The Washington times., 1937-12-20

one anywhere. And no ones voice.
Not for full minute.
Then both.
GIRLS DECISION
Thank you, operator" A young
voice, eager and clear. John?
Margaret. I've made up my mind,
John. It's no go. For me. Don't
interrupt me! Please. I've done
all the thinking that I'll ever need
to do.
Il don't mind the hearty food,
but once in a while, at least once
In while, want a salad. I waited
and 1 waited. And tonight your
wire came. I'll take the train, as
you suggested. But not home. The
other way. Good night, John. And
goodby"
Then the light slap of metal
upon metal and a slim figure
stepped slowly from the corner.
I'm sorry" Julia greeted her.
TT was difficult"
Don't be-" the girl replied
brusquely. And then, quite, with
out control. that was difficult,
too"
Then I'm sorry for that" said
Julia.
The girl came closer to the fire.
tossed back her head and hlinked
determinedly and successfully.
Julia also achieved a physical retl'
cence.
She didn't gasp at the child's
awful blonde lovelineSS. The girl
eazed at her for a moment and, re-
assured, dropped into seat nearer
to the tiled fire front.
There's something" she re-
marked slowly, quite stupid about
public wailing."
Julia nodded and watched the
flames find a mirror in the girls
deep eyes. There's something
stupid" she elaborated, about all
unnecessary pain"
And something, somehow, clean
and fine about necessary pair"
the girl retorted, when it's self
inflicted"
Agreed" said Julia placidlE.
There were, she remembered inl'
patiently, occasions when it was
morally obligatory to call person
a fool. But none when it was po
lite. Or effective.
The girl took a poker from its
rusted hook and pushed a balanced
chunk of birch farther into the
hot, red ashes.
LOOK CHALLENGES
"1t will be 400 miles and almost
q day before I'll see anyone to
whom I can talk" The girl wa
being brisk and definite. And
I've just told my husband that I'm
not seeing him again" The look
she threw at Julia was heavy with
challenge.
1t drew no blood. 'I once told
my husband much the same
thing" Julia informed her. And y
she added for good measure, with
excellent reason"
There was a query framed on
the girls lips. Julia Didn't com
pei her to release it. She, too,
looked into the fire.
Herbert" she continued, was
without question the dulleSt man
who had ever been permitted to
live"
"A failure?" the girl begged
humbly.
Julia smiled. mot that. Not
in the mechanics of living. Only
In the fulfillment of it." She
caught the girls quick frown.
"A rainbow was but a bright
and bewildering scar on the sur.
face of the sky. A symphony was
but an odd and inSolent arrange
ment of noise. Laughter was of a
piece with treason. And -
The girl bobbed her beautiful
heard. But" she protested. you
loved him?'
Julia managed a brief and quite
casual flourish of the right hand
eff" she conceded, 80 can know
anything of love-"
The girls just less than full
lips met in a tight. harsh bitter
ness. 1T can" she insisted.
Julia waited a moment. You're
20?" she inquired.
STILL IN LOVE
The girls head shook. More
she said. "Twenty-three. AL
most. 1 was 20 when I married.
And you were in love?"
WAS" the girl answered, "anc
am"
Then why" demanded
Julia.
Because" and the girl becam
fiercely. almost triumphantly de
fiant, you can't forever love
stone. Even if you keep imaginin
that you do.
You can't forever give your low
to something that doesn't yielc