Evening star., 1935-01-06

forSythla, anu the All was SUI "i'ai "Au'AAS
scents.
The whole world was joyously alive, but
John Wyatt only lay back in his chair, moving
his head restlessly as the April breeze blew
more strongly through the window. April
six months. Six endless months and now he
was we'll again--a miracle. they said. He was
well and it was Spring, and yet-and yet
He shut his eyes, seeing those months like
moving picture reel run backward. Weeks In
the hospital-doctors and nurses and plaster
casts mencing the break in his pelvis and
Strengthening his hip.
And back of them, the notwithstanding
into q tree on his frantic drive home from the
country club that night And before that May
louise, as she had looked when she came INTO
the sun room and found John with the black
haired girl in his arms.
He could still see her face-he had seen 1t
n million times since them. 1t was 7ery white,
and her blue eyes were wide and strange, hlled
with amusement that turned into anger. "On!
she choked furiously.
John stood staring back. No one said any
thing while the rail drummed loudly on the
glass roof. The orchestra back In the ball
room was still; supper must be beginning
MayIouise spoke to the girl, Ignoring John.
sI beg your pardon, Miss-I don't know your
name John didn't know her name, either.
"You probably don't realize that Mr.. wyatt
and are engaged. Even IL be hasn't behaved
like q gentleman to either OF US, think youH
nee that It's better to-to leave us alone"
The black haired girl was perfectly calm.
She said: II beg your pardon. Mis-
Montgomery"
TIN extremely sorry" Then she went.
quickly and silently, leaving MaylouiSe and
John facing each other. Before her footsteps
had died along the hall, Maylouise was speak
ing furiously.
John. what does this mean? But know.
II means that you're weak and untrue snd-
and common. It means you don't love me.
Well don't love you. I hate you, and m
breaking our engagement now this mii4ute do
you hear?"
IoHN heard, and he was afraid that others
- did. so he took two steps, shut the door and
stood with his back to it while MayoulSe
went on.
It was like most of her scenes only worse.
Usually he was able to break in and stop her,
remembering her sisters warning ABOUT let
ting Maylouise get upset. But now ne coulo
only stand silently and wonder how she could
be so stupid. -.
wasn't any one at all-just party girl he'd
taken up for the evening because of the way
shed acted? And if she didn't Knowingly
louise who had flirted lightly all her life and
seriously enough with Bill Howard this Autumn
to torture John-as if she didn't know that he
adored her? AS if they had to have scenes TO
understand each other!
But Maylouise always made scenes-with her
mother, with Anne and, lately, with him.
And he couldn't stop this one He stood
frozen watching her white face and her eyes
not bit like Maylouises eyes. And al the
end she didn't throw herself into his arms and
beg him to forgive her, as she always did after
ward. She simply looked at him out of those
queer eyes and said will you let me by?" and
walked out Of the room.
af,ar . 1opo tivoo Tolv, want hac IN the hall
room Anne her sister, hadn't seen Maylouise.
She said: "You look terribly tired. Why don't
you go home? Some one else will bring her"
st know it," he said. II know 1t. Anne.
That's why"
Her gaze was steady and plying. ats all
right, John. I'll find her and she can come
home with George and me-
mo I'll fnd her."
But he didn't, though he looked everywhere
In the club. Finally, very late, he started
down the river road. He would go to her house,
for he must see her-he must.
He drove fast through the thick fog-he
knew every inch of the road. And then some
thing flashed at him out of the mist, flashed
and crashed and the rest was blackness and
pain and ether, and nurse with smooth gold
hair like Anne's. He called her Anne. and
asked about Maylouise, but she wouldn't an
swer.
It was weeks before his grandmother told
ihii Wadt iiao Happehco' iio" rhdypuiSc Noo
left the dance and driven to Charleston with
Bill Howard. The next day she wired her
mother that she and Bill were married and on
their way to Florida.
John could not realize it then. His mind
- was too weary with the burden of pain to
accept anything more. But day, weeks
later. when his grandmother told him that
Anne Montgomery had come to see him every
thing swept over him in a great relentless
wave, and he had cried cut: Mono! won't!