The Washington times., 1938-08-31
By GENEvIEvE HERRICK

DOLLY lay back on the pill
Il lows in her wheel-chair
and tried, once again, to make
up her mind which to marry
Peter or Paul.
That was exactly what she had
been trying to do that summer
morning, about three months ago.
when she had become so absorbed
in the decision that she had swung
her roadster too quickly around a
curve and had gone, first into the
ditch, and then to the hospital.
HAS TWO OF THEM
Peter was tall and dark and
handsome. But so was Paul. Paul
was fine and kind. But so was
Peter. Peter was a bright young
architect. Paul was a bright young
lawyer. Peter courted her on Mon
day, Wednesday and Friday. Paul
wooed her on Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday. Sunday was oil
vided into an afternoon and eve
ming date.
Both men were very much in
love with her. They had been be-
fore the accident. They seemed
even more so now,
But was it love? Or was it
she WINGED with pain, in her hip
or in her heart-was it sympathy?
The doctors assured her that
she'd be out of the wheelchair one
of these days. The legs would
strengthen and lengthen. You'd
scarcely notice the limp. The hip
would heal.
Tears began to trickle down her
cheeks. She knew she was behav-
ing badly. She knew she was
lucky to be alive. And she was
lucky to be loved.
Two men in love with her. But
was it love? Again and again
she had asked herself this ques-
ton.
Was it devotion, or was it duty
that prompted their attentions?
Was it love, or was it pity? Pity,
what humiliating word
LOVE OR PITY?
How was she ever going to find
out whether it were love or pity?
Whenever she hinted to either of
them that he was being nice to
her because he felt sorry for her,
he protested with endearments
and vehement denials.
And yet she must find out.
There must be some way, some
convincing way of finding out.
Why, of course there was!
Her eyes frightened. She
hitched herself up on the pillows
In the chair. She was glowing with
excitement when a voice at the
door called suddenly, Hello,
honey" and Peter strobe into the
room.
He rushed over to her chair,
kissed her gently on the forehead,
then looked down at her and said;
Gosh, you're pretty as a pic
ture.''
She started to smile, then she
seemed to change her mind and,
twisting her mouth, instead, into
a grimace of despair, she said
sadly:
And what frame for any pic
ture," as she tapped the arm OF
the wheel-chair.
Peter lifted up her hand and
kissed it.
You silly little child" he muir
INJURED, you're such a pretty pic
ture that nobody gives a darn
about the frame"
She sighed softly. Instantly
Peter was at her side.
Anything wrong?" he asked.
"Oh. no." with a new mournful
sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, no,
nothing's wrong. Everything's
lovely. Nothing to do all day long
but sit and think"
About me?" he bantered gaily.
Then he grew serious and
tender as he almost pleaded,
"About us, dear-and the future?"
"A fine future for mean in
valid"
He looked startled.
why, darling" he began, "this
isn't a bit like you. You must
have had a terrible morning. You
poor yaungster"
Then, with rather elaborate
carelessness, he said:
"Oh, by the way, Bob Fields
called up this morning. His new
show opens tomorrow night. You
remember, I helped a little with
the sets. He wants me to come
over to the opening
That's too had," she faltered a
little as she spoke, Il just hate to
be a burden"
But, dear. thought, er-I,"
and his voice trailed off into
silence.
"Tomorrow's the night you come
to see me-" she put in. and then
added:
"Of course, if you'd rather go tt
the theater, and leave me all alone
I'll be lonesome, but YOU"
"Of course, I won't CO." he cut
In quickly. I'm a thoughtles
brute to have mentioned it,"
mo, no. I'm the one who's
thoughtless, spelling all your fun.
Peter fused over her until she
-HAAh RAnNI-