Evening star., 1940-02-29
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WILLIAM
NEWhAUER


What are you doing here at this
hour?"
His face grew grave, and for a
moment he looked as though he
were going to attempt explaining
his behavior of the evening before,
but apparently deciding against this,
he smiled and pointed at his watch
I'm a slave now, Elaine. I have
to be at work by g."
For the first time Elaine noticed
his bags, which stood near the
kitchen closet, and, realizing that
he would not have time to unpack
before he left for work, offered to
do the job for him. TN get the
key to your room from Momma
Gambino." she said, smiling. And
when you get home tonight We'll
have you all unpacked."
She'll have you unpacked," Jane
corrected crisply. Me, 1 have to
go over to several greeting-card
companies today" With that she
placed a platter of fried eggs and
bacon on the table and sat down.
The next half hour passed off
pleasantly. Elaine ate heartily
She was hungrier than she had
thought she was, and not only was
she enjoying the food, but the COM
forting nearness of Eric across the
table from her, his smiling face
and tender eyes repaying her for her
confidence in him. His almost
schoolboyish air tugged at her
heartstrings, made her glad she
could forgive his faults.
We'll, I have to be going" Jane
remarked, mischevious twinkle
in her eye. "And so do you, Eric.
Want to walk me down to the sub
Way?"
Jane Is COnsiderate.
Sure" he said with alacrity,
springing from the chair. He
smiled gayly at Elaine, tossing her
a ring of keys You can use them
if you feel ambitious" he told her
laughingly. "If not, III unpack
when I come home"
1t was some minutes after they
had gone before Elaine became fully
aware of James thoughtfulness in
arising so early. Jane. with her
remarkable insight, had known that
her first meeting with Eric after his
unseemly conduct would prove en-
barrassing to them both, and with
that generosity which she tried to
conceal beneath an air of cynicism
had decided to help both over the
rough spots.
Elaine stood up and tied an apron
about her, staring grimly at the
dishes on the table. Being that
type of girl who abhors disorder
illness. she moved slowly to the sink,
hating the idea of having to wash
them, but loathing the thought of
leaving them standing about. She
moved briskly about the room, gath
ering all the cooking utensils and
dishes and silver together and carry
ing them over to the sink.
So engrossed had she become in
her work that she failed to see the
kitchen door slowly open, or to see
the tender light which appeared in
MELVIN Stuart's eyes as he watched
her work Had she been told that
she looked lovely in her apron she
would have laughed, but in reality
she was one of those women who
take on the appurtenances of do
mesticity without losing one jot of
glamour. She worked intently at
the sink, unaware of his presence
until he knocked up against the
table. With a nervous start she
whirled around, almost dropping the
saucepan she was drying in her sur
prise.
Elaine Disturbed.
"1t was worth the trip to see
you just like that" Melvyn said
with smile. you're lovelier than
ever, Elaine"
I'm a very busy woman, too,'
she told him, turning back to the
sink, more confused by his admir-
ing eyes than she cared for him to
see. Il didn't expect you so
early"
Don't tell me that Sis forgot to
let you know I was coming in this
morning." he said with a laugh
He drew chair out and calmly sat
down, enjoying her discontinue.
I'm glad I did surprise you, though
You look lovelier without make
up"
Elaine turned around and eyed
him coolly. IF you're going to say
such things I'll have to ask you
to leave" She knew that she was
sounding schoolgirlish, that her
words were silly, but somehow she
had to manage to convey to him
the fact that their kiss at the hos
pital had simply been kindly ges-
ture on her part, that she didn't
love him and that she wasn't inter-
ested in receiving compliments from
him.
He refused to be chastened by
her words. II think I want to talk
about how lovely you are, Elaine.
And you should let me. After all,
when a man has loved you as long
as I have he should be entitled to
say something about it, or do some
thing about it, for that matter"
Melvyn Not Discouraged.
Elaine watched him rise from
the chair and walk slowly toward
her. Instinctively she knew that
he was going to try to kiss her
again and she stood rigid by the
sink, her eyes growing round with
surprise as she noticed that he ap-
peared even handsomer in every
day clothes than he had in his
white inferno uniform. AS he halted
just before her she became aware
of a sudden throbbing of her heart.
Confused, she drew away from him,
raised her eyes to look straight into
his.
"You have absolutely no right
to say anything about love to me,
Melvyn," she told him, slipping
easily into the use of his first name.
I'm engaged to be married, and
besides, I don't love you'
He laughed shortly. That's what