Evening star., 1938-01-21

| name. She wondered why q she
watched him make the phone call to
the ugly gray, house and heard him
speak to Grimm. Since the time
he had taken her to dinner she had
found herself rather attracted to him
Pity perhaps. It was a little per-
picking to find . decidedly human
person in this capable automaton she
had known for 80 long.
He hung up the receiver. It's all
settled. The old lady was simply
furious that people were passing SLAM
derous remarks about her home. It
seems she is a pillar OF the church
out there and the whole town would
be up in arms If they heard about it."
They chuckled together. II don't
know how I'll ever repay you," she
said gratefully.
She glanced up to find that same
disturbing appeal that had been in his
eyes once before.
Come to dinner with me tonight"
His answer was so prompt that it al
most took her breath away. And
we'll 60 for . long drive. The night
air Is warm and lovely ROW. You win
Gomez"
IT WAS . strange night for riding.
The sky was moonless and pitch
dark. They parked the car on . high
point 50 that they could see the coun-
try spread beneath them. Chris, lean
ing her head back to enjoy 1t even
more, was surprised to find his arm
resting along the top Of the seat, and
for moment they were both flus-
tered. But he did not move his arm.
She closed her eyes and though, III
this were Phil, now, and he slid his
arm around my shoulders and then
he kissed me and held me close to
him-I think I should die Of happi-
ness. Phil! Phil! Why don't you?"
Then she opened her eyes and 1t
was still Ernest Boscombe holding his
arm stifdy under her head, staring
through the windshield. Would she
be yearning after Phil like this eter-
nally? Then she comforted herself.
Some day he would come to her and
tell her, and she would laugh and
tell him she knew all the time, and
they would be happy. She cherished
the idea tenderly, and was 50 silent
on the ride home that Mr.. Boscombe
looked at her several time, thinking
she had fallen asleep.
The reverberations of the farm epi-
sode were several and far-reaching.
Two days after he had gone back to
his position Phil and Chris went for
q walk.
Johnnie is furious. they tell me-"
Phil chuckled.
Chris said nothing, sincerely glad
that the affair was ended. It had
taken on an air Of altogether too
much Importance, and the visit to
the farm had been an embarrassing
and ridiculous anti-climax.
THEY strolled along the rocky path
in the park. The moon was COM
ing up Other couples scuffed by,
walking slowly and enjoying the cool
quiet.
Lovely, isn't it?" Chris said.
"Um-hum."
Something in the vague reply made
her ask, Whats the trouble, Philip
He took long time before he re-
piled, and she waited patiently. salts
ned to walk on in silence, feeling his
hand on her arm. ..
Its you, Chris" he finally said.
You've been 10 swell about the whole
business, about everything. for that
matter. Every time I get In q muddle
end up by weeping on your shoulder.
Chris, what would I do If your shoul-
der wasn't around? Great guns, I'd
be sunk!"
He took both her hands in his and
pulled her away bit from the path
on to the grass. where he leaned
against tree and looked down at her.
The stars twinkled through the leaves
overhead, and shadows danced around
the two Of them standing there. Chris