Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-11
But She Did Love
George
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By ADELAIDE d. HUFF

~ feet apart In the huge office Of
the Mutual Protective Insurance COM
pany, George Harris and Alene Sum-
ner had worked for over two years.
They had early formed a pleasant
friendship, for from the first Alene
had been attracted by Harris frank,
boyish face that lit up with enthusi-
asm or looked comically doleful &C
cordlng to his thought; but most Of
all she adored the trick he had, when
puzzled, of running his hand through
his heavy brown hair, often leaving
a ridiculous wisp standing straight up
He was a product Of the country,
lured to the big city by the bright
lights and the glamor and gayety of
which he had read 80 much; she dis
tinctly and obviously was an urbanite.
Yet there was much In common be-
tween these two. Straightforward,
clean, ambitious, looking life squarely
In the face without fear or finching,
they went through the hard days
work with a song in their hearts and
In the short evenings played together
like children out Of school.
Alene had a convertible bedroom;
that is to say. she could make her bed
look like a cross between a wardrobe
and a chlffonier merely by touching a
spring and being careful to get all
the bedclothes inside. In one corner
behind a screen she had a gas plate
and two or three cooking pans. So
often after office hours they would
stop In at grocery and buy some
thing to cook on the gas plate after
ward. Alene would put an apron on
George and make him peel the two
potatoes which he would do with the
utmost clumsiness and Joy. After the
supper was prepared, with swish
they would clear the little center
table Of its books and work basket
and dainty cups and saucers would
appear from behind the screen. Then
they would sit down a little self-con-
sciOusly, avoiding each others eyes,
but each one filled with a sense Of
expectancy.
1t was at the fourth little supper for
two that George put his hand across
the table.
Lets go on this way forever, DEAR"
he said coaxlngly.
Alene flushed and smiled as she
timidly slipped her hand in his, and
after that the creamy white mashed
potatoes and the sizzling hot steak
were left to CONCEAL on the table I'M
noticed.
but, George, darling, don't let's get
married for long time" Alene begged
later. II want to keep on working
until we get enough to buy q little
home Of our own way out somewhere,
and anyhow, we see each other every
day and all day as 1t is. so why hur-
ry?"
Maybe you're right, dearest" he
answered reluctantly, "but don't lets
wait too long. Just think, it's that
much happiness gone forever"
The months sped by on wings of
happiness, but toward the end of sum-
mer there came a little rift in the
lutte. 1t had been terribly hot sea-
son and the work ut the office had
seemed harder than usual. Alene had
lost her pep and her JOY in things.
She loved her fiance as much as ever
but his running his hand through his
hair somehow did get on her nerves.
She felt embarrassed now when she
would look over and see that absurd
wisp standing straight on end. At
supper In the tiny apartment one eve
ming she lnvoluntarily let out a little
shrek OF Impotence.
George, FOR goodness sake, I'll die
II :" then she checked herself.
She didn't tell him. She just couldn't,
for 1t was the very little trick she had
once liked so much and she had often
spoken to him about 1t. Was she go.
Ing crazy? Didn't she love him any
morel At the thought, hot tears
welled up in her eyes, over1owed and
ran down her cheeks. In a second he
held her In his arms and was sooth-
ing her, his own heart humping with
fear and anxiety.
You're Overworked," he said
You'll simply have to stop and rest
It's just too much for a little thing
like you anyway"
II only he would stop talking. II
only he would go away, she thought
She tried to laugh II off, promised to
be all right by morning and finally
got rid Of him. But next day she was
too Ill to go to work and kind Mrs
Jones downstairs insisted In calling
In her doctor.
"Mrs. Jones has told me all about
you" began the physician in a profes
siond tone. "All you need is a rest
You're not going back to work, young
lady. Run of to the country for 9
couple Of weeks and no company
mind. You'll be all right then, moth
Ing serious the matter with you but
you do need rest"
Alene gave in and at last went
away. Out In the cool, peaceful coun
try she found rest for her faded
nerves. Each day brought her fresh
energy and soon she was happy again
yet she counted the days until she
could get back to George. One night
as she lay In bed In the dark thinking
about him, she laughed aloud as she
caught herself longing to see him run
his hand through his hair as he used
to do when puzzled, She was honestly
homesick Just to see him do IL.
sand that was the very thing an