The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-16


our own happy place. Our fore
fathers did. They weren't as old
as we are when thousands Of them
went across burning deserts in COW
cred wagons. Other thousands
braved winter seas in frail clipper
ships, They went wherever new
trials could be blazed. We haven't
the courage our grandmothers
had!"
She remembered his arm tight
ening against hers. It was easy
to kindle ardor in Richard-one
Of the things she so loved in him.
1--WE thought that very thing,
Nell. I'm just fool enough to be-
lieve you and I could start out to-
morrow; start with nothing and
we'd get by. We'd suffer the pinch.
You'd have to keep working. Not
too long. I don't know where we'd
go or how we'd begin. Somehow,
we'd start a home. We'd have kids,
a backyard, a tree and dog"
Her heart beat fast: why don't
we, Rick?"
, I'VE could do it if we were
alone. It would take plenty of
nerve. But I'd fight for you; you
for me; we'd make the grade. We
can't do it as long as you're
strapped to your family"
This was the inSurmountable
obstacle. Ricky was right: too
terribly right. Her family hung
about her neck as an albatross.
fixed, deadly, perpetual. No escape.
No right to love or marry. She
might never have!
In the office Ned Hamilton
watched her: perceived she 10
longer met Ricky after work; Ie-
newed his attentions. He waylaid
her in the evenings with his
swanky roadster. Accosted her
with touching sweetness: mice
day, lady! Mind helping a poor
boy along by taking a ride in a
flivver?"
He drove her home; anywhere
she wished to 81. He said flatter.
ing things. making her feel like a
young queen dispensing favors.
She wouldn't make dates with
him for the evenings.
Finally Ned said: your philos-
ophy is all wet, Nell. know you're
in love with Richard Calhoun, but
because he hasn't money enough
to see good shows, is it wrong for
you to look at them? How do you
help him by cheating yourself?
That old idea of fidelity that we
must go mad together, starve to-
gether, be utterly miserable to-
gether Is baloney. The better,
happier, gayer you can keep your
self, the more you can serve him
or anyone. How do you help him
by getting drab, dumb and gen.
orally going to pot?"
"Am that bad, Ned?"
you're looking pretty darn pale
and washed up. You hardly ever
laugh the way you used to-"
She said, shaking: Throw out
the lifeline, darling!"
He took her to night club. It
was her first big night in nearly
three years. In spite of herself,
she was eager. She was silly with
release and excitement.
She wore her old green dress
with Ricky's rhinestone clip. The
dress was faded in the folds. But
Ned leaned over her shoulder and
whispered possessivly: "You look
simply dazzling!"
In evening clothes, Ned ap-
peared tall, smart, immaculate.
Though the hair was scant on mis-
forehead, he had heavy lashes on
dark, laughing eyes. These gave
color to his face. Nell smiled at
him gratefully.
They had a table in gay little
box. There were many tiers Of
these boxes going out and up from
the great circular stage where the
show was performed. The boxes
were painted silver and rose with
ebony landings. They had airy,
circular grill work about them
a fantastic and joyous effect.
They were romantic little bal
comics. The whole place seemed
a theater out of Alice in Wonder
land or the pleasure dome of some
moderniStic Kubla Khan. The
ceiling, because of the great shiny
beams of steel undulating across
it's vast height appeared to ripple
with wave after wave of silver
light. This enhanced the bizzare
fairy.like effect.
Ito be cOntinued)
copyright. 1895, by King Features