Evening star., 1940-03-12
CHAPTER XXVI.

Are you asking me 10 Ue your
wife, Melvyn?" Elaine said, al
though she very well knew that he
had been delaying his proposal
until she recovered from the shock
of Eric's deserting her. Are you
asking me to marry you and 60
to CHINA with you?"
His voice came deep from his
throat, husky with emotion. Eyes,
Elaine, am. Oh, know I haven't
the right to ask you to go over to
that hellhole with me. Most people
would condemn me for ever thinking
of asking you. But, strangely. I
think 1t would do you good. You've
led such a cloistered life and,
frankly, it hasn't helped you. You
must 60 where people really live,
Elaine. where all life is a grim
struggle for survival. That's what
you need. Elaine, and what better
place could you go to find that than
to land rent by war and suffering
beneath hardships and atrocities
which seem fantastic to you today?"
Elaine had caught some of the
fervor of his softly spoken words
and she strove desperately to retain
her sense of balance. Put that way
marriage to Melvyn sounded noble
and f1ne-but-would he still ask
her to marry him If he knew she
didn't love him?
Perhaps you are right, Melvyn," :"
she said calmly, eying him frankly.
But don't love you. Would you
want me that way?"
His answer came promptly and
certain. "Of course. I think that
some day you will love me, Elaine.
Some day you will forget Eric.
Elaine, will you marry me?"
Melvyn Is Eager.
Think, Melvyn," she warned
anxiously. Knowing I d0n't love
you, knowing I haven't a penny to
my name, knowing I haven't even
training for a job, knowing I can
bring nothing into your life, would
you still want me?"
You'd be bringing yourself into
my life, Elaine. You would be the
most precious part of it."
She heaved troubled sigh. Now
even more than before, she could
not run the risk of hurting him.
A man who was prepared to give
his life to the service of humanity
was entitled to everything he
wanted. And he wanted her. Eric
didn't. Melvyn would be happy
with her. unhappy without her, and
even if she didn't love him she knew
she would make him a good wife.
She seemed to see Erics face
floating in the air before her as
she made her decision. Trembling,
she passed hand across her eyes.
She must forget Eric. He was gone
from her life now. Today, to-
morrow, forever!
very well, Melvyn. I'll-marry-
you"
There was no kiss. No whispered
exchange of sweet nothings into
each others ears. Melvyn, seeming
to sense that for the moment she
wanted to be alone with her
thoughts, simply smiled when he
heard her softly spoken consent and
started the car. A gay laugh broke
from his lips as they sped down the
road. Boy" he exclaimed, Jane
will be surprised to hear bout this!"
Jane Is Overjoyed.
His remark was great under
statement. Jane was not merely
surprised, she was frankly incredu-
louS.
You're lying. Melvyn," she told
him with sisterly candor when he
told her the news.
Betty, who had been sitting on the
couch gossiping with Jane when they
arrived, was not so surprised, how
ever. She marched across the room
and looked intently at Elaine's face.
She scowled and tapped the toe of
her shoe restlessly upon the floor
and sighed.
Nope, he isn't lying, Jane. Elaine
and Mel are going to be married"
With a whoop of sheer joy, Jane
rushed across the room and flung
her arms around Elaine's neck.
Her eyes were wide and laughing.
"Nv Sictnr.iy,-1ouy Nh E,1o;x,o