Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08
Life Seemed to
Be Too Difficult
to Bear, She De-
cided She CoulM t
Face It-Her
Loss Mas Too
Great.


HH paper. Coming back, letters In
fHA one hand, paper in the other,
from the trip to the living room
door that was part of her morn
ing ritual. yawning comfortably glanelng
caSually-she had seen 1t.
Now the paper lay on the floor beside Malou'S
bed, and Malou lay among all her pillows
shivering. Not weeping. Too stunned-too
sick for that.
She lay fiat on her face in her bed as II an
lev wind had blown her there, and from head
to foot she shivered ceaselessly and soundlessly,
while the little clock upon her bedside table
licked off minute after minute-while in at her
open window came sounds of street cars passing
takes honking wheels turning, whistles blow
ing world still going on-ncredibly.
With Eddie out of it.
"Airman Killed in Trial Flight Eddie Mac
kenzie Crashes-Plane of His Own Design"
She had told him that plane would get him
some day. wings Buckle" What wings
don't-if you crowd them too far Eddie
crowded his luck forever. Eddie-Eddie-
Eddie! Up and down the corridors of her inner
consciousness something ran shrieking his name
-Eddie-Eddie- ddie!-wailing crying. But
her lips didn't move. That was what loving
Eddie had taught her; to consume her own
smoke, to cover her trail, to keep close
mouth--no matter what went on back Of her
eyes, For she and Eddie had been secretly
married for almost a year, in defiance Of q
movie contract that bound her to remain uE-
wed until the gigantic picture in which she
played an important part had been finished
And now she would have to go on keeping her
secret. She would break down if she did any
thing else. Her grief would overwhelm her,
and besides, what was the use of saying any
thing now? It wouldn't bring Eddie back.
Our world" he had said, lis not the one
that was made in seven days. But what have
you'll Half a moon is better than no moon at
all-what!"
He used to call her his Half-moon Girl.
Snatch your moments, kidd" he used to say.
Its all any of us get"
where would I be-" he once said to her,
"if couldn't take joke from the gods?
washed up, long ago-that's where I'd bel"
Long ago or not-washed up was where he
was now!
UNTACKENZE'S plane burst into flames as
AVA it touched the ground" the news story
had said.
Malou set her teeth into lace and pink satin
-acrid and dry to the taste as sawdust. She
writhed in an agony of sobs erowding up from
some tortured center of her being.
Then she rolled over and sat up in bed
putting hand to her hair, putting the hem
Of the sheet to her eyes, in the EXTREMIST
instant Of her suffering, reaching for powder
puff and lipstick on the night-table beside
the clock. She swallowed desperately. She
stiffened and steadied herself as if rod Of
steel slid down the length Of her body.
Come in!' she called In voice only family
husky. She had heard the maid-the latch
clicking, the door closing.
Good mornin', Miss Carlin,'' said Ann. I'm
o little late this mornin'"
From behind lazy Tapping of the Tunes
Malou responded Sweetly: Its all right, Ann.
You could be little later and nobodyd report
you for it." y.
WAS it a good party last night?" Anr
inquired, with friendly solicitude.
OF course, there had been a party the night
before. Malou remembered. She had got Ann
to press something for her-she had told her
Howard was back from Europe-she had told
her about the bracelet from Paris She was in
the habit of telling Ann good deal-Ann was
such mothering SOUL
we've had no breakfast" said Ann. whats
the ,matter-now? Don't ye feel good this
mornin'?"
"Oh, I'm all right, Ann" said Malou She
actually laughed
"Well-that's good" said Ann. She sent a
carpet-sweeper along the taupe and golden
spaces OF Malous rugs with long, easy strokes
i think I'll get up" said Malou suddenly
6he swung her feet over the side of the bed
put the tips of her fingers to her eyes-better
not let Ann see her mouth: it must be written
there-that the world had come to an end
That morning. Malous world-Eddies world
She sat quietly, the paper on her knees,
Seeing nothing
Miss Carlin, you're wanted on the phone
Shall say you can't Gomez"
"Yes-no-no, Ann! Tell them to hold the
Rire!"
II think it's Mr. West" said Ann. She