Smyrna times., 1932-07-06
BY Jannis Parker

u
snapped. The girl swung around.
Il thought you were in Europe" !"
she spoke in a throaty monotone.
I'm not" The man stepped from
behind the sumac, softly tread the
thickly packed pine-needles. Nor
am ! shadowing you. I thought you
were in Reno.
II was"
There was an awkward pause.
Cant we reminisce awhile? 1t
can't be called collusion now that
we're nicely divorced"
She hesitated. "What is there to
reminisce about?''
j can think of something" plant
ing himself squarely on the blanket.
First, who told you I'd gone
abroad?"
ANDY" She chose a tiny corner
Of the quilt.
80 you still see him?" he
snapped.
Don't be ridiculous, Ronald.
Andy Is my adopted brother"
He forgot that" he reviewed
past events. "All right-the man
loved you-he couldn't help it. But
he could have helped lettering
aroundi He with his legal mind
framing situations and buttoning
them on mel Then goading you till
you saw things that weren't there.
Why did you seek his advice? If
you wanted to lose me why didn't
you tell me?"
She ignored this. "By the way, |
haven't received your announce
ment."
Inc man was nOnpluSSed.
Yours and Gert's," she explained.
surely you remember Cert? Long
fair hair and the best back in the
country. You said so yourself"
Little idiot !" The man roared up
at the clouds. How can you pre-
tend such thingsI | never have got
chummy with my models. Why the
unrelenting spotlight on me when
Andy led you around by that funny
little nose? Andy was lawyer, dar-
ling, you shouldn't have believed all
he said. Didn't he just tell you I'd
gone to Asia?"
No answer.
Because he wanted you himself
he imported fabric of lies to hoist
over your vision and distort it. He
picked his time when | was shaving
on that fresco order. spending every
minute with my model You should
have been your usual sane self and
rallied an unknown painter doesn't
reap orders like that every day.
''You might have let me know
when you flung me back to the
worlds other women"
what do you mean"
isn't 1t customry to let a fellow
know when you're through with
him? When the matrimonial bond
is severed shouldn't an impressive
document go forth? Suppose had
wanted to marry Gertrude?"
"Never mind" be continued ten
derly, his tone sent the blood surg
ing up her neck, 81 never wanted to
know"
He sighed and rose heavily to his
feet Maybe you're right. Remin-
iscing isn't so good Instead of
switching that poor ring around why
not throw 1t away? Why. Ann
You're crying!"
In an instant he was on bis knees,
had gathered her quivering form
close. -'Annsome"-it was his pet
name for her-"darling. don't heave
like that, you'll wear yourself outr
"Pve done something terrible ~
she sobbed.
He took his big handkerchief and
mopped her eyes. Sweetheart, |
we're both In a fog. Pull yourself |
dear. you're marrying me
again tonight. I don't want to take
a woman to the altar who's crying
her heart out"
But Ann, muddled up In her own
straining confession, hadn't heard. |
"Ronny, couldn't get 1t on non-sup-
port. You provided beautifully. You |
actually spoiled me-"
He stroked her hair. "I'll provide I
better in the next world. Artists
aren't appreciated till they die"
81 couldn't get 1t on crueltyl And
/ knew 1t wasn't another woman.
Although | could have clawed out
that Gertrude's eyes the way she
oggled you.'
His voice was soothing. "She /
only oggled me, dearest, because I /
was the only artist who hadn't
oggled her. Why did his honor take
pity on your"
She lifted woebegone eyes. 81
went all the way to Reno, went
all the motions, and then
I couldn't accuse you unjustly, could
II And / couldn't make up any
thing horrible. not about you, Ronny
so / didn't go through with It."
She sniffed. whatever you want
to do now I'll abide by"