Evening star., 1933-02-27

you know you are the first girl that
ever made me feel that 1t might be
real, too, If one could only hang on
to it, once it was acquired. But that's
the trouble, no one does"
II think they, Co.. Bruce. Your
views are distorted. :"
June went to bed that night, her
heart a melee Of hopes and fears. In
Rolla, young men did not talk about
how to find personal happiness. They
told her she was the prettiest and the
sweetest girl they'd ever met, and pro-
posed very soon and often.
Bruce was devoted during those first
trying days at the hospital. No blood
kin could have guarded her welfare
more assiduously. ncr ordered more ex.
travagant services. June was a little
disturbed about this. Bruce had all
her meals sent in from a high-class
restaurant. And there were fresh
flowers daily. Every night, there was
an orchid on her dinner tray.
Kay come to see her. A subtly differ
ent Kay. Not so restless, perhaps, but
more bitter against Bruce He was stiT
unyielding. She was seeing Ramon, in
stolen moments, at odd trysting places
Then one day she came in weeping and
poured out a story of desolation.
Ramon has gone home-back to
Italy. He had to do it-he lost his Job
here, and there was nothing for him
to do. tried to make him take some
money from me, and he wouldn't do it.
We quarreled terribly"
What is he going to do at home?"
"Oh, he has some absolutely wild
scheme-I say wild, because he hasn't
money enough to put it through. II
I could get hold of some of my capital
and lend it to him, he'd make good,
I'm sure. But this way 1 can't see
that he has chance, unless some man
he knows in England helps him out.
There's a chance of that-he is going
to stop in London. June, feel like
doing something desperate. My life
doesn't mean thing without Ramon
honestly, it doesn't. I'm simply mad
alton. as Bruce thinks Wont you
try to make him see he's wrong? He
seems to think everything you say or
| DO Is right :"
Il told him before he left Rolla that
I thought he was wrong But you know
how he freezes up when the subject
arises"
June was in the hospital for
Thanksgiving Bruce, as lover-likc as
she could ask outwardly came to sit
with her all afternoon. Her room
was aglow with huge yellow chrysan-
themums, and long-stemmed red roses.
Dinner was sent in for them-a festive
meal, on which Bruce had expended
much thought. Making June happy
was becoming an obsession with him.
She was the only girl he'd ever known
who really appreciated the things he
did for her. They were having dessert
when Kay, on e strange impulse,
brought a half dozen CT her friends
to call. They had been attending
cocktail party and were on their way
to dinner
80 this is where you werel" KaH
said to Bruce. I'VE were looking f0
you-you promised to come to Shj
ley's, and is she eff ycul'
ried?"
mo. you lock to me as If you were
In love-hard- boiled Bruce, in love!"
BE STILL" he commanded, Il don't
want these asses to hear you. What
cid you bring Brownie here for, of all
places?" Bruce'S eyes were angry, az
he regarded Brownie Sylvester Leaning
over June, SO close that the fumes of:
his liquor-laden breath must nauRates
her. he thought.
You don't like to share your pet ;
90 you, darling?" Kay said, mockinglys
well, I'll tell you in advance, I'm
going to introduce her to all the eligi-
BILE boys I know as soon as she is
out of here. You may have to take
a little of your own medicine. you see
you are in love with her, if you won't
aomit it, even to yourself-and II
some one takes her away from you it
will serve you right"
Listen, I wish you'd get out of here
no one asked you to come -"
\ X X
Kay went to Lake Placid the middle
Christmas. Then, a sudden business
trip took Bruce to California. He
would be back by Christmas. he was
sure In the meantime, June was
lonely She had not realized until now
how irreyocably IN love with him she
was. Did he love her? Sometimes
she was sure he did. and then again
she was tormented by doubts.
She was able to be up now for
little while each day. Her operation
had been a success, and it was only a
question of complete convalescence.
Would Bruce suggest the yacht trip. as
he had when he first met her? She
could visualize long, lazy days, cruising
beneath a Southern moon with the
man she loved. Her breath came fast,
in sudden ecstasy Of emotion-he
might propose-they might have their
honeymoon
without warning, June was dis
missed from the hospital on the after
noon of Christmas eve. DR.. Henderson
telephoned from his country place in
Westchester He meant to do June
kindness. A lovely girl like that would
| l,oka q 6a IL, taI
she would want to be with her
friends.
June could scarcely keep back the
tears as she went to the cashiers cage
downstairs to pay her bill.
There Is still a balance" she was
told. !.
"A balance?" She was mystifed.
Eyes, Mr. Bishop deposited a sum to
cover your expenses-he said his sister
injured you. and he was paying all the
bills" ~
June turned away. Bruce was
wonderful. She was helped into cab,
Gilmore" she said She had left her
trunk there, so she must go back, she
told herself. Actually, though, it was:
because she was lonely, and the place
had the merit of not being wholly
strange.
That hour on Christmas eve. between
6 and / O'Clock, was one June hoped
she would never live through again.
Huddled in a chair IN her small room
on the twenty-sixth floor, she did not
cry. but sat in a stony, aching silence.
Then, the clamor Of the telephone
bell came like the boom Of gun! A
great leap Of hope spun her senses.
She reached for the instrument.
June, this is Bruce. ="
His deep, vibrant voice came to her
like q lifeline to the drowning. Her
desolate hour was flooded with happi-
neeB. It was hard to command her
voice, welcome him home, the relief
was so great