Evening star., 1932-11-27
A PATH TGsPARADISEI
--IY Coulps.by ~ DAWSON

that Bridesmaids. music. No back
history You're a matrimonial Hou-
dini-that's where you have me at a
disadvantage. 1 married to- stay mar
I'ied; you've had experience in escaping.
Any time 1 stick up for my rights, as
I did yesterday. you can put me where
YOU want me by threatening to repeat
the disappearing act
But I won't-never again.
promise"
She had wriggled her way to his
knees till she leaned against them.
His aloOflesS was melting. He was
sinking under her spell.
You think you won't, Santa. But
how can be sure? Your home train
ing was bad, III never become a yes
artist, like your father"
She took his hand that was nearest
and began to toy with it, folding andI
unfolding the fngera.
L wouldn't stay with you an hour
if you were"
He chuckled.
And yet a yes-artists what you've
I tried to make me"
Hiring this apartment" she accused
herself Furnishing 1t with thingsI
that belonged to me and not to US"
And tagging after your divorced
husband" he added to the indictment.
rs that fair?" She glanced up quick
! ly. Il didn't tag after him"
1T isn't" He bent over her, press
ing his cheek against hers. He stole
| back into your life by a series Of ac-
cidents. If I'd been swilling to talk
/ about him"
She seized the excuse
Not talking about him made him q
guilty secret"
And guilty secrets lead to decep-
| tion," Give helped her.
mot to deception" she fumbled; "to
something that you construed as de-
| ception. When you discovered that he
/ was the person who was anxious to
| employ you. of course, 1t looked"
! He ierked her. She raised herself,
staring at him in fascination.
What do We care how it looked?"
His voice was husky. From tonight
everything's going to be not me or
you. but US
Intoxication followed
so happy!" she sighed
Later in bed. watching him undress,
she asked, why did you let Dicky en-
tertain us?"
He paused In the removal Of his
studs.
"You won't be angry?"
"Of course not"
"You won't be hurt?"
| Honest"
Because I thought he and we're
in the same boat-a pair of discards.
1t made me sympathetic
She stretched out her arms
| Come here. imbecile.
Nearly suffocated, he spluttered;
Most married couples are imbeciless
I guess"
Next morning came reaction. He
gazed at the sweet flushed face. II
was extraordinary how much younger
Santa looked in bed than in her clothes.
She became immature-angelic. The
| artifices she employed to improve her
appearance disguised her. Speech
spoiled her
Asleep when she couldn't interfere
with herself, she was at her best. And
this ethereal creature, fragile, holy, was
the antagonist he had chosen with
whom to handy words.
Taunts hurled in the heat of combat
recoiled to wound him. Matrimonial
Houdinil His steep ascent to heaven!
Any reproach addressed by man to
a woman was at least twice as offensive
as the same reproach addressed by q
woman to a man.
He heard again his rapierltke thruStst
On what grounds had she won her oil"
vorce. He saw himself cold and tore
turing-the just person. the inqu1sitoR,
the French comedy caricature of q huss
band. His detestation of the role was
overwhelming. The ignominy Of cone
tending with a woman! And the re-
ward of his harshness had been gen.
tleneSs.
Her eyes opened.
Hello. handsomeP
He bent over her.
I'm ashamed"
Forget"
She drew down his head.
over breakfast they framed con-
stitution. No more SuppreSsionS 10
more reprisals. Every grievance to
debated. Their future a perpetu1
Christmas.
Still another serpent Is found, 10
morrow, in Gives Eden.