Evening star., 1937-03-14

have been, but it was still something Consid-
erably less than pleasure. philadelphia
she said. And think must be getting back
too. There's train - she looked at her
watch Il can Just make it."
philadelphia" the woman repeated And
you came over just for this"
Yes
Why didn't your husband come himself?
Why should you do his pleading"
Marian stood at the door. 1t would sound
sentimental to say that any wife should be
glad to plead for her husband; and gladder
than ever if that husband happened to be
Larry. He doesn't even know I'm here she :
said. He's proud. Lauys terribly proud.
Well. goodby. | i mustn keep you from
your packing.
The woman left the bed and extended her
hand. "Goodby,' she said. And then she
pressed Marians palm. Does he value you
as you deserve? Does he?"
Marian laughed. Il think so, she said. Il
hope SO anyway. Thank you Thank you"
And then, impusively, carried away by the
exultation within her. she kissed the womans
cheek I'm never forget YOU" she said
Never" The last thing she saw as she closed
the door was that hand, still holding the ciga-
rette. placed against the cheek she had kissed
She was happy, happy; 50 happy that she
walked to the subway on clouds. rode to the
station on air, and in the train sat not on the
plush-Covered seats of the coach but on sun
light itself though night had begun to fall and
the windows were miSted with rain. The face
of every man she saw was Larry's: the very
voice OF the magazine vendor was his: and the
speeding lights along the track were the lights
of home.
And at last she was Shome; on her own street
in front of her own building - she glanced up
and saw by the glow behind the blinds that
he was in at her own door. She opened it.
And only then. when she saw him seated at
the table eating a meal that he had got for
himself cne OF his indlgestible meals, cold
salmon and fried eggs did she discover that
she was AFRAID to let him know that she had
diSobeyed him, had taken his pride and ex-
changed it for something more tangible.
Well, he said. "Where've you been |
thought you were going over to Myra S"
All at once she felt very tired. She pulled off
her hat, and bent to kiss him. I'm sorry |
was late, darling" she said. 1t couldn't be
helped"
He began to divide the salmon into two
portions. Where were you, anyway! Had
anything to eat? Here - take some OF this.
She sat down opposite him. Slowly she
began to take off her coat letting it hang over
the chair: she was too tired to put it where it
belonged, too tired even to eat.
Larry" she said, Larry, you're going to
be terribly angry with me.
He scooped one of the two eggs onto her
plate Why" he said.
Then the sweet relief, the up-soaring hap.
piness that had been in her heart all the way
back on the train. began to return again. A
Job. Larry; job.
I've been to New York to see Vic Sayres.''
His hand froze in mid air and finally, slowly,
he put the plate down in front of her. Well,
she had expected his face would be like this.
Yet when she told him -
But | didn't see him, Larry" she con-
tinued, quickly. Il did get you promise of a
Job - almost a promise at least - but |
didn't even have to see him. He was in Boston,
and | talked with his wife. She's going to
speak to him. | didn't know he was married.
did you, Larry? You never told me -"
Suddenly he reached out across the table,
leaning toward her with white lips and eager
eyes, grasping her wrist so tightly that 1t hurt.
You saw Sylvia" he said, hoarsely. How
Joec che lnoE2 Did she ask about me- Did