Evening star., 1932-01-26

A MOMENT OF StupeIacJlon, Wlnl'
n Judy stared at the slit Of vel
IA low light which showed be-
meath the portieres. Then sht
moved forward and gently drew
the curtains apart a couple Of inches.
Like looking into the softly lighted
act of a play. The shaded light or
the desk. filling the library with a float.
ing golden dusk. And in this warm anc
intimate light, two figures, closely
Eunice. in a neglige of palest gold,
tightly clasped in STAINS arms. Hel
beautiful white face strained up to his
Even as Judy looked, Eunice's arms
stole about his neck, pulling his face
down on her waiting mouth.
Something hungry, in the way Stan's
arms went down around the 1.-the oooy
STAINS dark head against Eunices
gold one. ...
A terrible fame Of hate wrapping
about the girl who watched. Scorching
her heart. Touching her brain to mad
ness. Stan her husband and
that woman-that woman. Judys
hands shot trembling above her head
prssped the heavy drapes. Pull them
6own-smother Eunice in them. Wind
them about that hateful white throat
choke out life. Two selves fighting
in Judy at that moment. Reason, weak
and shaken - terrified - fighting that
murderous other self. Wait--Hush-
oh, for G-s sake! This was IN
sanity Wait. -.
Then the flame of anger blotted out,
drenched in despair. Judy'S hands fell
TO her sides. She found she was shak-
ing Cold Growing sick. She
mustn't faint-and be found here.
She turned, groped her way through
the hall-hands outstretChed before her
as one suddenly gone blind,
Upstairs-pulling herself along by the
banister. Stan and Eunice down there
in each others arms. Eunice, in that
intimate, filmy neglige--beautiful as
the devil Stan deceiving her
outraged pride sent flame through
Judy at that, but it quivered and sank
in sick despair Her husband :. her
husband Well, what did that mean
if he didn't want her? He loved Eu-
nice. He'd always loved Eunice. He'd
tried to stop loving Eunice when she
married Fred Wilson. Eunice, beautiful
and faithleSs-one couldn't beat Eunice.
Even though she'd married. Even
though Stan married. Eunice had won.
Back in the bed room. Suppose she'd
never left it. Suppose she had slept
through the night. Slept until Stan
had come up to bed. Taken her in his
arms with Eunice's kisses still hot
on his mouth She should feel hot in
dignation at that. Resentment-out-
rage But she didn't. She was
numb. Her heart was cold, whimper-
ing thing, which she couldn't lash up to
pride.
It would be easier to hate and to
rage. Easier than lying here IN the
dark suffering like this. -.
Judy had snapped of the night light
and now she lay, staring into the dark
with wide, dry eyes.
Torturing herself repicturing the
scene down there in the library. Eu-
nice's slender body crushed hard
against STAINS. How hungry-the
way he kissed her! A little, hot fame
of jealousy leaping at the memory,
dying in cold gray wretchedness.
Rolling her head on the pillow. II
she could stop thinking-or else think
in q straight line, not round and round
in tormenting circles like this-circles
which came back and stopped at that
picture of Eunice in STAINS arms and
STAINS dark head coming down over her
golden one.
Better to be filled with murderous
rage than to lie here, stabbed by her
own thoughts. If that cold voice
of reason in her mind would only stop
talking. -.
Well, what can you expect?-that
cold voice was saying-he'S always loved