Evening star., 1940-03-05

gedly through the churning sky,
painting the house, the room a
CHASTITY yellow-green sheen, then
fed, to leave a blackness more men,
acing than the raging storm. Thun-
der roared over the house, wind beat
at its walls. solid sheets of rain
smashed at the windowpanes, all the
world outside was dark and fear
some and insanely wild, and Clara
Blanchard, as she sat in an arm
chair in the living room of her
fathers Fifth avenue mansion, was
terribly, terribly afraid.
But Clara" Betty exclaimed for
the hundredth time, cts just a
thunderstorm. There's nothing to
be frightened about. The elements
have just decided to 60 out and
make a little whoopee." She stood
up and grinned. ME. don't blame
them. It's good to have fun once
in a while"
Clara sighed and made a desper-
ate effort to control her shivering
nerves. Maybe you're right All
I know is that I've been afraid of
thunderstorms for as long as I can
remember. Betty, do you think
Elaine and Eric will get here all
right? It's terrible out and"
Clara Changes Her Mind.
Elaine isn't baby" Betty inter-
rupted teasingly. She'll get here
with Eric even If she has to carry
him all the way. And incidentally,
Clara Blanchard how come this sud-
den urge to see Eric? thought you
weren't going to have thing to
do with him?"
Clara yawned and turned her eyes
up to the ceiling. But the bright
gleam in those gray eyes belied her
air of indifference. "I was wrong
about Eric. Betty. He's really a
fine chap. He'll make Elaine a good
husband"
"Hmmm. Very interesting. if true.
But how come you know so much
about him? You've never met him. -
Betty glanced sharply at her chum.
"Or have you? Clara Blanchard,
If you went to see Eric without TAX
ing me, I'll break your lily-white
neck!"
Clara shifted disdainfully. I'D
squash you like a cockroach. my
dear. But did meet Eric. I saw
him the other day in dads office.
And I liked him, Betty. Outside of
being little bit green about some
things, he's SWELL"
Hes a heel" Betty stormed,
stalking up and down the room.
He's caused Elaine nothing but
heartache and trouble. Shed be
better off If he went back to Cali
fornia and his beloved mamma. If
he were any good he'd get himself
a real job. He'd marry Elaine now
instead of waiting to make good.
That making good is only an excuse.
He's trying desperately to get his
mother to agree to the match. In
his heart he's afraid of being with
out money"
$50 am l." Clara told her softly.
She settled herself more comfortably
in her chair and seemed to lose her
fear Of the storm in her effort to
defend Eric. Deep down inside, so
are you afraid Of being without
money. When person becomes ac-
customed to living as we do, with
money at our finger tips, with serv-
ants at our beck and call, 1t isn't
easy to play the hero and sacrifice
all for the girl you love-"
Betty snorted her derision and
flung herself fiat upon the couch.
''Bosh!" she exclaimed heatedly.
What is money, anyway? Why
should the possession Of a great for
tune make any difference to Eric?
He can eat but one meal at q time,
live in but one house at time, and
wear but one suit Of clothes at a
time. Those are the>essentials of
living and basically these are all that
money can buy. If you're rich you
pay higher price for these things;
II you're poor you economic and
buy palmer things and derive Just as
much satisfaction from them.
~H00d 81 ltaT ond r1ofh}no kla0aA