"He was now swimming parallel to the bank and there he saw the cruel beast that would have seized him crouching upon the still form of his little playmate."

All three boys were sitting straight up on the bed, eyes popping with excitement, mouths full of popcorn.

" The lioness, Sabor, was intently watching Tarzan, evidently expecting him to return to shore," Lucy continued, "but this the boy had no intention of doing that. Instead he raised his voice in the call of distress common to his tribe, adding to it the warning which would prevent would-be rescuers from running into the clutches of Sabor. Almost immediately there came an answer from the distance, and presently forty or fifty great apes swung rapidly and majestically through the trees toward the scene of tragedy."

"It's time to get ready, Lucy." Clyde had entered the boys room unnoticed. He loved to hear Lucy read. It always surprised him that she did it so well � it belied her limited education. Tonight, he hoped his wife would stay in her good mood. He needed to tell her something unpleasant, and she didn't accept unpleasant news well.

"No, Dad." Bruce cried. "Let her finish this chapter. "Please!"

"Sorry Brucey." Lucy pushed a curl off Bruce's face. "It's �to be continued' time. Now it's time for sleep. I'll take the popcorn. Lie down. You too, Dale. Jack.

"But Mom," Jack pleaded. "You can't leave us hanging in the middle . . .

"Jack, stop it now. I said that's all so that's it. Don't argue with me."

"No need to raise your voice to them, Mama. They're just excited," Clyde said. "Go right to sleep boys. Remember, I'm going to wake you at 6:00 for Mass tomorrow morning."

"Sorry, Mom," Jack said and turned toward the wall and covered up his head. "She wouldn't get that mad at Bruce," he mumbled.

"What'd you say, Jackie," Lucy yelled.

"Nothin'. I didn't say anything." Jack said. He closed his mouth tight and thought,

"Please, God, don't let her get angry with Dad. He was just sticking up for me."

"Then go to sleep." Lucy was calmed. "We'll be back late, but Mrs. Krupps will be here. I want no trouble, you hear?"

"Yes mother," all three boys chimed in unison.

"We've got to hurry, sweetheart," Clyde said. "I have a hundred things to do before the band gets there. The chairs are probably not even put away yet. The Legion had a big meeting Wednesday, and if I know that committee, they went straight to Fruth Hotel for a beer and left everything a mess."

"I can't understand why you don't put your foot down, Clyde. After all, you are the Commander. You just sit back and take everything that's handed to you. They walk all over you, and you don't say a word. No wonder you're too tired to dance every dance. It's not very American of the American Legion if you ask me." Lucy was sitting at her vanity combing her auburn hair into an upswept pompadour.

"Now sweetheart, don't get all worked up about things again. Let's just have a good time tonight. The Simpson's will be there. He's in town on business. Came to the office today with news from Washington."

"That Sadie Simpson. Every time they come here she has her eyes all over you. That's because Edward is fat and his breath smells like rotten fish. I'd look at someone else too if I was married to him."

"I'd agree with you, love, but he is my boss now that the election is over. Get your dress on, darling. We don't want to be late." Clyde handed her a blue chiffon that was his particular favorite.

"I don't want to wear that thing again. Get me that cherry one with the lace collar." Lucy had finished her hairdo and was patting powder on her cheeks. "That one's so bright it'll remind you that I'm the one you should be making eyes at. Not that Sadie. She's after you. I just know she is. Her and her curls and pouty lips. I don't trust her far as I can see her."

"Here's the cherry one. Which shoes do you want? The patent pumps would go well.

"Get me the white. It's summer. I can wear the black all year."

It was a short walk to the pavilion in the park where the meetings and dances were held in the summer, but Lucy didn't like walking. Clyde disliked getting the Ford coupe out of the garage for such a short trip, but he disliked Lucy's complaining more. "She's so beautiful," Clyde thought. "What makes her so unhappy? I fell in love with her the moment I saw her, and I still love her more than life. Why can't I make her happy?" Clyde doesn't have these thoughts much anymore. Only certain times � like tonight. There's certain to be a confrontation over Sadie later. God knows, I don't even like the woman, but there's no convincing Lucy. All it takes is an unsummoned smile in Sadie's direction.

* * * * * * * *

"Last dance, sweetheart?" The band played the beginning notes of "Goodnight

Sweetheart/til we meet tomorrow" and Clyde, in the manner of a true gentleman, bowed and offered his hand to Lucy. It was 1:00 AM, and he was exhausted. Six o'clock in the morning was not far away, and his wife was in another funk. As he had anticipated, Sadie had clung to his arm for a few seconds while he lit her cigarette and the familiar black look crossed Lucy's face. She hadn't spoken to anyone since, much less her husband.

"Well, I can't very well say no when the whole town is looking, can I?" Lucy placed her hand on his arm and they glided onto the floor as they had done hundreds of times before.

"How could you, Clyde? Flirting with that woman in front of everyone. I'm mortified. The women in this town dislike me the way it is," Lucy whispered in his ear. "They hardly speak a civil word to me except at the sewing circle meetings. Then only because they meet at my house. I don't even know why I agreed to have them in my home. You just had to build me the nicest place in Whitewood. Trying to press me into marrying you. That's why you did it." Lucy was having difficulty holding back the tears that were always ready to flow. "Now you're trying to humiliate me. How could you?" She put her face on his shoulder to hide the tears that wouldn't stay back.

"Let's dance toward the door, sweetheart." Clyde nudged her toward the door. "No one will know you're crying. They'll just think we can't wait to be alone."

The moon cast a silvery shadow on the path leading to the car. Lucy was sobbing aloud � much louder than after her usual bouts of jealousy. Clyde , who had been through these indulgences in self-pity ad nauseam, was holding her in his arms waiting for the right moment to ask her to forgive him for being so unkind, thus putting an end to the histrionics.

"Oh, poor Clyde. You have enough problems without me giving you more."

Clyde was a little stunned. Never had he heard Lucy declare herself to be unworthy of anything or anyone.

"Why do you put up with me?" Lucy's sobs were abating now and she had pulled out of his arms. "I don't deserve you. I should be married to that horrible Democrat, Edward Simpson. He's who I deserve."

This change in her attitude worried him � especially the Democrat remark.

"Did something happen tonight? Did someone say something to you?" Clyde held her closer.

"Sadie. That little witch. She said how sorry she was that you were out of a job. Tell me that isn't true, Clyde. Please. It isn't true, is it?" Lucy's sobbing was nearly out of control.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is true. I'm sorry you had to learn it that way. No wonder you're so upset. You couldn't possibly be that worried about Sadie. I never did like the woman, and I hated that you implied she had any control over me."

Lucy pulled out of Clyde's arms and buried her sobs in the trunk of an elm tree, the one

Clyde had proposed under seven years ago.

"I was going to tell you right after the dance, Lucy. I didn't want to spoil your evening."

"How could they do this to you � and after you worked so hard."

"I only did my job � keeping this county in the black. That's what county treasurers are supposed to do."

"It's that Roosevelt. It's his fault. Why would anyone could vote for that communist,"

Lucy cried. "America's ruined. We're ruined. We have three boys to feed. Oh, Clyde. I'm so worried. I can't have my sisters feel pity for me. Especially Ida. She's forever reminding me that her husband's rich. I couldn't stand to have her pity me."

"We both knew that if the Democrats won the election, I'd lose my job. Stop crying, Lucy. I'll find another one. Let me worry about the money. You just have to take care of the boys and be beautiful. Can you do that?"

"Not if we're poor, I can't. Oh, God. I'm so miserable," Lucy sobbed.

"Come on, sweetheart. Let me drive you home. It's late and you'll feel better in the morning." Lucy folded into her husbands arms and allowed him to lift her into the car for the ride home.

"Wake up, boys." Clyde was still exhausted from last night�s wrangle with Lucy's fears.

"Early Mass time, gentlemen. Rise and shine."

"Morning, Dad." Jack stood at the window, dressed in his Sunday clothes running a brush through his hair. "Dale and Bruce are downstairs with Mother. She woke us up early."

Clyde gathered his robe closed around his middle, scratched his head, and headed for the staircase. This was the first time in his memory that Lucy has arisen before him much less getting the boys up and dressed for Mass before seven on a Sunday

"Would you drive us up to the Academy for Mass this morning Clyde?" Except for her nearly imperceptibly swollen eyes from the tears of the night before, Lucy looked strangely serene and beautiful.

"Are you alright, sweetheart � I mean, why are you . . . you're going to Mass?" Clyde could only stammer.

"Well, don't be so shocked. One of us has to pray to the Lord for our salvation and it certainly isn't going to be you. I just hope Father Columbine won't faint when he sees me. But he probably won't recognize me except I look like a Keffeler, I guess. He has seen enough of us." Lucy was fussing with Dale's hair and straightening his collar. "I wonder if Sister Calista still teaches. I still can't stand her. She was so mean except to those rich boarders. I wish you had converted like I wanted you to do. Mama would be so happy, and I'd have something over on Ida � going to the Presbyterian Church � shameful. Made Mama so unhappy. I wish she wasn't so rich. I could lord it over her for a change. Wouldn't she be surprised if she saw me in Mass. But of course that's impossible. She'll be in . . ."

"Hold it, Lucy. Your rambling on like an out-of-control engine." Clyde put his arm around her and pulled her to him. "Calm down, sweetheart."

"Come on, Mother." Bruce tugged her skirt. "We don't want to be late. We get dirty looks from the Nuns if we get in after Mass starts.

"I'll pull the car around front. You're sure you want to do this, Lucy?"

"I'll tell God how I feel. I prayed last night and I was able to sleep. I don't want to feel this way. I'm so scared. I'm so miserable."

Clyde reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys and handed them to his oldest son. "Jack, pull the car around to the front. I'll get dressed," Clyde said. "Don�t hit the side of the garage like you did last week."

"Wow! Right, Dad. Gee, thanks. I'll meet you out front with the car. Won't hit anything � promise." Jack grabbed the keys and ran to the back of the house.

"You're dressed enough to drive us, Clyde," Lucy said. "You just have to drop us off."

"I guess if you can do this, the least I can do is pray with you. It won't take me but a few minutes to change."

"Oh, Clyde. You're really going to go with us? You've never gone to Mass." Lucy's eyes showed signs of tears but she held them back.

"Out the door, boys. Let's all pray for something good today. I'd guess that God won't even let that lion eat Tarzan if you all pray hard."