The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-17
p

II was VIII Aoo eS@S
phoned to Linda just as she was
ready to leave the office for a late
sandwich.
LINDA? That actress-wench has
been calling you. She tried &c
change her name, but I ought the
fiber of her voice. She seems to
want to see you. Before I caught
on I told her you were working
late. I'm calling to var YOU"
"She went annoy me here. Any
way, she's a guest artist on a radio
program. Tune in, Caroline, honey,
and you'll catch her. She's doing
a radio skit. She mentioned it on
the boat"
The boat-by the way, Terry
left his scrubbed card downstairs
tonight. I found it when I came in.
It's funny. He hasn't been making
beaten paths to my front door"
Caroline's voice, for all its
hushed lightness, was hurt. Linda,
remembering the manner in which
the young publicity agent had
smiled at the actress, felt a sud-
den indignation.
Caroline, she's ancient and old
and tired. Terry's just being a
good publicity man." She knew her
words weren't convincing.
"You can't tell me anything!!"
The voice hardened. Don't work
too late"
Linda called to the assistant,
asking her to join her, but the girl
refused. MAY 1 work at your desk
while you're gomez" she asked.
'It's flat and so much wider. I'm
trying to paste up the dummy"
"Of course, and I'll turn on the
radio. Ever hear Nina Nevins?"
"Of course! She's glorious. Is
she on in anything tonight?" there
was eagerness in the girls plain
face.
Dialing for the station where
Nina was appearing, Linda tried
to tell herself that perhaps Nina
could be forgiven for much be-
cause she could bring beauty and
ecstasy to narrow, struggling lives.
Maybe, viewed from some remote
promontory, life was orderly and
circumspect. Maybe only those
who we're too close to a pattern
felt vague and confused.
She found the program which
she sought and waited until the
first act of the dramatic Skt came
on. All, there was Nina, but her
glorious voice was tired and strain
ed tonight. Some of the vitality
a lacking.
The other girl sensed it, too. for
her eyes showed disappointment.
The announcer came on the air:
"You hav ebeen listening to Miss
Nina Nevins, noted actress, in the
first of a series of dramatic plays.
Following our 15-minute musical
program Miss Nevins will again
come on the air in the second half
of the recital"
Linda looked back at the girl
from the door. ClarabeIl Alderman
had put on a green eye-shade to
protect her eyes from the desk
lamp. She had switched off the
other lamps so the room was in
shadow beyond the quiet pool of
light where she sat.
I'll be back soon," Linda called.
1t would be dreadful to be so alone,
not to have Ronnie waiting, not to
have the stars and the moon and
love and laughter for your own,
but to thrill forever to a strange
voice across a shining network.
Poor Clarabell! A little later she
was to remember the sympathy
that almost made her wait and not
eat until the evenings work was
over.
For a long time after she had
delivered her message to Linda,
Caroline sat quietly on the soft
divan, waiting, waiting
If Terry had come that long dis
lance downtown from the radio Of
fices on the chance that he might
find her in, surely he would call
later. A woman had nc pride, no
independence to let a man rove
and then be a harbor to receive
him, she knew. But sometimes
love could not be confined. And
sometimes men went questing
b1indly, and were grateful to find
that candles still burned for them
against their late return.
Bella LANAN-COURT r