Evening star., 1935-03-17

morning 1t was there as he pressed the button
- that was marvellous. Taking gentleman
to the floor above" said the boy smiling.
Good morning, Mr. Morton. Fine day, isn't
1t! Just got your buzz as closed the door"
They dropped three floors and again the
buzzer rang. The elevator cushioned to halt
on the fourth floor down. twenty-eight above
the ground, and girl got in. Morton removed
his hat and looked at her. A heavenly girl, a
wonder girl, the girl men dream about, slim,
young and lovely, with hair like ripe wheat
and eyes blue as cornflowers - society girl,
polished and expensive and luxurious from the
tip of her New York shoes to the brim of her
Paris hat. He looked at her in delighted
admiration.
And she smiled at him. For an instant his
heart stopped beating, or it felt like that. She
had smiled at him :. at him! 1t was incred-
ible, girl like that. Then his heart began
beating again, suddenly, furiously. The
elevator stopped at the twentieth floor and
some people got in He didn't notice them, but
the girl moved back towards him, closer, and
he looked at her again. He was right, she was
smiling there was twinkle of friendliness
and interest in her Cornflower eyes.
lnstinctively Packard Morton drew himself
up. and his brain flashed lightning.
He wasn't SO fat after all that massage
had done wonders he'd been tired of the
damned tailors always saying, Another inch
out around the waist, Mr.. Morton" Well he
had shown him only yesterday he had
said, 1--WE must take in three inches" that
showed 'um. Forty-seven isn't old it's
the prime of life to hell with this talk
about gigolos and dancing boys with their
hair slicked back.
He looked at the girl again. Yes, it was
true, there was a smile and a gay light of
kindness in her eyes, His brain spun now in
quick spirals faster than light.
South Sea islands . blue sea blue sky
white beaches palm trees and cocoa
nuts :. the two of them alone, with love.
Elsa wouldn't care he could fix that :. .
proper settlement . after all she had her
own interests. Probably she did love him in
way, but what sort of love is it after twenty
years OF marriage :. affection and mutual
respect. call it that Of course he mustn't
hurt her feelings =. but that was easy to
arrange say trip to Australia on business.
Then when he got there u. on to the Islands
of the Blest whats the name of that
fellow who did the pictures in Tahiti
Frenchman. wasn't he Gauguin, that was
it :. Hot sun, blue sea, white sand, and
brown-skinned girls. ought to have bought
one of those when had a chance five years
ago it would have doubled in value since
then But the office g. well, Davis wouldn't
care :. tell him, You can have three
quarter interest instead of third for half
million dollars 49,. that would be twenty
thousand for Elsa :. :. . land send my share :.
we'll I'll tell you where later . I'm going
away for trip" Davis would jump at it. He
looked at the girl again.
Say what you like, things can happen -. &. .
not exactly love at first sight, but something
instructive -. when you know people, really
know them right from the start what was
it?. Plato or somebody, and twin souls =.
there are things like that ships that meet
in the night, is that it? Anyway, somehow,
everyone knows it's true sort of mutual
sympathy Just one look and you recognize
each other as old friends. Maybe there was
something in this stuff about living before >.
perhaps they had met in other lives and been
friends - or lovers Why not, you never knew
about that sort of thing how could you
know? God kept bar on the gates of life and
death . =. but souls might slip through some
times, mightnt they, and meet again across
the ages
Once more the car stopped, at the tenth
floor, and other people entered crowding the
girl nearer to Morton. Her long lashes were
low over demure eyes. With a pang of rapture
he caught her glinted look. What girl, the .
girl of thousand dreams! That French stuff
he had read about the Dream Girl
Cod knOws the French were smart MT o1I1,