The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-08-30
Ge AINlNC
a. oTALENT
81 ELEANOR EARLY "a s. ' S:?:y;o ~ Ira

But I can" she pointed out.
And what would your smart friends
| think Of me?" he demanded. You'd
pay the bills. And I'd be -. Molly,
I'd feel like a rat!"
X X X
She pushed the breakfast things
away, and putting her elbows on the
table. propped her chin in her hands.
mo more arguments!" she bullied
playfully. "Will you marry me, dar-
ling? Or won't your"
Her sparkling eyes anticipated his
avowal. Now, surely, he would come,
and kiss her on the lips. (That was
why she had chosen the furthest. most
secluded corner in the room.) He
would put his arms around her. And
tell her he loved her. And say she
was the most wonderful girl in the
world, because she had come to him
SO bravely, and asked him to marry
her-quite as though she we're not the
most successful playwright on Broad
way. and he a struggling architect.
Twill you, Jack?" she cried. Or
| won't you?"
He looked at her steadily.
Il can't" he said. I can't do it,
Molly"
scarcely comprehcnding, she stared
| at him. And her eyes grew large with
pain.
He continued quietly.
Its out of the question, dear. I
can't be Mister Molly Burnham. It
would be impossible"
She dropped her eyes, and he saw
a flood of scarlet begin at her throat,
and suffuse her face, dyeing it the
| crimson of her deep and dreadful
humiliation.
You have had your career" he told
her gently. And now you are ready
| for love and marriage. You wanted
to eat your cake and have it too. Life
| doesn't often let us do that. I have
ceased to think of you, Molly, as I
used to. You can't blame me for that,
dear"
Il don't blame you for anything"
she told him proudly. 1T is quite
enough, Jack, that you do not care to
marry me. You really needn't lee
ture me. With your d~eclination Of
my preposterous proposal, we will let
the matter drop"
Molly swallowed the hateful lump
that threatened to strangle her. She
gathered her things. The French
vanity in its green enamel case. The
lip stick that looked like a pencil. in
its slim gold sheath. Her gloves, and
petite-point bag. Her hands were
trembling so that she could scarcely
use them. She wished that Jack
would 60 and leave her there.
You're late now" she reminded
him. Grab q taxi, and go ahead. ]
want to telephone, and I might as
we'll do 1t from here"
Somehow she was keeping the tears
out Of her voice. In another moment
if he did not leave her. she would
break down.
Jacks " voice was trembling
And he was white now. His face was
very lean, with hollows in his cheeks
And there was a blue vein in his fore
head that stuck out in frightening
fashion. He looked suddenly old. And
very unhappy. Molly had not noticed
before how thin he was.
X X
He looked at his watch absently
"All right" he said. cts getting
late. I suppose I'd better be getting
along"
Good luck" she said.
"You have all the luck" he tolt
her.
Eyes" she agreed. Il have all thu
luck. Goodby, Jack"
"0ocdby. Molly
He stood there. looking at her.
"oh, go!" she cried. For goodness
sake, go!" -
Her eyes were blinded with tears
but. before she could wink then
away. he had gone. And there wa
) only q patch Of sunshine IN the plac
where he had stood. s.
. She looked across the table In III
: coffee saucer. A moment ago Il
had been sitting there. And talking
And breaking her heart. Breakinl
|, it into little bits Of pieces, SO tina
: she could never put 1t together agar
And outside the day was so soft an
warm and beautiful. And the SUI
was shining. And everybody wa
}, happy.
well, she would go back to Bos
ton. She would move away from ne
beautiful apartment. She woul
bury herself somewhere in the coun
try. She would devote her whole III
to Rita. And never love anybody els
! 40 long as she should live.
y She would be q hermit-that wa
what she'd be. She'd show Jack Well
how little she cared for adulatiol
. Excitement. Crowds. Praise. TINS
= was what he said. He said q y
them up. Shed show him!
And then. some day. the tim
MIGHT come when he would want I
marry her. When he would give any
. thine in the world to have her. An
then-oh, she'd let him come crawl
Inc on his knees. That was whit
she'd do! She would scorn him.
), he had scorned her.
y ooh. God, I love him! I love hi
> 50! Jackl Jack! Why did you cav
me. dearl"
FOR weeks Molly avoided Bob an
RAd. She changed her mind abol
subletting the apartment. ana taklI
: Q place In the country. she eve
changed her mind about being . ne
NIT. She would be q maIl-hater II
Y atead., Shed treat them like the q
beneath her feet. Shed make me
: pay and pay for al the misery TN
caused women.
She devoted her days largely
little Rita. And her evenings to
round OF gaiety. She met new me
q She went to night clubs. and dance
and to tho theater.
sometimes she thought OF q
Z. Anthology Of tragic love she mea'
I. TO compile. She read . great deal
g verse, and copied the mournful ira
y ments thAt pleased her.
=. Then she had another idea. 8!
would gather the tragic tales Of 9
worlds great lovers-1solde ana TT
ae tram-uante and Beatrice-Paole =