The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-17

n0Vlng 0 lew In TOT COckballS, tueL we'll all go together. Please, do Eric"
 T can't leave the job, Emily Eric fought the desire to shout that he would be there, with her whatever the cost. q really can't get away tonight" He had no right to the happiness being with her dancing with her would bring.
 I'm begging, Eric. I've counted on you so." She sounded like small child.
 "All right. I'll try to make it. But don't be disappointed if I don't get there" He could hear Emily laughing, delightedly.
 "Fine", she said. "We1l wait for you" She knew he would be there. And Eric knew 1t too.
 Conflicting thoughts raced through Fries mind as he drove toward town He tried to thinx of the dam-re- member to tell Baker about that low creek bank up stream-if water backs up there 1t vii cut of the highway-but the motor of his car sang Emily, Emily" and her face danced out beyond the headlights.
 Order more gravel. Wonder if she'll wear that same evening gown? Strengthen that trestle' She dances divinely. Keep that gravel moving. Remember how she danced that first night. Those men are taking chances. My Fairy Princess"
 And Alan. He was so big, so fine. The man who had saved Fries life. Why did 1t have to be Alan's wife? Why aid Emily have to marry a fellow like that; he trusted you as his friend. He was blind. Loving Emily with all his heart, adoring her every move Alan could not dream that she might not love him the same way He must know that other men were attracted to her.
 It was his faith, his belief in the honesty of all men that made Alan blind, Eric reasoned. There was no other explanation. Why, why couldn't Alan have passed him there in the blizzard?
 But Eric had loved Emily first, Ever since the first night, in St. Louis, he had known that all his life he would love the Fairy Prin- cess. And that knowledge had kept him from marrying anyone else. For years he had secretly hoped to find her again and then, when all trace of her was lost, he had felt that he would have cheated any other girl he might have married.
 Cheated a girl?" What was he doing to Alan, now? Posing as a friend, loving his wife.
 This is the last time I'll ever see her." Eric told himself. "I1l have tonight, and then I'll never come back. That's the only fair thing to do" And he meant it..
 Soft lights. Music. Holding Emily in his arms again, hearing her gay conversation, listening to her tink- ling laugh. She was beautiful. Men surrounded her constantly, begging for dances. Whenever Eric danced with her someone was bound to cut in. And he let them, gladly.
 It was dangerous for him to be too near Emily, tonight. He was afraid that he might say just a part of the thoughts that were keeping him in a turmoil. Alan's drinks had been too strong. Why must man insist on your having another drink, when he should have known you were in love with his wife
 He was standing in a doorway, staring at the dancers, searching for Emily. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm, heard someone saying:
 Dance with me quickly. There's a fellow following me. He's drunk"
 It was Emily. Laughing, eyes sparkling. She clung to him as they glided across the floor.
 You see," she said. I've come back, Sir Knight. Just so you could rescue me from another drunk" Eric loved her for that. This was the way it should end. In the same gay mood. She would disappear in the crowd again, go out of his life forever. She would go back to Alan.
 There's no drunk this time, either, Eric" Emily was saying, "Just a husband who leaves his wife stranded at 8 dance. Grand ma Frank fell and broke her hip and Alan had to dash of to the hospital. He said to tell you to take me home. You will, won't you?"
 Probably. But I don't want to-"
 Then I'll get someone else There are at least five eligible bachelors who'll take me home" Emily was teasing him.
 They will not" he answered, half angrily. Allan said for you to go home with me, and you'll do just that, and like it."
 I'm sure I shall, Eric" she said.
 In the car, she snuggled close to him. The perfume of her hair left