Evening star., 1940-03-14
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look as she closed the bedroom door.
Gosh, he should be coming soon!
Your plane leaves at 1870. Why In
heavens name didn't he let some
one else perform that operation?"
Jane Begins to Wonder.
Elaine shrugged her shoulders and
sat down on the bed, kicking off her
shoes. Perhaps it's a special pa
tient. Don't worry. Jane, he'll be
coming soon enough"
The dreary way in which she
spoke these words drew frown
across James face, and she walked
slowly over to the bed, eyes question
Ing. For a moment she stared
down at Elaine, curious red flush
on her cheeks. Elaine" she asked
with an embarrassed air, "are-are
you really in love with Melvyn?
Oh, I know I'm silly to ask that
but you know ever since you said
you'd marry Mel you've been act
ing strangely, almost as though
you were going to marry him
against your will"
She should pretend to be angry
She should reprimand Jane for
even harboring such a thought. IT
was expected of her, 1t was ex-
pected of any woman who pro-
fesses to be in love. Elaine glanced
up, forcing an angry gleam into
her eyes, and somehow hated her
self for being such a hypocrite.
"Of course I love Melvyn," she
told Jane evenly. IF I didn't ]
certainly wouldn't be marrying him
would II"
Jane shook her head slowly.
mo, I guess you wouldn't" She
smiled self-consciously. I'm a fool
I was just worried about it, that's
all. I was wondering If you were
still in love with Eric and were
marrying Melvyn simply because
Eric went back home to California
Elaine, would you marry Melvyn
even though you found out that Eric
had returned to New York and
that he still loved you?"
Tells Her Eric Is Back.
Elaine gazed intently at James
eager face. She had the feeling
that more lay beneath the sur
face OF the question than was OBJ
vious. Was Jane trying to trar
her into admitting she still loved
Eric? Was she testing her? But
OF course not. Jane had been toe
eager for her to marry MELVIN tc
harbor any doubts now concern
ing the genuineness of her love for
him.
She waited until she had slipped
her dress over her head before re-
plying. "Of course I would still
marry Melvyn. But-but whatever
made you ask such question:"
Jane sighed and turned to toy
restlessly with the suitcase handle
Eric is here in New York, Elaine
He arrived by plane this morning
and came over here to see you. Hell
be back shortly"
Eric in New York? But-that
couldn't be true! He had left her
he had returned to California and
his mother and was not going to
have anything more to do with her.
Jane was lying, was trying to make
sure that she was really in love with
Mervyn. She stared at her room
mates pale face, tried to read the
thoughts behind her curtained eyes
and then-suddenly-as he heart
began a mad pounding, she knew 1t
was true. Eric had returned to her
He had come back to New York
he had left his mother: he had re-
turned to make her his bride.
Too late! At / o'clock she and
Melvyn would stand before the min
lister and be made man and wife. A
cold chill suddenly displaced the
warmth of her body and she felt her
heart sink like lead in her chest.
Yes, she was going to marry Melvyn
She had promised to do so, and
Melvyn would be hurt, terribly, ter
ribly hurt if she failed to keep her
word.
The hero has arrived" Betty
said excitedly, bursting into the
room. Her eyes were merry as she
glanced at Jane. You'd better go
over to his room and cheer him up.
He looks as though he's going to COL
lapse any minute now.''
Jane giggled as she left the room.
"That's Mel for you. He can oper-
ate and do anything else without
feeling the least bit nervous, but
as soon as it comes to a girl-youd
better see that Elaine finishes
dressing"
Silence like a heavy pail lay upon
the room as she walked out, closing
the door shut behind her. For once
even Betty was still and Elaine, too
engrossed in her thoughts to talk,
was suddenly glad that Jane had
left the room. 1t had been difficult
to keep up the pretense of being in
love with Melvyn. Jane was shrewd
and it wouldn't have been long be-
fore she penetrated her mask.
(Copyright, 1910, by William Newbauer, }
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