Evening star., 1940-03-12
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Weu nave to make 1t q double
wedding. Oh-how SWELL"
"It will be SWELL" Elaine lied
forcing a smile to her lips. "I'm-
I'm the happiest girl in the wirld."
Only Betty knew she was lying
And for once in her life Betty
decided to remain silent. She con-
graduated Melvyn. planted an in
accurate kiss on Elaine's lips and
then marched out Of the house and
down the street to a telegraph ofice
1t was time some one did some
thing about all this. Elaine had
been fool and Eric had been an
even bigger one. They didn't de-
serve her help, but after all, she was
Elaine's- friend. Her telegram was
brief and to the point. It was
addressed to Eric Reardon, Lynville,
California. It read:
YOU ARE A DOPE so IS ELAINE
STOP SHE IS MARRYING SOME
ONE ELSE UNLESS.
BETTY GORDON.
| + X \ +
my life, like the prints which feet
Have left on Tampa's desert
strand,
Soon, as the rising tide shall beat
All trace, will vanish from the
sand;
Yet, as If grieving to efface
All vestige Of the human race,
On that lone shore loud means the
| sea-
But none, alas, shall mourn for
mel"
| Mrs. Eric Montague Reardon
groaned as the drear verse from the
pen of Richard Henry Wilde over
and over again beset her tortured
brain. A wild light appeared in her
eyes as she raised a trembling,
emaciated hand and beat clenched
fist upon her forehead, striving with
all the strength of strengthless
body to drive the hideous verse,
the horrible thought expressed, from
her milling mind. But to no avail.
Over and over the verse repeated
itself, and the words, like malicious
demons come hot from hell, tortured
her, Knocked her, frightened her,
until it seemed that she was the
vortex of all the fear in all the
Godforsaken world.
But none, alas, shall mourn for
mel"
That was lie. A despicable,
malicious lie!
OF course people would mourn
for her, hundreds of people.
Poverty-stricken men and women
and children would not soon forget
their" benefactor and friend. Richard
Henry Wilde was friend. a friend
who had written hack verses to
torment people who lay upon their
last earthly bed. All. if she had but
one more day to live! Could she
but live another "a hours she would
buy every copy of my Life is Like
the Summer Rose" and have each
one burned. If she could but live
Mrs. Reardon Sinks.
A sigh escaped her pallid lips as
the last anger she was ever to
know faded away as gently as the
setting sun leaves the Western sky.
She knew that death was approach
ing closer-closer.
Eric" she whispered family. Are
you there Eric?"
A cool hand was laid gently upon
her forehead and his voice came
to her from out of the blackness.
Yes. mother. I am here"
A pleased sigh escaped her lips
and she gently drew his hand to her
cheek. Eric, I'm not afraid now.
II can almost see your father.
can almost feel his hand on mine
leading me away to the paradise
he found years ago. Eric, I'm
going to be happy now. For the
first time in 20 years I'm going to be
really happy"
I'm glad, mother. But hush, you
must be quiet. DR.. Peale said you
must not waste your strength"
"And I want you to be happy.
Eric she whispered, tears suddenly
beginning to stream down her with
cred cheeks. II want you to return
to New York after I'm gone. want
you to marry Elaine. She's such a
good girl. Eric, the type of girl 1
would have chosen for you had I
been permitted to choose. You see,
that is why hated Elaine so. I
hated her because she came into
your life without my help. was
so foolish, wanted to be the one
to give you everything"
She'll understand, mother" Eric
consoled her. "She knows, she
always knew that you were simply
concerned over my welfare"
Promises to Marry Elaine.
"A person hates first and then finds
a reason for hating, Eric. I hated
Elaine and used the fact that she
went on that drinking party as an
excuse to break up your marriage.
But even if you had married her
without my consent I would never
have disinherited you. Do you
believe that?"
"Of course I do, mother"
"And you'll go back to New York
and marry her?"
'I will"
Mrs. Reardon smiled and Rugged
his hand close to her cheek. Eric's
softly spoken words had thrilled her:
they had been uttered in that same
rich, ringing baritone voice his
father used when they were made
man and wife. If only she could