The Washington times., 1938-03-18


change!"
Gloria shivered. She thought:
"How can Isabel be so alien to
Peters every interest" And be-
cause Peter looked so let-down,
she beamed at him. WAS it boy
Peter?" she cried. And how Is
Elva Matthews?"
Its q boy, all right. Nine
pounds, bald as bat. Elva Mat
thews is fine" He said other things
about Elva Matthews then-things
about physical courage and beauty
of spirit. He had performed a
difficult Caesarian under a spinal
anesthetic and he was shyly proud
of himself and Elva. Its bravery
rooted in fear that I admire. Elva
Matthews was afraid-but brave" J"
For a moment the room was
tense. Gloria could feel it like a
tangible thing. She got up quickly.
She said: Peter, what you need
is some Of that steak. Sit down
while I get you a plate and some
silver. Really, there's plenty" ana
with a graceful movement she
hurried into the kitchen.
TOO MUCH TO DRINK
She was Just taking down a
sea-green plate when she felt
strong hands on her shoulders.
/ Her heart began to throb, cruelty
and her lips trembled. 1t was
Rodney. ;,
| Gloria, I'm asking forgiveness,
/ he said. I'm sorry-about tonight
Isabel and I had a spot too much
, to drink. 1t didn't mean anything
that lipstick. 1t just happened
that was ALL" He dug in his pocket
then and brought out htCle
square velvet box. He said, hand
ing it to Gloria: Il really came tC
! wait for you, Gloria. That's the
truth"
Gloria took the box, timidly, and
snapped the pearl button. The no
flew open on its expensive hinge
and a diamond, enormous and
souare-cut with smaller stones
flaming down the platinum circle
made her eyes blink. Joy broke
apart within her and fell into
ouivering fragments all along her
body. .
ouisite!" And she went into MS
arms with a long sigh, relieved as
a patient child at the release from
her suffering. And Rodney klSSeo
her and hated himself. he
thought:
"There are two kinds Of women.
Good and bad. You fall in love
with the good ones and marry
them. You have your moments
with the bad ones and regret them'
That's all" III,
And vet, standing there with his
arms about Gloria and her golden
head against his heart, he WASH I
fooling himself. He didn't regret
this afternoon with Isabel. Isabel
was warm flesh and blood ana In
toxicatingly beautiful.
KISS OF PASSION
Because he was like this anG
could do nothing about 1t, a surge
of tenderness, strange to him, went
through his body He drew Gloria
closer and kissed her lips; and
there was passion in the kiss and
sweetness. 1t came to him. sud,
denly, that he had never kissed
a woman in just that way before
Afterward Gloria stood back in
his arms, her eyes shining. There
was a sharp, sweet tension between
them, linking them in silence. Rod
ney said, softly:
GLORIA, always know that it is
you l love. That there never has
been any one but you" He went
on looking at her, his eyes com
pletely serious. Let's" he said, "be
a real family. Let's have little Sun
day night SnackS in the kitchen
and a game of rummy when were
alone. And let's always hold hands
in the movies. And look. I've been
thinking - the Callman factory
could use me in their office now
Let's live here, Gloria-in Ken
wood. I'll go to the office each
morning and :" In that moment
Gloria, loving him terribly, laughed
into his eyes and thought he was
small boy playing at marriage
Tommy's red head came through
the kitchen door. He said, grin
ming: For gosh Sake's come on
We're all sitting in there feeling
like famine victims. Everything'S
getting cold!" And then he saw
the ring shining on Gloria's left
hand. He whistled through his
teeth. He said: boy, and coulc
you see your way around in the
dark with that headlight! Con
gratulations!" His young face Iii
up.
HENRY BROODING
Henry Drake said. when they
came into the dining room anc
Tommy called attention to the
ring: And me hoping all alonI
that Gloria would settle down with