Evening star., 1932-12-11
PARADISE
DAWSON

| line was llcO0celVaDle.
| He reused.
That you, Santa?"
| Had his voice drowned the sound Oh
the front door closing or was that alsd
imagined?
Dashing down the passage, he entered
the bed room. With luck there was yet
time to intercept her at the elevator.
Too late. She had descended.
Returning to the apartment, he sat
down, clenching his head between his
hands. A year was her limit for any
marriage. He supposed there were girls
like that. After all, he'd had fair
warning.
Probably she'll come back to me If
I wait a year"
He began to laugh. Suddenly he
stopped, staring. .
Not to me. I've been abused enough"
The furniture, which was hers, not
his, seemed to snlirk at him.
Curse you'll" He kicked a chair.
you won't have to put up with me
much longer"
In a frenzy, he unearthed a suitcase
In bed room and began to pack
I'm leaving Santa. 1t can't be true"
On the bed lay the frock that she
had been wearing. Timidly, as one who
had no right, he touched it. 1t was
thinking, he crushed it to his lips. Then,
scornful Of his sentiment, returned to
his packing
Seating himself at her desk, he
scrawled on a sheet of paper, Dear
Santa" How to progress? Dear Santa
was exactly what she was to him.
Never as long as the world lasted could
she be less. Tomorrow would dawn and
tomorrow his hunger for her would be
unabated. He might glance at other
women. but he would duck at the final
moment, as Dicky was ducking.
In heavens name, If this was how he
felt, why hadn't he said it to her? He'd
turned his back on her and left her
sobbing. He'd driven her into Dickys
arms, if that was where she was at
present
He gnawed his pen. But was she?
Was it too late? Legally she was his
wife. Crushing the sheet Of paper on
which he had written nothing but the
inarticulate two words, Dear Santa"
he rushed from the disordered bed room
and seized his hat. She could make
her own terms. He would resign his
will in everything.
In the East Seventies, before a pa
latial apartment house, the taxi halted.
Having stated at the Office that he was
expected ("Ought to be If I'm not'') he
was shot up in an elevator and directed.
! To his relief, the door was opened by
Santa.
He clasped her to him.
II was so afraid"
$50 was l." She cuddled.
But who's been frightening you?"
Nothing. I've been sitting here
alone"
How aloneP What I mean is. If there
| -
He'd dismissed his servants and left
the key to be gi,,en to a lady who was
to call on him"
Looks as though he'd played prac-
tical joke. "Ah!" He had an inspira-
ton. "On Leu ou."
Santa stared.
why Lou-Lou?"
What more natural2 This is the
day when they're to be married"
''Is it true? Who told you?"
"Lou-Lou herself"
They wandered into a large, Mxuri-
ously furnished room.
But why should she notify your"
Santa continued.
TOO long a story" He shrugged his
shoulders ITO be brief, she knew that
If he were married again I'd feel that
I was really married."
A telephone In another room was
ringing persistently, scoldingly.
What do you say?" Give rosa.
you and seem to be the wedding 70.
ception committee. Guess I'd better
answer it."
He came back.
Couldn't. The doors locked"
She drew herself to him, white Tipped
and trembling.
Whats wrong with you?" He caught
her terror. ITS the second time I've
seen you like this today"
Something he said, Give, when he
called me up. The thing he said that
Give, he's been threatening me. I've
been ashamed. I've tried so hard. 7
couldn't-couldn't get rid Of him"
We'll, you're rid of him now, darling.s
He kissed her tears. Lets get out"
They had stepped into the passage,
when the elevator halted and they
found themselves confronted by q
Stocky, gray-haired man, who ques-
toned them without prelininaries.
ANY trouble in Mr.. Oaks apart
only that he's not there" Give
replied shortly.
I'm the house detective" the man
announced. you're the last folks to
visit him. Better come back with me-"
Inside the apartment he explained
his request.
There's lady on the wire who says
she's waiting to marry him-been ring
ing him for the past half hour. He
nlmsen used the telephone not two
hours ago. Since then nobody's seen
him."
Il can assure you we haven't" Give
volunteered. THE only peculiar thing
I've noticed Is that one Of the doors Is
locked"
Which one2" The house detective
produced set Of pass keys.
SpFawled across the desk lay Dicky,
a revolver on the floor, where 1t had
dropped from his hand.
A cry burst from Santa.
ITS what he threatened"
Reverently Give approached. Dicky
and himself again had changed places.
An hour ago, when he had believed
himself forsaken, he, too, had been
capable of this despairing folly. Peer
ing over Dicky's shoulder, he saw q
scribbled sheet. 1t was the letter he
himself had tried to write.
Its addressed to you, Santa" He
spoke without turning. 1T begins the
way began one to you recently, Dear
Santa That was as far as could get.
His goes on: Time to be honest. I have
no one to blame but myself. Life Law
lShed chances; I misused every one Of
them. Life gave me you; the only usa
l could make of your love was to kill
it. We men are all fools. When we're
all the world to any woman, wa r~~1ally
despise her. See how I'm treating .sou-
Lou.
But we're talking about you-the
highest. If I stayed, I could never
cease following you. Marrying Lou-Lou
wouldn't cure me. pray to God Give
Will appreciate you. Think Of me as I
ought 10 nave been. In removing my
sen I'm proving the love bear you.
There are men so weak that thev 1er-
] form their greatest kindrnass hu Grii,s ),