Evening star., 1940-12-15

matinees on it? If you can't let me know"
If she couldn't Jeanie almost laughed
out loud. Why, the Duchess of Windsor could
dress on fifty month - if she really wanted
to. I'll save some," she thought IN save
and surprise Kent one day when we want to
go away on trip or do something we can't
quite afford"
She changed from her smock to street
dress. brushed her long dark bob till it
cleaned, and perched black beret on the
back of it. The apartment lock clicked behind
her. She didn't like to leave it, but she thought
of how delightful it would seem to come home
in the afternoon. Young Mrs. Talbot return
ing from her first shopping expedition as a
married lady
At the entrance to one of her favorite Fifth
Avenue department stores (she was headed
for the misses budget shop there was table
presided over by middle aged woman in the
Red Cross uniform As Jeanie went to it and
made a contribution, she thought: Il can't
give much money for war relief, but can
give my time. Several afternoons week -"
Gould you tell me where to apply??' she
asked the older woman hesitantly. I'D like
to be useful" she blurted, because, you see,
I'm so terribly happy -"
She flushed at the sound of her own voice
uttering such words to a stranger, but the
woman's smile was warm. Thank you, my
dear think that's very good reason"
Later that same afternoon, as she followed
some other girls into an anteroom where they
were laying aside the smocks they had worn
over their dresses, she remembered that
breathless outpourng of self I'm so terribly
habby - with pain piercing her breast like
javelm.
AT THE Red Cross headquarters, she had
recognized Linden Driscoll at once. She had
felt that Linden would know her, too, if she
looked directly at her. But Linden was busy
talking to friend. Their hands moved deftly
and smoothly, folding bandages in swift
succession.
Jeanie's first thought had been: shall l
speak to her, remind her of Kent? Then.
suddenly, bewilderingly kents name was
spoken aloud in Linden's high, clear voice.
''Of course, was amazed, said Linden as
if in answer to some question the other girl
had asked her, though not as amazed as l
might have been if Kent hadn't announced at
dinner party at Piping Rock last summer
that he thought he'd get married soon -
Jeanie thought, puzzled Last summer -
What does she mean? Kent and l weren't
engaged last summer"
1T was in July, think. Lndens tense,
flushed face had nothing in common with the
offhandedness of her words. Anyhow, he'd
had too many drinks and all of us were excited
then about the consoiption bill And kent's
remark had to fall into one of those dreadful
sienceS -"
Jeanie became an automatOn, furnbling at
her bandages, aware of nothing but the rise
and fall of Linden Driscolls contemptuous
voice.
1T didn't sound we'll, said Linden. Really,
it didn't sound we'll at ALL 1t was even en-
barrassing Granting, of course, that sophis-
ticated people like Kent Talbot don't go in
for rah-rah patriotism, still ="
The other girl said sharply What on
earth are you driving at, Linden? What did
Kent say?"
Linden told it all then. There was no
escape, anywhere, even if Jeanie could have
made her numb body move.
She was forced to stand there and listen to
Lindens cold bitterness against Kent. Kent,
it seemed, had just raised fifty-thousand-