Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-02
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her plan.
1T would mean two hours extra
cay without you. - It would mean leav-
ing you surrounded by soggy fields.
Friends would forget you. To engage q
maid would be next door to impossible"
But we would live within your In
come. darling" she urged.
MY incomes more than doubled he
countered. I'VE can live within 1t here
II we practice economy"
Unconsciously they were maneuvering
for position-each striving to outdo the
other in generosity. There had been
times when Santa's sense of her indebt-
edness to Give had become well nigh
crushing. Gratitude for his chivalry in
having married her after her lrst mis-
hap had been the motive for most Of
her awkwardness.
To repay him she had circumvented
him in the matter Of the apartment and
assessed him moderately when she ought
to have rendered him accounts Give,
on his side, had resented her shoulder
ing the responsibilities and had felt
that he was being compelled to swallow
the food of charity. Had they loved
each other less, their search for para
disc would have been more level tread
ing And now the competition rs %
which should give more lavishly had
changed to self-effacement. BY a mas
ter stroke, Give won the combat.
Since his secret visit to Santa, which
was to have been their final parting,
Dicky had removed himself from the
map. His name was no longer men,
toned. For Give to introduce it seemed
too much like forcing Santa's reticence.
Yet he had the uncomfortable sensa-
ton that Dicky's name was always on
the tin of her tongue
Gradually he came to the conclusion
that by their silence they were attach
ing too much importance to Dicky. The
fault was his. He had expected that q
woman's interest in former husband
would cease abruptly the moment she
divorced him.
How could it2 To Santa her divorce
must figure as the most dramatic cpl
sode In her young life The more she
was forbidden to ventilate it, the more
she was bound to think about 1t. He
had contorted her into q false attitude
by his refusal to acknowledge that she
had been twice married. But how to
reopen the sore subject?
The day was Saturday. Her mother
had sent the car to New York to bring
them back to spend the week end. A
flutter of snow was falling. On the drive
across the New Jersey meadows the
chauffeur informed them that ice was
holding on some Of the ponds above
Montclair.
I've m not skated for ages" Santa be-
member how we used to when you were
at Princeton, long before"
He could have supplied the unspoken
words: Long before Dicky appeared on
the horizon"
Long before" she refashioned her
sentence, either Of us dreamed Of mar
rying?"
He squeezed her hand beneath the
rug.
There was never a time when I
didn't dream that we might marry"
Perhaps the magic of snow accom-
plished the miracle. Something Of its
Transforming wilderness seemed to drift
into their hearts. Old scars were blotted
out They became tender, gay. TO
mantle. As with lovers, every moment
together became usuriously precious.
Avoiding her parents residence, they
drove to Eagle Rock, where they dis
missed the chauffeur, tramped q short
distance to lake and hired skates.
The place reused memories. II had
been one Of the scenes Of their boy and
girl courtship-their first courtship,
which had failed. They seemed not so
much to have returned as never to
have progressed.
Give mustered courage. Hand IN
hand, arms crossed, as they SKINNED
the surface he asked, whats hap
pened to Dicky?"
Color flooded Santa's face.
He knew he wasn't wanted"
He should have realized that sooner.
At the same time, he butted In to help
- ct got nd of him for your sake
For both our sakes," he corrected.
But we don't need to be discourteous-
you and who are so sure Of each
other"
Let's go home. I've had enough"
she announced.
As he knelt to unfasten her skates,
he murmured:
II get just as big kick out Of doing
this as I used to, There aren't many
husbands who could say that"
Hugging arms, they commenced the
descent through powdered woods n
search Of sophistication as represented
BY a taxi.
We've been asses" he whispered.
She nodded.
so much to make US happy"
"Supposing we'd never married."
Don't" she implored him.
I understand, Santa. It's taken me
all this time. One can't wipe out the
past like figures off a slate. If I'd had
wife before you I'd want to mention
her. II didn't you wouldn't know all
about me. Shed be blind spot in our
lives. Here am wanting to know all
about you and preventing you from tell
ing me-"
In q small voice she questioned.
What is it that you want me to tell?"
Nothing" He halted in the dusk.
How cold your cheek isl There's
nothing want you to tell me. I'm not
curious. But don't hide things. If
you're convinced you ought 10 see
Dicky-"
you think ought?" She ciune 10
him
I'm willing. That's for you to de-
eide"
Give and Santa decide to let down
the bars to Dicky, tomorrow-but are
4tz..,