The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-05-22


had devised them. She had even rea-
lized of late that their growing init
macy might handicap him if openly
commented on. But now she must see
him daily, or speak to him. Her tele-
phone was private wire leading only
10 her own bedroom. She called him
the first thing in the morning the last
thing at night.
Her voice, when she spoke to him,
was an organ transformed; low, VI
brant, with a timbre in it's tone that
would have made 1t unrecognizable to
an outsider. Her words were COM
| monplace enough, but pregnant and
meanlngful for her.
what did you do today? Did you
have a good day? Why didn't
you call me? Did you follow
up that suggestion you made about
Kennedy? 1 think it's wonderful
idea, don't you? You're a wonderful
man, Dirk; did you know that?
miss you. Do you?
When? Why not lunch?
Oh, not if you have business appoint
ment. How about five o'clock?
4. No, not there. Oh. ]
don't know. It's so public.
Yes. Good-by. Good
night. Goodnight.
They began to meet rather furtively,
in out-of-the-way places. They would
lunch in department store restaurants
where none of their friends ever came.
They spent off afternoon hours in the
dim, close atmosphere Of the motion
picture palaces, sitting in the back
row, seeing nothing of the film, talk
ing in eager whispers that failed to
annoy the scattered devotees in the
middle of the house. When they drove
it was on obscure streets.
Paula had grown very beautiful. her
world thought. There was about her
the aura, the glow, the roseate exhala-
ton that surrounds the woman in
love.
Frequently she irritated Dirk. At
such times he, grew quieter than ever;
more reserved. AS he involuntarlly
withdrew she advanced Sometimes he
thought he hated her-her hot, eager
hands, her glowing, asking eyes, her
thin, red mouth, her sallow, heart
shaped, exquisite face, her perfumed
clothing, her air of ownership. That
was it Her possessiveness. Some
times Dirk wondered what Theodore
Storm thought and knew behind that
impassive fiabby white mask of his.
Dirk met plenty Of other girls.
Paula was clever enough to see to
that. She asked them to share her
box at the opera. She had them at
her dinners. She affected great in
difference to their effect on him. She
suffered when he talked to one Of them.
Dirk, why don't you take out that
nice Farnham girl?'
rs she nice?'
"Well, isn't she? You were talking
| to her long enough at the Kinks
dance. What were you talking about"
Books
"Oh. Books. She's awfully nice,
and intelligent, isn't she? A lovely
girl = She was suddenly happy.
Books
The Farnham girl was a nice girl.
| She was the kind of girl one should
fall in love with and doesn't. The
| Farnham girl was one of many we'll
bred Chicago girls of her day and
class. Fine, honest, clear-headed,
frank, capable, good-looking in an in
definite and unarresting sort of way.
Hair-colored hair, good teeth, good
enough eyes, clear skin, sensible me-
dunn hands and feet; skated well,
danced well, talked well. Read the
books you had read. A companion
able girl. Loads of money but never
spoke of it. Travelled. Her hand
met yours firmly~-and it was just
hand. At the contact no current dart
ed through you, sending its shaft with
little Zing to your heart.
But when Paula showed you book
her arm, as she stood next you,
would somehow fit into the curve Of
yours and you were conscious of the
feel of Mer soft slim side against you.
He knew many girls. There was
distinct type known as the North
Shore girl. Slim, tall, exquisite;
little fine nose, high, sweet, slight
ly nasal voice, ear rings, a cigarette,
luncheon at Huyler's All these girls
looked amazingly alike, Dirk thought;
talked very much alike. They oil
spoke French with a pretty good ac-
cent; danced intricate symbolic
dances; read the new books; had the
same patter. They prefaced, inter
larded concluded their remarks to
each other with, SHY deah!" 1t ex
pressed, for them, surprise, sympathy,
amusement, ridicule, horror, resigna.
ton. my deah! You should have
seen her! My deeah !"-horror. Their
slang was almost identical with that
used by the girls working in his Office
"She's a good kid" they said, speak.
ing in admiration Of another girl They
made fetish of frankness. In day
when everyone talked in screaming
headlines they knew it was necessary