Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

minded, but how about the other years?
Madge and Scotty were happy the first year.
too, remember"
Quickly. as his touch burned her, she
pulled her hand away. ~~
Lets wait, Phil. We're both saving little
money every month. Let's wait until we have
enough to start on And. oh. dearest" Her
voice caught. Don't look at me like that!
Don't you see-can't you understand it's be-
cause I want our happiness to last"
"Oh, know" he broke in. ITO wait until
we have a reserve fund to tide us over the
rough spots is the sensible plan, of course.
Moneys a necessity And couples. like Madge
and Scotty, who plunge in with nothing but
the mans earning capacity to depsnd on do
have. devilish pull of it the first few years
But sometimes" his expression was gravely
thoughtful, 81 wonder if that isn't the best
OF it. mean the sharing of things-the
shoulder-to-shoulder fight together"
To Cecy, SHE spoke, there came sense of
wistfulnesS. Perhaps the shoulder to- shoulder
nght as he called 1t, should drawy couples
closer, but it didn't. They became tired, worn
out with it, and because they were so wearied
they Haired out at one another as Scotty had
for instance, last Saturday afternoon when
Madge had reminded him of the overprown
lawn.
"Oh, Phil I couldn't bear for you ever to
love me less" she exclaimed
His face was all ardor as he bent to her.
Darling, as If could!" he said
his words and the glow that was in his
voice as he had said them were still warming
Cecy's heart an hour later when Scotty. in a
tone that was thick and labored, spoke to her
over the phone.
I've just brought Made to the hospital
Cecy. An emergency operation. Repair work
wish you'd come out right away"
"Oh. Scotty, OF course" she said, but though
she had tried to sound reassuring, a chilled
Vg0 NSv,np
steps OF the red brick sanitarium on Elm street
and hurried down halls that. were heavy with
the odor Of antiseptics.
Though 1t was quiet in those halls never
tneeSS one was aware Of an efficient noiseless
activity. nurse, Immaculate in stifhy
starched white, sped silently past, carrying a
tray. door opened to reveal a room bios
Somng with flowers and small figure a pale
little girl. propped up in bed with a Kewpie
doll beside her.
Around the bend of the corridor came two
prSk young interneS, looking thoroughly ster-
1lized and prophylactic in their short white
jackets. Upon the air through doors that
were quickly opened and closed sounded the
tnm wall OF q new baby a moan n voice
raised In weird, heart-clutching delirium and
once echoing startlingly through the dim hush
OF the halls a note of laughter
WHEN Cecy, out of breath and fustered.
reached Madges room two nurses, look
Ing fresh and insultingly cheerful in their
ny1ng white caps, were wheeling Madge out on
q stretcher.
Hello, Cecy. Nice stunt I've pulled. isn't
IL? I'm glad you've come to be with Scotty;"
Madge said.
At her gayety something dry and hard caught
IN Celias throat. From Madges face, flushed
ana relaxed against the crisp pillows, she
looked to Scotty and his face was stone.
Bending to kiss her:
It's all right, old girl. You'll be fit as a
fiddle when this is DONE" he said thickly, but
despite his show Of cheerfulness his face went
gray when he saw the surgeon, looking like q
butcher In his skull cap, white apron and rolled
sleeves, waiting for them on the threshold of
the surgery door.
With that COOL professional unconcern which
IS so maddening:
1t won't take long," the physician assured
them, and the next moment the doors of the
operating room were closed in their faces and
Scotty was passing up and down. down and
up In the hall.
From her seat on a bench by the window
Cecy watched him. Curiously intent, she noted
the stricken pallor Of his face and the nervous
clencnng and unclenching of his hands which
ne held behind him. For quite some mo-
ments her eyes followed him as in heavy ST.
lence he paced to and fro. Then, as his gaze
met hers beseeching mutely for reinsurance:
why, Scotty, you do care-you care terri
by!" she cried
Stopping, he wheeled on her fercely.
Great heavens! Did you think didn't"
AS he stood, glazing down at her almost
angrily, she flushed
SWELL of course, you care. But-that is
I've felt in the last few years that you
and Madge didn't get on as well as you used
to- she stammered
Get on?" He looked at hsr as if he thought
her suddenly insane. What in the Sam Hill
arc you driving at?" h t;cno-rf-".