Evening star., 1940-12-15

for ice cream later - the burnt almond that
Kent loved.
Quite nice dinner" Jeanie pronounced
aloud in that curious dry voice that fright
ened her Much better than he'd get at an
Army camp
She went through the routine of setting the
table arranging flowers. She did these things
as perfectly as usual, mindful that Kent was
spending lot of money on the apartment and
its equipment. He must have his moneys
worth
He came on the dot of five, rushing in on
her with an excited face. She saw at once
that he was in one of his high-tension moods.
Something in his business was either very,
very right or very. very wrong.
He kissed her hard on the mouth, lifting
her off her feet She was as limp in his hands
as a stuffed doll
We're celebrating" he said gaily. Lets
60 out to dinner on some roof where we can
dance. landed the air conditioning contract
for that new building on Park Avenue and
Eighteth today. Gosh, Jeanie, it means
money ~
In any other year, in any other set of
circumstances -. Jeanie felt sick with long
ing to be the imaginary young wife who
might have been hearing this news from the
husband who loved her.
whats the matter" asked Kent i'm
patiently as she didn't smile.
Jeane had just thought frightening thing:
moment ago she had taken kent's last kiss;
she would never, never in her life feel his
lips on hers again. And last night - she'd
been all trusting and unaware last night. all
unconscious that the AK of knowledge was to
fall - was the last time she would ever go to
sleep on Kent S arm, her lovely sensing of his
presence fading so softly and SO gradually
away ..
Kent" she said through the sudden surge
of her tears, Il wish didn't know. wish |
could turn time back to this morning Her
breath caught - But no one ever can
Know what? What is it, Jeanie?" His eyes
were alarmed as he studied her face.
Know why you - you married me"
Kent had an attractive, open sort OF face.
His blue eyes were perpetualy gay and alert.
With his blond hair and the arch of his blond
brows he looked to Jeanie as though he were
always standing in sunlight But the sunlight
seemed to fade as she stared at him, and little
curtains seemed to fall over his eyes. oh he
said, someone has been talking to you.
Who"
oHE told him about Linden and the con-
versation overheard at the Red Cross She
repeated, word for word like parrot what
Linden had said and what he. Kent had said
She finished painfully Il admit was a fool
to be party to it. But it would have had to be
someone quite - young and foolish, wouldn't
it? Someone who wouldn't ask questions -"
'Jeanie kents voice was low and tense.
He moistened his lips and stubbed out the
cigarette he'd been smoking. "Jeanie, listen
to me- l won't deny my original motives.
won't deny what said at the dinner. hoped
you'd never hear about that. but since you
have, you must listen to the whole truth"
Il don't want to-" she said duly. 1T
hurts
"Of course it hurts. but it may heal in the
end. Jeanie, darling, look up love you with
all my heart This month with you has
been -
Il know what it's been,' she interrupted
him in small, dreary voice. Fun. Like an
affair with someone you never dreamed of
having an affair with, but who - who sur
prised you once you started"