Evening star., 1940-01-07
Il Short Story Complete in This Issue

. DENRY THOMAS never noticed women He
, frequently boasted that he couldn't
d d tell one screen siren from another. OF
course he did like certain table in certain
restaurant at lunch time, but that, he assured
himself, was because Oracle gave him efficient
service and wasn't grasping about tips. 1t had
nothing to do with a pair of wide blue eyes.
pale hair and 1.-THE hips
And that little Miss Brown in the office -
exquisite little thing, even the boss took her
to dinner on the quiet - but not Henry.
He'd ridden down in the same elevator with
her dozen times and never even offered to
buy her cup of coffee.
And why should Henry notice women,
when he was married to fine girl like Lucille?
An Al housekeeper, dandy manager, she
knew how to stretch the pennies all right.
She wasn't always after man to buy her
things, wasn't always nagging him to get
raise in salary. Fine girl, Lucille - made him
wonderful little home.
Henry wished the wonderful little home
were a spot cooler as he climbed the three
steep flights to his own door. 1t was only June
and already the nights were hot and airless.
Still, Lucille had bargain, and they had
garden view Their living room faced the
street, but their kitchen faced south and
looked out over the row Of private gardens
belonging to the expensively remodelled
apartments in the next block. Lucille spent
most of her time leaning on the window sill
watching the people in the gardens. She
wasn't envious, she was just interested.
Say" she greeted Henry, that baby that
belongs to those young people IN Number
One garden gets cutter every day; looks like
his daddy from here"
Henry glanced out the window, and just as
he did so the French doors in apartment
Number Three swung open and She" stepped
into the garden.
Henry gasped! Standing there against the
setting sun she looked as lovely and as unreal
as an illustration from fairy tale Her long
shimmering gold hair fell about her like
cloak Of glory, and her face as she looked into
the evening sky was like some rare, perfect
flower. Her eyes were great soft shadows
beneath the pale serenity of her brow; her
mouth was red, laughing and soft; her throat
slim and young. She was wearing sheer robe
that yelled rather than concealed her slender
body. She moved lightly down the flagstone
path. the curling finger of the green vines
reaching after her.
There's new tenant in Number Three
garden" Lucille said Got colored maid;
just the two of EN- think. There's something
kind of funny about her - you know, theatri
cal Henry, are you lstening?"
WHAT" Henry wiped the palms of his
hands.
II said there was new tenant in Number
Three garden - Say, what's that lacy red
flower? it's an awfully pretty plant.
never noticed it before"
"Where?" Henry said. He sprang to
Lucille's side with vital new interest in
botany. "She' was at the end of the garden
now, half kneeling on little marble bench
looking into the tiny pool.
IN get the opera glasses Henry said,
then we can make out what the plant is
But he didn't give the glasses to Lucille,
he stood studying Her" and she was even
more beautiful, younger, more radiant than
she had looked from a distance Her maid
came out carrying small glass table, then
plate, a cup and saucer. Henry's heart rose.
''She" was going to dine in the garden!
Henry" Lucille said, want to clear the
living room table for supper?"
NO." Henry said, pulling his eyes away
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