Evening star., 1940-12-26

fact came really home to him.
He wasn't dissatisfied with the
way things were turning out. He
didn't hate this cheap practice that
was coming to him; on the contrary,
he enjoyed it. Working with poor
people gave him the feeling that he
was doing good, that he was of
some use to other people, that he
was perhaps doing things for them
to make them healthy and happy
that no one else would, Or perhaps
even could, do.
No, he didn't really have any re-
grets about the way things had
turned out. Except perhaps, the
extra burden of debt that was so
unexpectedly forced upon him. That
ranked but, on the other hand, it
was also an extra satisfaction to
know that, bit by bit, he was pay
ing it off.
Doug turned to talk to the girl on
I his right then and Gale drifted
away from the bar. He spoke
briefly to different people who were
standing in little groups, drinking
and smoking and laughing. But his
/ eyes kept wandering over to the
corner where vi sat with Brenda
Carlisle.
Brenda. with all her blond love-
illness and innocent, wide-eyed ex-
preston, was undeniably canny. Gale
had had the feeling for some time
/ that she knew why they had drifted
apart, and perhaps out of self-con-
sclorsness he felt that she must be
secretly elated now at the way things
had turned out.
| For that reason he was curious
about her sudden affection for vi,
whom she hadn't been close to since
they'd been in school together. And
now, as he watched them sitting at
the bar together he saw that vi
was not at ease. When she caught
his eye she laughed and waved,
then got up from the stool, whis-
pered something to Brenda and
came toward Gale.
Il hope you're having a better
| time than I am" she whispered
slipping her arm through his. I'm
getting a very subtle and cultured
third degree"
How do you mean, Viz"
Let's take those seats by the
window" When they were
seated vi continued. Brenda
thinks it's just too, too terrible, our
not having had decent honey
moon. She suggests Lake Placid. Or
Cuba. Shes heard that that is nice,
too. And she says it really needn't
cost so much.'
1T is too bad. guess, at that, >"
Gale replied somberly.
Don't be silly. What's too bad
about it? If I'd had all the money
you thought had when we got
married we'd have had a nice hon.
eymoon."
Gale stared at his wife for long
while in silence. And at last he
said: wi, 1 can't understand you.
You knew before we were married
that I was ambitious for a wealthy
practice, and that, in sense, ours
| WciS W NC q Aldl ldSS Vi CO1lVCll4Cl
You knew there wasn't any love
involved so far as you yourself
were concerned-you admitted that
And you knew wasn't in love with
you. Why did you go through with
it. anyway"
vi smiled. but her eyes told Gale
nothing. Some day I'll tell you
Gale" she said.
There were other men you could
have married who'd have offered
you money as well as genuine love, u
Gale argued.
That's right, there were several
like that
you knew your dad was broke
and that I was putting up a front
on the l..s Oallment plan"
Right again. But honestly, Gale
I had nc idea you would be saddled
with extra debts, like the wedding
I'm truly sorry about that. though
I've never mentioned it before"
That's spilled milk" Gale re-
piled lightly, land it doesn't bother
me half as much as your willing
ness to go through all this financial
trouble with guy you don't love-
He frowned suddenly and looked
hard at his wife. "It wouldn't be
that you-you hated me, would it?
And wanted to do this out of mean
ness?"
Wis face paled bit and her voice
was husky when she said, "You
know me pretty well now. Gale
What do you think?"
II don't really believe that's the
case. You aren't like that"
I'm sure I'm not, Gale" She
lifted her glass. Lets talk about
something else"
(Copyrisht, 1910, Chicago Daily News. Incl