Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-12

| Tommy WINGED. That haunting voice
went searching in his soul. He did
/ love her now. the color. the youth. the
sweetness of her. When those things
| were gone what would be love? he
shrugged impatiently.
Then we will he good companions:
he said. I'VE will have money enough
to enjoy life. Think of all the things
| can do for you. Judy! ! can see you
In white lace and pearls, in black vel
vet and diamonds. You will he such
lovely thing. Judy! Every luxury you
can have. I'm make you happy. /
can promise you that"
Judy did not answer him. There was
a little lump in her throat. on. II was
cruel to drag even the name or ioNe
into these hard words of bargaining.
Lost. hurt. bewildered she turned BACK
TO the little ghost in her heart 10 the
soft comfort of it's shadowy hands.
We'll" said Tommy nervously, you
haven't answered me. VIII you marry
me-
II must have love-" said Judy
co,raeeously. ut may not last but |
must believe it will A girl always
thinks a lot about love. You see u
means so much to her. She's got to
| he sure she's in love and so she THINKS
about 1t and worries about it.
wrong mani Tommy commented
cynically.
| Sometimes" said Judy.
Are YOU in love. judy
| "No." Her word came too quickly.
Sure"
"Perfectly."
"Do YOU like me-"
"Of course | do
But YOU don't love me, eh?'
NO.
well" easily. that doesn't matter
very much. anyhow. You might learn
10 love me. Who knows? VIII you
marry me?"
Suddenly Judy buhbled into relieved
laughter. "Why. Tommy, ! can't
marry you! I've just finished telling
YOU | don't love you, And then you
calmly ask me IL I'm going TO marry
you! won't ever marry any one
unless | love them
Don't make up your mind tonight,
Judy. There's no hurry. Ill always
be around some place in the back
ground waiting for you to take me.
Think 1t over
"But-but I can't ever marry you.
Tommy, I never will love YOU.
new firmness struggled with the honest
distress in Judy's voice. truly
Tommy, it's no use for you to wait
for me-
How can you be so sure? Anyhow
I'm going to wait around and mo
out"
AS the little irmness of refusal had
crept into Judy's tone Tommy nad
armed himself with new determina
ton. He looked at her now almost
angrily. What a child she was! re
would wear down her resistance. He
would Shake that firmness. He wanted
her. He would have her!
Judy clasped her small hands tlrmly.
please don't" she begged. "Oh,
nlease. ask you not to. III never
love YOU, And you'll spoil your lie
waiting for me. And you'll spoil our
friendship, too. I'll always see you
as some one who is waiting TO marry
me. And--and I'll be-afraid OF you
II came out in a little burst, like the
cry of a frightened child.
Afraid of me. judy" Tommys
voice rang. Surely you're not afraid
Of marriage with me? I can make you
happy Judy"
erably. YOU'LL laugh at me! sne
broke off.
"welI. every girl. think. dreams
about the sort of man she'd like to
marry and I've dreamed about a sort
Of fairy prince ia like to marry. III
probably never see any one like him
but | couldn't marry any one else
Tommy gave her a crooked smile.
"I suppose he's very much like the
little boy who loaned you his handker-
chief. isn't he?"
Judv's voice when Il came was
gentle. Hes like the little boy might
hAfd turned nlif right
But he didn't, He's gotten like every.
body else stuffy and ordinary. AT
least" she paused. II think he has.
| I couldn't ever respect the. sort OF man
he is now. But the little boy-well,
he was different. He was real little
fairy prince
well" said Tommy. gloomily. II
guess I don't stand chance with TINS
extremely youthful rival Of mine!
don't see why it couldn't just as weli
have been who loaned you the hand
| kerchIef as this boy. And | wouldn't
| have called you dirty little girl.
either" He ended with virtuous
| srnirk.
| judy laughed Perhaps every girl
loves the man who has the courage to
tell her the truth she said.
| With one of his swift changes,
Tommy swung back to seriousness.
stop joking, Judy. I'm in earnest.
| I'll always be around some place walt
| ing for you to take me.
"It doesn't need to bother or worry
| YOU. I won't say anything about it.
| But you'll know I'm here. And mean.
while-let me make things easy for
YOU Will you?''
Judy laughed suddenly. unsteadily.
II believe you're only asking me to
marry you so that you can help me-
! she cried.
That sweet. shaking voice broke
down Tommy's control. He felt very
sure that Judy was TO be his. Sooner
or later she would turn to him.
, Sooner or later he could scatter his
gold under her small, light feet. But
ii was this very instant that he want
ed her. wanted to touch her, kiss her,
hold her crushed close to him. He
reached over with a rough gentleness,
caught her to him, and kissed her. the
f1uttering lids. the line of her delicate
throat. her dewy lips.
Her small hands beat against him
like white moths in the dark. At last
she struggled away from him.
Don't you ever dare to do anything
like that again" she cried through
stiff lips.
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr