The Washington times., 1938-04-14
The Man She Won
A modern romance of life in the
Nations Capital By Washington writer.
By Phyllis Moore Gallagher

IL nao begun Wnen she was II.
She had taken her adolescent
worries to Peter, the young medi-
cal student, and had let him
solve them for her; she had taken
her infected finger and her
sprained ankle to Peter, the young
inferno at Garfield; it was Peter,
the full-fledged doctor, to whom
she had taken the convulsive
Lena-and for whom she had sent
that horrible night when Henry
Drake had shot himself.
Now it was Peter, her husband.
that she leaned on and looked to
for protection. And she knew
standing there by the window that
if Peter came through that door
and took her in his strong. young
arms she would stop this sick
trembling; she would lose some OF
her fear and cruising anxiey. Peter
could always make things seem
less bad; Peter could always give
her hope and courage when she
needed it most.
She did not once think of Rod
ney. If it had occurred to her
that she wasn't thinking Of him
it would have seemed strange.
For when the telephone had rung
her mind had been tormented
with thoughts of Rodney, her
arms had tingled with the mem
DRY of his touch and her mouth
had felt hot and moist with his
kiss.
ANOTHER VISITOR
Gloria never knew just how long
she stood there alone. She never
knew how long some one else had
been in the waiting room with her
She had heard no sound. And yet,
when she turned away from the
window she saw the outline of
girl sitting by the door =. a small
girl wearing a hat with a long,
dropping plume that curved across
her profile and hid her distinguish
ing characteristics.
But Gloria could tell by the
sharp turn of her head that those
eyer we're fastened on the door be
You'd which Tommy lay under the
surgeons knife. She could tell
by the rigid stiffness of the girls
back that she was some one who
loved Tommy terribly. And she
knew, almost before she pressed
her finger on the electric light
that the girl was Marcella Won
DreyfuSS.
When the small room flooded
with light. Marcella jerked up
right, her eyes q little wild in th'
cruel glare of the white bulbs
Gloria was shocked at the star
Ting ivory pallor of her face anc
the bloodless lips. Marcella said
obviously relieved that it was
only Gloria there with her:
It read in the early editions
about Tommy. II came to see Il
there was anything II could do
1 didn't see you there by the win
dow, Gloria. IL thought I wa
alone" She was trying to impress
Gloria that her visit was out O
friendship for her; she was tryinl
desperately to hide her stark fear
her bleak misery.
Gloria said, simply: Tommy
been calling for you, Marcella."
Marcella's control broke then
Hot tears dilated her dark eyes
She cried out: "Tommy-oh, Tom
my :" and with a convulsiVI
sob buried her face in her palms
Gloria went to her, dropped OF
the floor at her feet and put he.
arms about Marcella's pitiful thin
ness. She said, softly: "You don
have to pretend with me, Marcella
l know . oh, not everything
only that you love Tommy
that he loves you. I think IV'
known it for long, long while"
She took one of the limp whit
hands and held it against he
cheek. She went on: Everything
going to be all right. darling
Things will work out for you boil
somehow" And just saying j
to comfort Marcella made her fee
little less afraid, too.
Marcella's small body went OF
trembling. She said, between sobs
He can't die, Gloria. He's got t!
live-he's got to live for me ;
"Of course, he'll live. Tommy
strong and young. People do pull
through these horrible accidents.
REMEMBERING A RETREAT
Suddenly Marcella's hands flew
to her mouth, dragged piteouSl!
at her lips. Gloria closed her eye
against the horror she saw II
Marcella's face, against the ghastl!
Wilderness of her dark eyes. "Acci
dent" Marcella mumbled :. ."accl
dent :"
Gloria had no way to know tina
Marcella was remembering a hide
out night in Washington. Tha
Marcella was seeing Hans leaning
against the wall, blowing gauz!
wells of smoke ceilingward anC
yet missing no expression OF he
eyes, no trembling movement o
lips or hands. Fragments Of hi