Evening star., 1932-07-18

I Lee relaxed audibly.
Tune in fadeout," she said sleepily.
ME for the heavy beauty rest tomorrow.
Have to get ready for the marathon with
Uncle Lenny. He promised me bottle
OF perfume, the kind they sell for a
couple Of dollars a Whit. He'd have
bought it for me tonight, only was too
modest. No matter how sweet you smell,
An empty stomach sours you. Wish I'd
seen Tom. Did he say anything
mesage-how're the folks-ad-
dress"
Lee was drifting of to sleep.
Tell her, Tonys conscience clamored.
Tell her how Tom Stewart has taken
possession of your mind, how his voice
is song in your heart. how his eyes,
holding yours, are swooning ecstacy In
your soul Tell her now! Don't COM
promise. You owe her the truth.
"Leel" Tony's voice cut through the
dark. Lee, there's something you've got
to know
Hold it." Lee murmured, turning her
world"
Tony "held it"
Tony had been in the Modern Art
Galleries two weeks. Two happy weeks
during which that part of her vibrat-
ing to line and color and the rhythmic
reproduction of things hidden from all
except the eye of the artist, was in a
continual state of exaltation. The
scene of an art shop inspired and de-
lighted her. Pictures were dear friends.
Exquisite bits of bric-a-brac and rare
! objets dart were arresting highlights
in magcally moving canvas.
The proprietor of the shop had given
Tony permission to try copying some
of the less pretentious water colors
when she was not busy with shop busi-
ness. She was both surprised and graft
fled with the progress she was making
That chestnut tree in full bloom.
Shed design dress from it some time.
Deep shining green like the leaves, with
touches of wood-brown velvet for trunk
That red-gold sunset with violet sequins
edg1ng the skirt-oh, she was getting
pictures and gowns all mixed up. In a
few days. If all went well and they kept
her on at the galleries, she would 60
to the Art League School and register
for night class. She couldn't afford
1t. but she'd go. Do without lunches
She was eating more than was good
for her anyhow. Lee kept the cupboard
and the shelves packed with all sorts Of
strange food.
Tony arranged piece of carved Jade
on tiny teakwood pedestal in a show
case and stood away to study the effect
Outside raln and busy little gusts of
wind swept the pavement clean "A a
broom dipped in water Business was
dull this morning. Good day for I'm
ishing the copy Of that rural-sheep In
meadow. a white cottage on a far hill
side. A touch at her elbow. Tony
turned, quickly. How silly of her There
was no one. She must have imagined.
And yet-her flesh tingled where fingers
had contacted it lightly. A warm wave
enveloped her, flowed over her, re-
ceded. broke again against her con-
Tom" she breathed, and stepped
back, away from the phantom compel
ling touch. "Tom-don't-please-"
ing her eyes % We're moist s With with tea tears shat that
ached to flood and wash away the sting
OF sleepless nights.
Nights were pretty terrible. With Lee,
the early morning hours from an ever
Tony, ought 10 tell'Iee how II was with
her about Tom Stewart. She had meant
to tell. That first night Lee was too
sleepy to listen. She was sleeping In
the morning when Tony went job-hunt-
ing. Then the vividness of the brief
encounter, with Tony dulled. Perhaps
the whole experience was q fancy, Tony
reasoned. She had been weak with
hunger, overweight. After all, one
doesn't 60 completely OF the deep end
over man one has met once-espe-
cially when he happens to be the prop
erty of ones best friend.
(To be continusd@