Evening star., 1940-12-04
to him, stared out Of the window
with stony resolution.
There was long empty silence.
Janet Breaks Down.

with stony resolution.
There was long empty silence.
Janet Breaks Down.
Must you always be so on the
defensive he asked softly. She
turned with a sharp retort on her
lips. He was leaning forward, with
his hands clasped and his elbows on
his knees, regarding her with a
troubled, inquiring look.
Suddenly she could bear 1t nc
longer. The tears crept into her
eyes and spilled over, running down
her cheeks. Her mouth trembled
like a child's and there was nothing
she could do to stop 1t.
He got up quickly and came over
to her.
She was searching in first one
pocket and then another for q hand
kerchief. He took clean one from
his breast pocket and handed 1t to
her with a mild twinkle in his eye
She dried her eyes and shifted a
little and then lifted her eyes to
meet his. I'm sorry" she said
shaxily.
That's quite all right" he said
He showed his hands In his pockets
and tilted his head, studying her
humorously.
"Well?"
What I really came for was
ITO ask me not to yell at the
superintendent Monday when I go
to see him Is that it?"
eyes, in a way. You see he's not
bad sort really. He knows the
youngsters are fond of you. and he
told me quite frankly after the
meeting last night that he thought
some one with a grudge against you
wrote all three of the letters OF
course, one can't be sure, and the
best thing to do would be to give
no further cause for-criticism."
II see"
II know I haven't any right to
criticize you. and it seems particu-
larly low of me to say anything
about Larry" He looked down, his
face troubled. But if you'd lived
in Drillford always you'd know how
people feel about him and about a
lot Of other things. 1t isn't that
they want to be critical" 1t was
hard to talk when she looked at him
like that.
Janet Turns Sarcastic,
'Drillford's just small town, you
see," he went on, land people are
maybe not $3.50 tolerant as they
might be-"
why can't you and the others
all understand"
He held up a protesting hand
Let's-lets not start that all over
again." he said. But please let me
say this much. A few paltry eve
nings in joint isn't worth giving
up the chance to-to teach, in these
times especially"
Chance to teach!" she scoffed.
Nov wait a minute. You know
you like it. Any really intelligent
person would. And I say chance
because it is an opportunity and a
privilege in these times to try to give
those kids a few real ideals about
things like mercy and human kind
ness and freedom-and, well, all the
other things that we grown-ups
know are right, but that the kids
may have some doubts about. the
way things are going now, with a
war in Europe and all the race ha-
tired and propaganda we're going to
have to fight here in America"
so the lesson today is patriot
ism?" she said with bright sarcasm
The line of his jaw clenched and
he turned away from her with a
shrug. He picked up his hat.
Here's a book of Browning" he
said. You seemed to like the part
l read at the tea the other day." and
he didn't turn, just laid the book on
the table and started for the door.
Wait" she cried.
He looked at her impassively.
L don't know why I'm such an
unspeakable child, Stephen Malone
I'm sorry. Truly I am. Something
i don't know what it is-always
makes me want to strike out at you.
l." she brushed impatiently at the
black, smooth bang on her fore
head. Il guess it's because I'm
afraid" Her voice shook.
"Afraid?" He came a few steps
back toward her.
Almost a Giveaway.
She had almost said, Afraid I'll
give way to the foolish obsession
that love you"
why did you come, Stephen?"
she asked smiling.
Il just don't want you to lose
your job he said earnestly.
"Why?"
well, tit wouldn't be the same
around there without you. I'd miss
wou frightfully. /"
"Yes?"
There was a brisk knock at the
door. "Janet?" 1t was Larry's
voice.
II Larry, sne said helpleSSly.
She wore a self-conscious smile as
she opened the door.
Larrys eyes widened at the sight
of Stephen. "Oh," he said with a
touch OF irony, II didn't know you
had a visitor" He sauntered in.
and Janet closed the door.
stephen stopped to bring me a
book I've been wanting" she ex-
planned.
What is it?" Larry picked up the
book. "Poetry?" He chuckled mirth-
lessly. Might have known that's
the sort Of stuff you'd go for,
Steve" He fingered the pages of
the book contemptuously. There
WAS an awkward silence He Ibid