Evening star., 1925-11-21

! difference from John.-that puzzled
! her. For John wasn't like any of the
other boys or men. either. He always
wanted TO talk architecture when she
wanted to dance. She guessed John
! and Brandon would be much alike II
John had had the advantages Of
! money.
John"
She hurried back to him, went up
10 where he had dropped back into
! chair and stood before him.
First she must do the obvious
thlnS~-do obeisance to the etiquette
| of occasions where 81 new and strange
! admiter confronted an old and estab-
/ lishsd one unexpectedly. Girls were
always getting into such muddles, and
getting out of them. She tried to
persuade herself that this was all that
was bothermg John-jealouSy SO pro-
found that it obscured the larger
events of the day.
II didn't know he was coming.
John" she pleaded. Il didn't ask him,
l just met him today, at the bank.
! and | didn't want him. | wanted to
be with you alone"
John got onto his feet. looked down
| into the troubled eyes, and pushed
! past the waiting form. He went over to
| a table and picked up a book. fumbled
sharply. He swung around and faced
| the girl who was watching him, her
| slim breasts rising and falling slowly:
We'll. 10, Give me the straight
OF it, he demanded. quietly. Mrs.
| Adams has given me the story you
told her. We agreed. of course. it
was fishy. But it may be all right for
her You owe me the truth
Joanna caught her breath. Her
impulse was to cry out, but she
checked It, She felt her body grow
/ ing rigid. She stared at the young
| man who leaned against the table
| regarding her coldly. cruelty, merc-
| lessly. He who was the only link
with her childhood. with her mothers S
geranium beds, with the school days
and birthday party days OF the little
| town which had been her home
| their home. He who had come also
to the city to work out his career, and
who had found her, sympathized with
| her occasional moods of loneliness,
| loved heq and humored her tempers
| and her ridiCule of him because he
was so SLOW" but wanted always
| TO plan with her the home they'd have
| for their very own, some day; that he
would build and make wondrous
thing with his architecture.
| John" she whispered, the low
| word moaning, as If it were a plead
| ing out Of her soul.
| He nodded, as if he thought he had
! caught her thoughts. and, being what
he thought they must be. agreed with
them. She rebelled against that nod
instantly, and called to him her pro
| test:
| John. What is it-what,"
He didn't move. but spoke in the
| same even, deadly cold tone: You
! mustn't lie to me, Jo." he said.
| These days are what they are. and
you girls are what you are. Money
money that you can't explain, doesn't
| come-you know that when you can't
| explain, 1t Is because you don't want to.
or somebody doesn't want you to. So
| drop the pretense. Jo. and for the sake
| OF what We've been to each other. and
what I've hoped we would be to each
| other. tell meas much as you dare I"
F.; While the girl fought hard to ease
| the pain in her brain. he dropped
his eyes, and a sad, quizzical smile
up he added: You can trust me, 10.
l won't reveal any Of your secrets,
or any ones else
! 1t was no trick, now that sent
| Joanna's hands beating against his
breast. All the trickeries had gone
out Of her aching little body 1t was
a girl who was maddened by the hurt
|
ing as girl fights for the trust that
is being denied her.
| There is nothing more to tell" she
cried frantiCally. while her hands beat
| as II to drive understanding into
him. Il don't know why the money
| was given me, nor by whom. You
must believe me. John, and help me .
She hurried on. catching her breath
| as best she could: And | want YOU
to share it with me, dear: it is for
F; You as well as me. 1t will make
everything possible for you, and you
will be big and successful. and we
shall be so happy together You've
| lost your head, John-or you wouldn't
! think
He caught her hands and held
i them so tight that he hurt But she
didn't vince; just waited, her lips
| open. her eyes hungry, for him to
| speak.
L haven't lost my head, Jo," he
| said. It's you. And l was afraid.
| was afraid it was coming, some
thing like this. I knew you could
never wear your skirts up to YOUR
! knees, 10. and flavor your kisses with
cocktails, and be as you ought to be.
| You've laughed at me and called me
a fool when I've told you that what
you and your friends think Is smart Is
only polished dirt. i wasn't old.fash.
| ioned, 10; it was only that 1 wanted
my girl to be different, and better
and safer, l could never get away
with it. though-so whatever it is,
it's happened. hasn't it?''
He had not raised his voice He
had kept his even tone. The sorrow
full, quizzical smile remained at his
lips. Joanna was helpless; every fiber
of her was wounded and useless.
All that she could say was: You
really don't mean it-John. You
don't think that 1 would"
Think" he replied. Think?
Why, what l am thinking is, that
even tonight, when you must have
known that you would have to tell me
something. some better lie than you
planned, you meet me-meet me with
this other man here, too-in a gown
like that, Half bare, True to the
last to the morals of your kind, and
your crowd
She heard her own voice, still plead
ing with him; but it sounded as if
1t were coming back to her from a
eyes had spread through her body
and numbed 1t. She laughed, and
cried out that he was playing with
| her. Then she fell into a chair and
shook it with her Sobs. But so sud
denly that 1t surprised the man who
watched her. she got onto her feet
and faced him. Her words were very
distinct, now:
You said, awhile ago, John, that
you couldn't get away with it when
you wanted me to be different than
I was-than my kind and my crowd.
| Well, there's a lot more just like
you! You didn't have anything to get
away with. And you're not getting
away with anything now.'