Evening star., 1932-10-28
PARADISE
, 'DAWSON-J

keep boys away. It isn't my fault. !
get so tired of trying"
But. Santa, dear. how viii YOU be
any safer with man whom you don't
love? can't see what you find In HIM"
ANY more than he can see what
find in you," she retorted tearfully.
"Oh. yes-you're no secret. We've dis
cussed you. But I've told you what I
find in im-companicnship. tell
him everything. shall tell him about
you presently. He won't scowl. He's
lived life and he's understanding.
Boys of my own age are crude-so
condemning. II they don't get their
own way at once they turn cruel. Dicky
never nags; he's different. He's cosmo-
politan-that's what makes him toler-
ant. We both speak languages. He
knows everybody worth knowing in
Paris. Vienna, London. Il ought to be
amusing being his wife. ringing door
bells Of European aristocracy.
"One Of his cousins is married to an
Italian title. He himself was engaged
to an Austrian countess for o month.
You should hear him describe it." She
caught her breath in nervous laughter.
THAT the ex-fiance Of countess
should beg to become my husband COM
pletely bowled Mummy over Shed be
awfully disappointed- You see I'm
marrying at least partly to please
Mummy. ! owe her so much"
I'll say you do" Give replied hotly.
Santa's voice was deadly. When 1t
comes to my mother. who all her life
has sacrificed for me. I refuse to
I'm not asking you to allow" Give
broke in on her. I'm insulting you
with the truth. She's taught you to
bait your hook with sex. What's this
social racket taught you except that it's
grand to cheat? What did you mean
by gobbling me up as though you were
famished?
IF this dandy. who's been engaged
to a countess, pretends to find your
cheating delightful he's preparing to
go you one better. Men don't marry
to practice foreign languages. 1t takes
more than a foreign language to keep
two people married. But you're sleep
walking No one could be as beautiful
as you are and truly believe One
day you'll wake up. You'll wart"
| She sprang to her feet.
Not you!'
AS she ran past him. he tr.vd 20
delay her. He was left gazing at every
thing that was to have become SO
sacred.
Choosing the direction that led from
the house. he plunged deeper into ne
wood.
On the further CO =, he came to .
meadow over which an aeroplane was
sinking. Skimming along the nd,
it TAXED to a halt not more tIan so
yards beyond him. A lean figure, still
alert and youthful. climbed out and
shouted.
Give went forward.
Getting to be quite an expert,
| Guardie. But what has Mrs. Dawn to
say?"
Eric Dam closed one eye.
That I'm tco cid for such nonsense"
Give knew better than his guardian
| the gossip that this belated passion for
flying had occasioned. The worm had
| turned and taken to the air from sheer
boredom at being trodden on.
! Dent know whether fying's done
it. but you're looking younger" Give
stared into the distance. Not much
older than that fellow with whom 7
found Santa playing tennis"
She's told you?"
You bet
"shes hit you hard II it's any com-
fort she's hit me harder"
| Give faced about.
Why do you allow it?"
Cant stop it."
you're responsible. You're her
father"
| Dawn smiled
My dear boy. in these progressive
/ days fathers are obsolete survivals.
Their wives and offspring make the de-
cisions. I was dragged from my den
by Santa, introduced to a stranger and
informed of their engagement. Daugh-
/ tiers are no longer their parents prop
| erty. Whom girl marrieS Is her own
| funeral"
! It's not. Guardie. Your duty is to
. protect her"
/ Agreed" Dawn removed his avi-
ator'S helmet. But let's sprawl on the
grass. You're in love with Santa. Con-
slider that I'm slip-shod. Because Of
| that owe you consideration. I'm say
| ing this, Give. because you're high
principled; I don't think you realize
what you would have let yourself in for
had you married Santa"
What should ~"
THE divorce court I'm not knock.
I ing my own daughter. I'm not knock
| ing you. either. But you're romantic:
she's practical. For instance, to you o
divorce would be disgrace; to her 1t
would be an honorable discharge"
| You're slouching on your job"
"All the same" Dawn proceeded, u
/ pity any idealist who becomes my
/ uausHtei HusDanu. one respects
neither God nor man. Her physical
beauty inspires dreams which she's
mentally incapable of appreciating."
| For the love of Mike!" Give inter.
rupted. Marriage certainly isn't q
shabby struggle to be boss"
Then correct me-
"It's competition in sharing"
+ The older man reached for the boys
hand
That's torn it. She must have
guessed that was what you thought"