The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-06-15

~" ~ vi NV N'ohts Noith nv
playing wet nurse to lot OF dis
agreeable nanny goats"
My dear 'Reatha shook with
laughter you're incorrigible.
NO fooling. who is the special?"
why do you insist he's special
I'm not putting on anything new
This dress has been worn a dozen
times or more
Eyes. hut know Il happen. to be
your favoritcs. Ond it's mine too
That deep blue does something 10
your pretty eyes. You're lovely
honey Go to it-get your man,
only just don't let II be old Kmr
Tut Wade. If II Is him you're going
out with. please as little favor 10
your pal, Cora, crack him over
the dome with a bottle or TWO -
won't you. Reatha," Cora's lace
wore lcok of pleading.
II assure you. my dear, IT'S not
Or. Wade. And I'm glad for I'd
hate 10 commit murder even for
friend on such a lovely night as
this"
ok. sweetheart"
After making plans to meet Rca-
tina. Erics conscience began TO
trouble him. Was he taking advan-
tage OF this situation? He knew
Reatha was honest, sweet ana Sin
cere. He knew to. that both. mis-
and Reatha's standing at Belmont
would suffer should their meeting
become known Eric felt IL was his
place to protect Reatha. rather
than let her run the risk OF scan
dial. He hated secret meetings. II
he was pr. Weeks ne could drive
up 10 the front door Of The nurses
home and ask for Miss Duval In
stead they were doomed 10 stink in
the shadows Reatha being n white
woman must not he seen publicly
with Negro man But Eric could
not down that feeling OF pleasur-
able anticipation as he dressed for
his meeting with Reatha. The
warm bath and short nap had made
new man or him and he tried
valiantly 10 push unpleasant
thoughts aside. dwelling only on
the scheduled talk He refused 10
ponder the reasons for his inter
est i'm the little nurse. yet he real
lied she stirred him profoundly.
Her nearness brought him pleas
urc. the touch OF her hands thrill
cd him. Eric looked AZ his watch
eight o'clock. another half hour and
he would soc her was he falling
in love The shook he head snch
thing could only bring 'raSic
unhappiness TO them both Such
marriages oft times brought moro
sorrow than JOY. II couldn't he
that. ne unused II must he the
common interest In their rrofcs-
sions that acted as bond between
them
He looked out the window OF ais
hotel II was Belmont AZ its worse
For il was tho slums. Eric fct
ashamed that his people and other
poor unfortunatcs had TO I've IN
these dingy shacks lie had t.
sire 10 do something about II. Hep
tear down these ramshackled built
ings that housed his people.
streets and alleys. filthy with
crime lurking in the shadows ~
the pool rooms and dance halls.
Sensuous music. course laughter
and swaying women gave him 4
nauscated feeling ne he looked
down on 1t all. lie could see The
lights over the dirty stores. A
rroup OF men stood on the opposite
corner. talking in loud tones. One
was plainly drunk. As they laugh
ed and cursed woman came to-
wards them Her course black hair
WAS uncomhed. her bare feet en-
cased in red sandals, while her
dress OF thin black silk chung
tightly To her body. She greeted
the men with Hello there chumps
One threw his arm around ler.
after several minutes Of gay talk
interpreted with vile insinuations.
the drunken man and woman went
down the street arm in arm. The
sight sickened Eric when he thought
OF the decent. honest parents iry-
ing to bring bp their family in siicl
unhealthy conditions. He felt "e-
sponsihle. why should he give
thought 10 self when there wa so
much he could do for others? lie
stood for something in the e>cs
OF these people They gave him
respect, took pride in his success.
They expected things Of him. Tic
was their leader They were wait.
ing for him 10 do something. Those
mothers. bringing their babies IN
10 the world. have right to de-
mand that something be done. Col
didn't intend FOR II 10 be like this.
IIc gave ~ intelligence with which
to FIGHT these things. II was our
own cusscdness that gave us dirt
and squalor.
Reatha's JOY In meeting Eric ia
not permit her 10 think Of the tire
consequences that could result
from the meeting II II became
known II could ruin them both
professionally But she did not al
low herself to be swayed from ser
ing the man who had in a few
short weeks caused her 10 miss sew
eral nights OF sleep. For Reatha
found herself thinking about brio
constantly. She saw the car ahead.
the lights were dim. II was love-
" night. the fragrant perfume Of
spring make her feel care free md
reckless. Cora and Iva would call
this daring. Many OF the nurses