.'s absence He lIe arrived at the Clarion be before fore Kit came in and therefore did not see her at lit her desk All morn morn- morning morning ing the happenings of the night be Le- before Lefore before fore recalled themselves to his hii mind Not having seen Kit he did not know just what her reaction would be to last evening He lie knew that he was in love with Kit and deeply eb st But as yet it would he be foolish to tell J J. J D. D or even Kit He buried himself In work until he could satisfy himself at the noon hour when he left the office just what Kits Kit's reception would be to him He was deep inside the many different histories of the town writ writ- writing writing ing copy when J. J J D D. burst into the theoffice office |
