The guardian., 1940-12-07
Green-Eyed Monster
-
By THAYER WALDO
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.l

JACK gazed steadfastly at her and
" sulked. There was, after all, lit
tie else he could do. No use to pro-
test-make a scene-only to be hui
INFLATED by some cutting remark
from her. He suppressed a sigh and
set his mouth in a determinedly ST.
lent line.
Obvious to this turmoil in the
breast of the male beside her, Aithra
Donovan laughed and chatted airily.
Four men surrounded her, giving
rapt attention to each syllable.
The situation CALLED Jack cruel
ly. He and Aithra, he felt, could be
so matchlessly happy together if it
weren't for this constant problem.
Men, men, men-they hovered ever
about Aithra as yellowjacks around
jam-pot.
"All right" 1t was the director
speaking. Miss Donovan and Mr..
Kilgore, please; we're ready for
scene eleven, sequence B."
Aithra left her admirers and went
toward Lne SET.
1t was a brief and intimate little
scene, involving just the couple. All
thra, as a debutante of the nine
ties, was required to incite by sub
tie suggestion a proposal from her
hesitant beau.
You comport yourself, dear
friend David, almost as if my COM
pany bored you" The line was spo-
ken with note of tantalizing coy
ness that stabbed Jack; she so rare
ly used it with him.
81 do wish, if only for vanity's
sake, that you were not quite so
distant"
Jack listened rebelliously to
the fellows stammered apology;
watched with mounting hatred as
he crossed the set to sit beside her.
"Ah, then you truly like me?"
Aithra was cooing For answer, Kill
gore pressed his hand to his lips.
Jacks breathing labored. Love, to
him, meant a devotion so great that
to diffuse it was unthinkable. But
Aithra was an actress; her life con-
sisted of endless angling for the fa-
vor and notice of those around her.
Yet Jack was incapable of view
ing it so. The cravings and de-
mands of his passionate nature
spurned compromise.
He half rose, then sank back again
as someone called, "Cut!" and the
pair separated. The director said:
Not quite enough fervor, I'm
afraid, Mr.. Kilgore. Remember,
you've been the bashful suitor a long
while and now that you've gotten
started, you give it everything. Let's
try another take on that last part;
okay?"
Both players nodded, and in an in
stant Kilgore was once again blurt-
ing forth his awkward proposal. AS
before, Aithra gave an eager affirm
ative and fairly threw herself into
his arms. Savagely Jack fought for
mastery of his rising gorge. But
this time the thing was too strong
for him. Unreasoning fury gained
control at sight of the ardor those
two put into their embraces. He
commenced to twitch all over,
sprang to his feet, and dashed to-
ward them. A cameraman saw him
coming and tried to block the way,
but too late Jack was past him
and lunging at Kilgore. Then All
thra's voice rang out piercingly:
"Jack-stop it!!"
The command entered his seeth-
ing brain like a knife thrust, and
suddenly the madness dropped from
him. Bracing his feet, he pulled up
short with stiff, quivering legs and
head adroop The hand of the wom-
an he loved slapped stingingly
across his face and she cried:
you bad brute, youl From now
on you'll stay at homel I'm
so sorry, Mr. Kilgore. It's odd;
collies are the most insanely jeal.
Gus dogs Did you see that green
fame in his eycs?"