Evening star., 1932-11-12
PARADISE
DAWSON.

settled in before-well, before intro
/ duce you to my husband?"
Santa had tasted forbidden fruit; she
| returned to face Give aglow with this
! hidden knowledge. She was loving him
| in her own way-which was a wiser
way than his, she was sure. If she
couldn't sprout wings and wear the
Snow-white muslin OF an angel, she
could at least put roof over his head.
She owed him so much.
At the hotel desk when she inquired
| for the key to her room, she was in
formed that her husband had already
| taken 1t.
Give opened to-her tap.
Darling, you look glorious. What on
earth have you been doing? I've been
waiting for you an hour" .'-+
AS he unfastened the fur from about
her neck and relieved her of her jacket,
she assumed her most artless and en-
tranced expression.
Been. walking through the Spring
Been telling myself the most wonderful
| fairy tale-that you're my husband"
She hummed to herself as he went
on his knees before her She hummed
to prevent herself from crying. Her
heart was swelling. What had she done
| to deserve such devotion-this knightly
figure ministering to her? She was q
hard-boiled little bit Of fluff whom God
had created beautiful. Tomorrow she
would wire to Chicago for the furniture
What fun she'd have arranging a home
for himl
| She read everything that was passing
in his mind. She wouldn't have found
him absurd if she could have Brought to
| their union an equal freshness.
| sit here" she commanded When
| he had occupied her chair, she pumped
herself in his lap with the coyness of a
| f1apper. "You think I'm cold I'm not
| I'm astounded. You're so different
| from other husbands"
The old subject, Dicky, popping up
| like jackin-the-boxI
You're afraid of something" he ac-
cused her.
She pressed his cheek. -..
"Of ridicule. couldn't bear that any
one should laugh at us. You have the
oldest power over me-"
How odd?" e-'f-
away from you I'm businesslike The
moment Tn with you, long to be fool
| iSh."
But you're ashamed of being foolish
even when we're alone"
She hid her face in the hollow Of his
neck.
Ashamed that the past ever hap
pened."
The evening following, on his return
from the office, Give paused at the
hotel newsstand to buy paper. A bell
boy touched his arm, informing him
that lady was waiting to see him He
found her discreetly parked behind q
| collection of palms. Her face seemed
! familiar, but In her street clothes he
failed to recognize her. She addressed
him Indignantly. 4s
TITS a scandal what you're doing to
Santa"
He was taken aback
And pray, what am doing2" Clive's
tone became icy.
But haven't you any manhood? =?
When her husband finds out"
II get you" Give laughed to conceal
his annoyance. "But think you owe
me an explanation"
You're right. Two nights ago I'd
been dining and dancing in the restau-
rant downstairs--"
Give cut her short.
Nov I remember you. You're the
girl who held the revolving door against
us as you were passing out. You mean
well-thats why I trouble to talk to
you. Santa divorced Oak; Oak didn't
divorce her. So wasn't the Correspond
ent. have every right to be with her." /"
by golly!" In her relief the girl
clutched his arm. "Are you telling me
you're married?"
Scarcely anybody knows It, Even
her parents don't. If you're anxious 10
make mischief"
Don't be an idiot. II there's nothing
phony, why not publish your secret?"
Suddenly Give glimpsed an ally.
Come upstairs and say that to
Santa"
The girl twisted on her heel.
i've had enough Of playing the good
Samaritan"
Santa Is on pins and needles for fear
Give, tomorrow, will balk at her great
plan.