The times-news., 1936-08-28

How Judith got through her ait
crnoon's work she would never
cutie know. As she had toid he[
friend she had always belleVed
that in i situation like this She
could be sane and sensible. But
apparently that had been because,
subconsciousIy, she'd believed 100
long it could never happen to her.
During the past few montaS When
the logic of her brain had begun
TO tell her that it might happen,
she had ignored the warning.
Like an automatOn she went
through her office routine until
), and She was grateful when Vlr-
piria appeared by her desk with,
Not going to work all night, are
Won. darIing?" Together they hur-
ried to catch an early car to the
apartment; and, as often nap
,ened. they encountered BOP BENT
on the same car. Nirglnla's nus
band was in his usual good hum0or.
Good evening. charming Ia
dies - he greeted them. Did you
Umt over snv big deals today?"
Judith did," said Virginia,
She sold Steve Fowler short, ana
came out way ahead"
NO" He looked at Judith SYM
rathetically. Say, that's too pad
I hone" He was interrupted by
sharp nudge from his vile
well" he began again, attempt
ing a laugh, easy come easy CO.
Judith"
VIRGINIA caught a glimpse of
Judith's face and quickly veered
the conversation into safer chan
npIs To all appearances, judith
had temporarily forgotten the
mattcr bv the time they reached
the apartment building where
both the Bents and Judith How
ard lived. .u
night" Virginia invited her as the
trio went uu in the AUTOMATIC hIt.
Judith shook her head. "IhanKS
. lot but I've some food left over
from Yesterday - and my trugai
New England nature won't let II
chance spelling 49,,
Bob was about to suggest that
they pool their kitchen resources
but il occurred to him in the mex
of time that, under the circum-
stances, Judith might prefer 10
have dinner alone.
He was correct - partly. For
while Judith did want to be alone
for a while she touched nothing
in the way of food. Once inside
her little apartment she dropped
her hat and coat on a chair and
sank wearily on the davenport.
She sat there, not moving. She
sat there. hardly thinking. 1t was
as if a part of her had died.
Then gradually, as the fatigue
of the day wore off, she began to
think again of her life with Ste
phen Fowler. 1t seemed such a
large part of her life, this part
she had spent with him almost al
WAYS in her thoughts. And when
she told herself, 1T was only four
wears . and with every hour
those four years will grow less
important" she could not really
believe it.
Judith rose at last, bathed her
face in cold water and slipped
into q cool frock. She had bare
ly finished dressing when Steve's
ring at the door startled her. List
lessly she went to the door and
opened it.
Hello, Steve"
He looked at her closely as ne
came in, but said nothing. Walk
ing to the little table by the win
dow he put down his hat, took his
pipe from his pocket and set it be-
! tween his teeth unlighted. Then,
nervously, he returned it to his
pocket. =,
"Look here, Judith" he said
suddenly, "you couldn't have
meant what you said this noon"
81 did mean it, though" Her
eyes met his unflinchingly.
Then you haven't changed
your mood?" He reached for his
hat. "And if you haven't changed
your mood there's no use in my
trying to talk this out with you
now"
"It isn't a mood, Steve-and ii
lisn't a question of talking it out
told you today howl felt" She
took step toward him, then stop
ped as if afraid of herself. "Oh
Steve, 1 haven't insisted many
times that l was right. In all the
times we've quarreled I've always
given in. But this time I'm mo-
going to give in. That's wha
makes me feel so sure Pm right.
=
Steve's laugh was without hu