Evening star., 1932-10-16

new hospital up On the hil"-and another 20
minutes found her arriving at its portals, or
rather directly across the street from them,
where she could watch its massive revolving
doors.
"suppose," she told herself, straining her
eyes to see and twisting restlessly in her seat.
suppose they were vrong-suppose he's a.
ready gone!"
And then a figure coming out through that
revolving door she was watching brought her
out OF her seat, out Of her car and across the
street ON quick nervous feet.
"Davel" Nikds fingers plucked at his sleeve
Is she overlook him. "Dave-I just heard
about your-sister." Her words tumbled out
quickly, confusedly. "I-rm-awfully sorry"
She broke of abruptly stood looking up into
the dark bottomless pools which were the eyes
he turned down to her.
Dave" she took up again. Don't LOOK
at me Like that! Dave" in swift alarm. don't
you know me?"
YES" His hand groped up to her fingers
at his sleeve and clung to them clumsily. Yes
I know you," he said blankly.
Dave" Nikh was trembling but she held
her voice level. Dave, come with me- My
CARTS right over there, see? Come on
As a listless, chastened child might do he
permitted himself to be led across the street
and to the roadster
Here, get in. Dave. Get in and sit beside
me here-so-that's fine" Nervousy she
slammed the car shut and looked up again
into those dark eyes of the boys and saw
them quicken. 1t was If he had not really
seen her until now.
A faint twitching smile tugged at his mouth
His hands groped again for hers.
"Nikki-" he whispered. "Nikki-sis-Just
now She" His eyes flooded.
Her palms pressed his chill fingers. Into her
voice as she spoke had crept the deep grooming
tenderness one hears from a mother at the bed
side of her sick child.
uNoNT stare at me like that. J. w. The
u things perfectly all right. The boys all
broken up and I brought him to Byrdles
here And I'm going to stay with Byrdie. where
he can feel free to come, just as I told you
over the phone. I'm going to stay at least till
after the day Of the funeral. That's the least
I can do-at time like this. And that's what
I'm going to do" Nikh's fine little jaw SET
'Nikki-my dear! Here, get into the car
It's awkward with you standing there and
obviously-we can't talk together privately up
stairs in the apartment with those two up
there Come get in" The plump, well groomed
hand Of the plump handsome man flung open
the door of the car.
"Oh, very well" she said. But lets not
make 1t an argument"
The man was big and charming-not young
There was anxiety in his voice. He SAID now:
..Nikki we're grooming you, my sister and l.
to fit into our plan of hvng-and our plan
does not include young people ike this byroie
-this-Dave-.
But I've been coming to see Byrdie all along
you've known that"
"Yes of course dear. And no doubt there's
no harm in Byrdie. I had hoped that later,
when we're married you'd not care so much
to keep up even that slight contact"
IT shall though. I'm no snob!"
The man repeated: Il see no harm In Byrdle'
but can't consent to your remaining here now
as YOU propose I'm sorry to hear OF the boys
bereavement OF course. If I can help him
financially-if you wish it"
"oh he wouldn't accept help even ne