Evening star., 1934-05-09
Bfi JANE DIXON

honest work?"
Why" The Owl was pacing the
floor again. Because, fortunately or
unfortunately, you were born in a
strata of society where freedom Of
choice is not permitted. There's a
debt you own to your name. to your
station. The world will take you at
your own value. If you lower your
you stike at the very vitals
of a society that has been centuries
in the building"
1T isn't building" Sandra pro-
tested hotly. Its crumbling. You
don't know. Owl. You haven't seen
what's happening to us. the younger
generation. Val and I, Bubbles Court
landt, Sonny Warren, Gil Akin. We
drink and gamble and tear each
other to tatters. We go just as near
the edge as we possibly can without
getting burned. Plenty of us do get
burned, but We laugh and try to hide
the scars
Uncle Raoul came to a stop. "Fid-
dlesticks!" he said. Young folks are
no different from what they were in
my day. They steady as they go
along I haven't heard that the
theater was a particularly fertile
ground in which to search for
morals"
Il hate disappointing you. OWL"
Sandra said huskily. I've got to go
on. No matter what happens, you
know love you, and that I'm CRATE
full for what you have done for us"
She made a gesture of throwing off
the heaviness of the moment. I'm
off to rehearsal" she said.
A week after Sandra'S visit to her
uncle, Valerie returned home unex-
pectedly. Sandra, entering the Sut-
ton place apartment with every mus
Gle of her body separate ache from
the grueling strain that was being
put upon them at rehearsal, found
her mother in high dudgeon. VAL
erie, tight-lipped and sullen, was nom
committal.
Valerie says Mr.. Akin has stopped
off in Virginia to visit his parents"
shifted Mrs Reynal. why she hasn't
stopped with him, I don't know. The
idea of a bride returning from the
honeymoon without the bridegroom!
I'm sure I don't know what people
will think
Let them think what they please"
Valerie snapped. They've got to know
some time"
What must they know? What is
to be stubborn, my lady. You're to
adjust yourself to your husband, to
your new estate. And you're to re-
main indoors until Mr.. Akin joins
you. No one is to know you've come
home like a spoiled child"
MY family seems delighted to have
me- Valerie sneered. welcome
nothing short of hilarious"
Don't mind mother, VAL" Sandra
said, and dropped into chair. Her
feet were numb. of course, she's
glad to see you. How are all the
folks in Havana? Is it giddy?"
Its hateful" There was no mis-
taking Valeries dislike. II loathed
it and everybody in it. He might
have picked out some civilized place
to flout me in
Sandra thought: Gil has been hor-
rid He hasn't even tried to make
things go. And Val, with all her
beauty has failed to interest him even
for a few weeks She noticed that
Valerie was looking remarkably well
for an unhappy bride. Her lassitude
was gone She was alert, and the
look of cunning had crept back into
her eyes.
Mothers engaged me a suite at
Chez Clement" she said. If you
don't mind, I'd rather stop here, for
the present"
Indeed, you'll stop here" Mrs.
Reynal bristled. I'll not have you
showing your face among your
friends I don't see how you could
under the circumstances"
I'll do as I please about that"
Valerie retorted. you're no. longer
my keeper. It's ridiculous of you
ordering me about, now I'm married" :"
During her absence Valerie had ac-
quired something of her mothers
grande dame manner. Sandra smoth-
cred smile. They were alike as twin
ingots cast in the same mold.
Sandra rose I'm off to brawl
Count me cut for dinner" She
thought Valerie might follow her to
her room. No. Apparently confidence
between them was at an end. Later
when Sandra came out to join Sonny
Warren, who called for her, Valerie
was nowhere to be seen. In the morn
ing when she left for rehearsal, the
door of the room that had been VAL
cries was closed and her mother
cautioned her to be quiet.
Valerie was having tantrums half
the night" Mrs. Reynal explained.
I'm really alarmed. Whatever can
have happened?"
Temper, I suppose, or nerves.
Don't haggle her. Let her rest and
she'll come out of it,
Indeed she will. I'll see to that,
never fear"
Poor Val! There would be no rest
for her in this house, Sandra knew.
ITO be cOntinued)