Evening star., 1935-07-06
itself in the most |

times and presents Itself IN tne mos
astonishing FORMS
Ira chuckled as if memory stirred
within him. Il have 8 case in mino
that might, In pattt, explain what Il
meant by that theory. It concerns
young Noel Hunt and Kathy Dix
These two met at a mountain Summer
resort three yes1s after Noel had
graduated from Harvard. Each was
attracted to the other because of
mutual interests in such things as
mountain climbing, books, a love OF
the outdoors, tennis. With Kathy
this was as far as the interest went.
With Noel it wen. farther, which was
unfortunate.
Noel fell In love with the girl,
and because Kathy appeared to en-
Joy his company and never resented
the little attentions he paid ner, he
came to believe that she loved him,
too. 1t was, therefore, something OF
a jolt to him to discover after a
month Of constant companionship
that, as far as love went, it was a
wholly one-sided affair. They were,
at the moment, seated on q high
mountain crag, flushed and happy
after q two hours climb. Studying
her profile, the laughter suddenly died
out of Noel's eyes and he said, 'Kathy.
I love you. II guess I've always
loved you. Will you marry me?'
"Kathy didn't look at him, but
she laughed. o, Noel, do be serious.
"rI am serious. I was never more
serious in my life. Kathy, don't you
love me?'
"She turned to face him, attracted
by some quality IN his voice. I'm
sorry, Noel. II rever thought Of
you that way
Noel was human and a man, hence
his vanity was scsred. He didn't press
the matter again that day, but at
night, alone in his rcom, he thought
things all over ara decided that life
without Kathy would scarcely be worth
living. Yes, he must win her at all
costs. And he knew that sitting
around brooding, acting sullen and
sulky, wouldn't help matters any.
so the next day he became his
Old cheerful self and succeeded in
dispelling in Kathy's mind the fear
that his confession might alter their
friendly relations. But now, instead
OF acting the part of mere friend,
Noel became a lover, secret and
shrewd lover. Craftily. without ap-
parent design, he became her slave,
her worshipper, her devoted admirer.
And gradually, watching, he thought
he saw a change in the girl, o
weakening, yielding. He waited an
other fortnight and then, one day
when they had packed lunch and
gone by canoe up the river to North
Point Island, he proposed again.
"Kathy poked at the dying embers
of their camp fire with her foot and
didn't answer him. But Noel could
see the expression Gil her face, and
no answer was necessary. A desper-
ate hopelessness took hold of him.
"'why is it, Kathy?' he asked with
pleading in his tones. What's wrong
with me?'
"Kathy looked at him tenderly.
There's nothing wrong with you, Noel.
That's why it hurts So. can't give
you a reason. It-its-just that +
don't want to get married
There must De some reason. There
must bel
"Kathy sighed. I wish I could ex-
plain. But can't. You're SO nice,
so kind and thoughtful IL feel like
"a cad
''Noel opened his mouth to speak
and closed it again. Behind Kathy
a man had appeared on the edge Of
the clearing. He was big man,
unshaven, looking, and be car
ried a club. His eyes took In the