Evening star., 1932-08-27

~ aCJelIlVe. he saw CIldt LII.
W Junet both liked and respect
ed Jean and, without waiting
for his scientific verdict, took
this as an indication of the favorable
report he would undoubtedly receive
later. So not wishing to lose too much
time in settling his fate, which had
been in allegiance since he met Jean,
he let her realize his fondneSs for her.
without actually committing himself.
This served further to increase the
Cisapproval of DR.. Junet, who felt tnat
Martin was adding injury to insult
when he led Jean to care for him.
with the possibility that there would be
no elimination in marriage II her
Character failed to measure up to his
requisites for a wife and mother.
Martin had opened his Southampton
home and had not come up to town
all that week. He asked DR.. Junet 10
drive Jean and Marcia down for the
week end.
"Shall we start pretty ston?"
DR.. Junet stood in the doorway OF
Jeans Office, his kindly smile. which
she did not suspect was tinged with
pity. Frightening his usually serious
countenance. Jean liked him ana
thought how fortunate she was that
her new Job included a man like this,
well. For Victor Junet had made j.
clear to her that he was her friend
and she could depend on him in any
manner she chose. This was his way,
at first. of making up to the friendless
little girl, as he termed her in his own
mind, for the unkind thing Martin was
doing to her.
Jean answered his smile with her
own quick one. Just two minutes, she
said. Tell me, did you see that young
poet person? And what do you thlnK
of him? He interested me very much
Eyes, had long talk with him
exaggerated ego, visionary IN the ex-
IRENE: but he has unmistakable tai
ent Heredity and environment have
both been against him, I'd say. His
father was on the stage, I think. and
died of an accident when the boy was
IA or IS; since then, imagine, he has
had a hard time-he's sensitive and
proud. He applied for job on the
Times and Bill Whitney sent him over
here"
perhaps that is why he won my
sympathy-he is an orphan, like my
self: only there is something else
about him that 1 can't figure out-a
sort of resemblance to some one that
bothers me. You can't imagine how
much I miss my father-he could
always analyze things for me SO lu-
cidly
Jean was putting her desk in order,
working swiftly while she talked: DR..
Junet thought: "She has lovely hands
she is lovely, too she
ought not to be in /an Office" Out
loud he said You never mention
your mother"
mo. I don't remember her.
She went away when I was 2 years
Dr.. Junet lit cigarette, and walked
over to the window. He looked down
on the river, appearing causually to
observe the scene below, but in reality
his mind was a little more than dis
turbed over the problem Jean repre-
sented, and he was actually seeing
nothing.
YOU mean your mother died?" he
asked.
mo she and daddy were
not happy =. at least motner
wasn't. and one day she went away
with a man she cared for. She said
she didn't want to be entirely selfish
and take all daddy's happiness away,
so she left me. I think that was gener-
ous don't you?"
Dr.. Junet sensed at once the distress
of the girl over the fact that her
mother had deserted her, and recog-
nized that she had built up picture
of noble remuneration in her mind, an
idealism that it would be cruel to
shatter.
"I think it was a wonderful thing
for a mother to do" he answered, and
was rewarded with the quick look OF
relief that sprang into jeans eyes.
Dismissing the subject then, she
asked: What are you going to do
with my poet?"
"He really ought to go to hospital
for observation, though I don't know
Just how much luck I'll have with him
he is in bad nervous and physical
condition and he verges on
being a psychopathic case"
II suppose you'll think me very care
less when I tell you that I've invited
him to come to a party Marcia and l
are giving Wednesday night. He Is
going to read us some of his poetry
entertain u.s. I'll pay him, of course;
he is so poor; that is really the reason
I made the engagement, so I'd have an
excuse to give him some money. He Is
broke"
Il suggest that you Just give him the
money, then, and cancel the entertain
ment."
mo; he is too proud to take it. I
understand how he feels-he wants to
earn his way, and with conditions as
they are now, you know 1t is hard Tor
him to get job"
She went to get her hat. 'There,
I'm ready-that was a long two min
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