“And you’ll leave in June?” Her voice was small. Her heart, now that it had spoken, felt like lead.
And Karl, in his unexpected feeling of relief, noticed nothing of the effort it had cost Judy to speak so honestly. “We have months before us—fall, winter, spring! And after I leave, long letters to and from each other across the ocean. This is not the end for us, Judy, only the beginning of something wonderful—”
Judy shivered. Karl took off his coat and placed it on her shoulders. His arm tightened, holding her close to him.
“Autumn comes early in the mountains.”
His head was close to hers. “I can’t put into words what you’ve meant to me. I’ve found the sweetest, the most wonderful girl in the world. You’ll wait for me, Judy—You must! You’ll be going to college—” Their lips met.
A burst of harsh laughter made them draw hastily apart. Two boys, not much older than Karl, came from their hiding place and stood before them jeering.
“You call that a kiss? Need any help? Give her a good squeeze—that’s what the kid’s asking for!” They laughed uproariously. There were more jests, unpleasant—the boys came closer.
Judy tried to hide her face on Karl’s shoulder but he got up and advanced toward them.
“Beat it,” he said sternly, “and be quick about it.”
“Look, Romeo’s looking for a fight!”