Evening star., 1932-07-27


gins, with me-" eagerly.
'I could, but won't. Uncle Lenny
got me into this and he can get me out.
With q neat little bank account. When
I marry Tom Stewart I'll have my own
money. 1 won't have to live on boiled
beef and turnips. which wes Sunday
dinner in the family homestead in my
youth"
When you marry Tom. I"
Tony'S exclamation was involuntary. 1t
welled in her throat, slid across her
lips. echoed from the corners Of the
room. She wanted to cry: But you're
not going to marry Tom. Hasn't he
told you? Tom belongs to me. have
his lips, his hands, the blue of his eyes
deep in my heart, the warmth of his
You may have Adam Leonards money,
but you can't have Tom. He's not
toy to be bought.
IT can't stay here with you. Lee"
was what Tony said. "I want to help,
but staying here with you Isl can't"
Lee fiared. You think the place is
tainted. don't you? You think because
Adam Leonard pays for 1t, 1t amt de-
cent. 1t is decent. Why shouldn't he
pay? He got me into that night club
jam, DIDN'T he? I never asked him to
come to FL Tango and make a fool Of
himself. He was sunk when he hap
pened to pass the dance joint. It made
him stop and figure there was still mu-
sic In the world He was old and cold
and out. He turned to the right
maybe you think it's the left-and
found there was youth and music and
fun going on II you have the CUTS to
grab them. He didn't tell me he had
that hellion on his heels. why should
he? You saw Clara. You ought to
know her stripe even If you do come
from a potato patch. You're so hot on
the truth that Clara ought to sink in
on you"
Tony stayed on with Lee but did not
give up her room with Mrs. Higgins.
To keep it was exSrrvagance, yet she
felt she must afford it. She wanted to
know she could 60 there when she
wished. that she was free at any time
to pursue her own life in her own way.
Independence, so difficult to win, so
dear to her.
Twice in q day on her way to the
studio in the morning and on her re-
turn in the evening, she stopped by
the drab stone house. Each day began
in ardent faith and ended in chill de-
Spair. Tom Stewart chose to ignore
that brief moment of surrender to the
urge that drew them together. Per-
haps he merely had been trying her
out, testing her loyalty to Lee. Perhaps
he had yielded to a momentary impulse.
In either case he must deSpise her as
hypocrite or weakling. Yet Tony
continued to measure her days by the
morning when she swooped down on the
table in the Higgins hall with high
hope, and in the evening when she ap-
preached II with dread for its empti-
ness.
At the end of the second week of
silence Tony became possessed with
fear something had happened to Tom.
He was i'll. He was injured and she
must go to him. Lee had not mentioned
hearing from him. His name was more
or less taboo between them since the
Gay Tony confessed to Lee she cared
for him: If she inquired about Tom,
Lee would be angry. Tony would have
to risk it.
Dc Donald ,, Kemp viii be in the city next
week" Tony told Lee that evening. II
had a letter from him today"
Lucky you" Lee pouted. "I see you
only odd Thursdays now. With Kemp
In town I'll be cut out entirely
Nothing of the sort. Tou can come
with us
Yes, Kemp'd like that. He'd be
crazy about my tagging on. was born
that way"
Tony thought: Here is my chance.
l can ask about Tom. 1t fits in quite
naturally. must not hesitate or allow
my voice to sound queer. III be casual,
as II l were asking an idle question.
what do you hear from Tom?" 1t
was out Her heart stood still. Lee
was watching her. covertly, polishing
her nails against the palm of her hand.
She rose lazily from her chair.
Nothing to write home about" she
cried, and extracted a letter from a
compartment In q desk. She glanced
over the first page, then held the second
one for Tony to read. Get this: How
I wish you could be here to enjoy the
beautiful country with me. Riding
mixing, hunting, hshing-but you would
not care for the rod and gun business.
l know. You would be more interested
in the country club. Some day, maybe?'
There's a man for you. He ought to
Hotel with an x to mark his window"
Some day, maybe" The words
danced. They blurred. Tony closed
her eyes, but she could not close out
those three words. They were scared
upon her brain. The irony of them
shriveled her soul. She must say
something, pretend q detached interest
Lee had deliberate purpose In showing
her the letter.
"It sounds fascinating where he Is"
Tony managed
"Um. And I'm supposed to get all
agog about the good time he's having
while Tn cooped up between brick
walls. guess he figures II he draws
enough pictures I'll weaken and take
chance on the boiled beef and turnips."