Evening star., 1936-02-02
THIS WEEk

If Ada had dared to linger. to
listen - she would have learned that
Neal and Valerie were companions in
her own bitter misery. Their marriage
also was wrecked: They were saying
farewell to each other in common self
sacrifice.
1t was enough for Ada that they had
committed the forbidden sin of evil
appearances. She did not need to
accuse them of an offense against the
ancient moral laws. Their crime was
violation of the new economic laws.
She naturally assumed that they were
living in secret wedlock in clear viola
ton Of Section 2l3.
She left the place in a vindictive
humor that was not sweetened by a
long lone night in the dreary and per-
manent solitude of her own boarding
house. She did not know just how she
could turn Neal and Valerie out OF
their clandestine paradise, but she felt
that it was her solemn duty to inform
the proper authorities that the law
was being f1outed. And Ada was one
to whom an unpleasant duty was al
ways peculiarly pleasant.
When Neal and Valerie met behind
that door on which Ada's eyes had
gazed so balefully. they were so glad
to be alone together that they fell
into each others arms and forgot the
dark purposes they cherished.
But as she was cooking the dinner
Valerie began to realize that this was
funeral feast. The same thought struck
Neal, and pail fell over them. 1t was
not till she was washing the dishes and
Neal standing by to dry them that he
flung down the dishcloth with cry:
Valerie, can't stand it to see you
scalding your beautiful hands in that
hot water every night after staining
them with ink all day"
But, darling -"
The worst of it is, it S the best you
can look forward to. It's all can offer
you. and only then provided you keep
your job. You ought to be a rich mans
wife, as you can be. you must be-"
But. Neal ="
We've made the experiment. 1t
was sweet for while, but it's getting
me now. It's hopeless failure. 1t can
only get worse
''Of course. if it's breaking you
down, and cutting you out of your
future"
Put it that way" he groaned.
Let me take the blame It's all my
fault anyway. l dragged you into it.
You let me out of it. Please release
me-"
He thought it would be easier for
her if he asked for his release. She had
planned to take the blame and ask for
hers, but it was simpler to let her
story go untold. She thought his con-
fusion was really due to his ambitions,
which she was wrecking. She never
dreamed that he was breaking his
heart with his own bare hands. She
loved him we'll enough to make it as
easy as possible for him to go get his
Hazel. With a smile that weighed a
ton. she said:
'All right. It's all off. 1t was pleas
ant while it lasted, but you're right -
it's best for US to call it a day."
He was jolted by the lightness of her
manner, and blindly decided that she
had never really cared for him.
They left the little Eden early and
talked small talk till they reached
Valerie's door, where they parted as
if they had just finished a short dance
Then Valerie climbed the stairs and
vept for hours. Nealwalked hestreets.
The next mornings papers carried
Section 2l3 in the headlines. A Con-
gresham had attacked it as cause of
much wickedness, and charged that it
had driven many couples to divorce or
to lives of sin. Though he meant to
asSail the law the OnlV real effect of