Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-13

SCEsEEN, INTO IHE NAME
SHIFT OF A KITCHENETTE.
behind the screen into the makeshift
teakettle.
When she finally emerged, Tom rose
to his feet to take the tray from her.
Together they arranged it on the little
Chinese table. The tea was strong
and hot, and Tom slipped it CRATE
fully, munching crackers in the mean
time. and studying Mans face in the
peculiar purple light that came just
before dark.
How beautiful she was! If only he
could do a portrait of her as he saw
her, as she really was.
over their cigarettes they were re-
Elective, and then Tom finally spoke.
Have you been very busy lately?'
about the same"
"Antf1ing else Of INTEREST,""
Nan hesitated and then said impul-
sively, 81 went to a dinner party at
Helen Sheridan'S last night"
Tom pulled wry face.
How can you stand those people,"
Nan was suddenly frank.
do you ever stop to realize that
my life is pretty empty? I don't
mind spending three or four evenings
n week in bed with book, but 1t gets
monotonous. ] like meeting people.
like the stimulation Of 1t"
Tom studied her nervously. Her
small face had lighted up miraculous
lv. Had she met any one at this party
who had interested her? The posi-
bility drove his own thoughts in on
himself.
He rarely thought ahead more than
an hour or so. He never remembered
to eat lunch or dinner at any reason
able hour when he was interested in
his work. Therefore it wasn't surpris-
ing that he hadn't thought very much
about the inroads Nan was making
on his personal life. Now it suddenly
occurred to him that she might meet
some rich man who would carry her
off, give her everything in the world
and make a nonentity of her. Not
only that. but he would never see her
again. The thought Of never seeing
Nan again was suddenly horrible to
him.
And then. because he was very
sensitive, he looked around his studio.
His eyes fell on his couch. 1t was one
Of the davenport variety that opens
UP. and because Tom couldn't be
bothered to close it every day, he usu
ally left it open. Even in the dim,
purplish light he could see dust streaks
on the floors, and his toilet arrange
ments were Of the most primitive. He
possessed a chest Of drawers with
mirror over it, that was all. How
could he ask any woman to share this
with him?
But the thought Of asking Nan to
share his life with him carried him
beyond material things. He was sud
denly realizing how much he cared for
her. To actually have her IN his life!
To wake up in the morning and find
her there! To have long talks over
the breakfast coffee before he got to
work. Why. he loved her, and until
now he hadn't realized it!
Then terrible thought struck him.
He loved her, but he couldn't tell
her-not yet! This had been a bad
month. He had just been able to meet
expenses. He sought about in his
mind for some way to make ready
cash. For one thing he knew he could
stop work on this portrait Of Nan and
get to work on illustration. If he
wanted to marry he would have to be
more practical In the future. Well. he
would do it! Tomorrow he would
make the rounds. And when he had
made a couple Of killings he would
tell her. 1t wouldn't be fair to say
anything to her now.