Evening star., 1932-11-09
Il [AN,! PAIL e!...,! I6HARAD!sE] 6stz!s41[]

heard OF the social importance which
had been attached to her first nuptiais.
Santa routed his reflections.
"A penny for your thoughts, old boy.
We might as well be honest"
Il should hope So" he humored her.
She squeezed his arm.
Then stop thinking about Dicky."
His restraint melted.
II hate the sound of his name
can't bear to hear you meptkC St1i.
But he keeps bobbtng- up ike jack
in-tf1e-box"
He won't presently" She petted
him. Talk him out Of your system.
How does he bob up?"
venge AS though he we're determined
to spoil"
He can't"
She slipped a cool hand over his
mouth. Kissed each separate finger
But Santa, dear, ne has SO far.
We've been married like outcasts: as
though We had no right to be married
That first minister who refused to per-
form the ceremony treated US as II
we'd asked him to bless a liaison."
He was a back number" she soothed
him. "You wanted me. I wanted you
We want each other more than any
thing in the world. Here we are, with
our wish granted. DcIs anything else
natter?"
Not really"
II can't tell you. Give" she cooed
'how I've longed for you During all
the time that was married TO Dicky.
Wicked of me, wasn't it? I would
imagine he was you Close my eyes
and imagine"
4. tsron
her dark head against his shoulder.
light.
so you see, Give, if it makes you
feel better. even when I seemed to be
Dicky's I was yours"
Makes me feel glorious" he whis-
pered.
And vet things that oughtn't to
matter often matter terribly" she con-
tinued "Dicky had had heaps Of Tom-
an friends Something he let out on the
honeymoon warned me. I at once be-
came afraid OF what you're fearing now.
But you're not an old story. Give.
You're excitingly new. Always will be.
l swear it."
He gathered her to him.
That's all right, little woman"
1T isn't all right" She twisted. i've
got to make you certain. You're the
gamer by my first marriage"
Draw it mild" He vas thankful the
compartment was nearly dark so that
she couldn't see his expression.
Il mean it. I've learned the mistakes
to avoid I'm trained to be wife.
wasn't when you first asked me-
A flock of retorts winged across his
mind
But I'm not trained to be hus-
band Santa"
Everything happened for the best"
she urged; in the only best way It
could have happened All the faults
weren't on Dicky's side. I was un-
yielding I'm not any longer. You
have Dicky to thank"
You'll never catch me thanking
him"
Then you'll at least acknowledge
that without intending to he taught
me to realize your value?"
IF that's the case, wish you'd found
some other way to learn my value.
She laughed. her lips all but touching
his. Her laughter was startling. buh-
bling from the darkness without warn
ing
I'm SO free-so happy The hap
piness has gone to my head. / was in
7
ing and you
! He was -strickea.
Poor angel"
I'm not poor She clasped him
stranglingly We're rich"
Later. across the table in the dining
car. she beamed at him.
Isn't it marvellous how We can say
absolutely anything"
He crumbed his bread
Il guess you thought I'd got cold
feet"
| Didn't" she contradicted, Thought
that I'd had practice and you hadn' =
Like learning to ride bicycle?" he
appealed to her superior wisdom. But
look here. Santa, don't let's try to be
too marvellous"
Certainly not" She pulled monkey
4 face This is the last time we'll refer
to Dicky We've been placing flowers
on the grave of the dear departed
Give grinned Whinsically.
Santa wins a battle, tomorrow,
- k<na-