Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-10-18

lady's evening place. there were
Well-read books. She looked at
them. There was an anthology of
English poetry. a Bible and
w or three classical novels. She
opened one.
Eric came over to her and drew
her to her feet and. with his arm
about her possessively. said. We've
had a long day. old lady. Suppose
we turn in? Win will have us up
at the crack of dawn"
WIN led the way upstairs. He
said. Not unless you wish to be.
I'm taking a vacation this week.
haven't had one for a long time"
He gave them a big room which
was furnished with massive, COM
Portable old furniture. There We're
bright chintZes at the windows and
a new rug on the floor. There was a
fire burning in the small hearth.
WA this your fathers and
mothers room?" Halle asked
when Win had left them.
mo. He's keeping that inviolate
for his own bride, l suppose"
rs he engaged?'
Eric laughed. Not Win. Afraid
some woman would change the nice
pattern of his life"
Halle was taking things out of
their luggage. Eric, why don't you
try to understand Win? You've got
the funniest idea of him. You had
me thinking he was a grabbed Old
Yankee"
Il suppose you think he's the
strong, silent type. Why do you
women all fall for that stuff"
1t was so silly, Halle could only
laugh.
She went over to one Of the long
windows that looked over a hillside.
1t was yellow white outdoors. The
starlight sparkled on the hard
snow that covered the ground and
there was a half-moon high in the
sky. She tore herself away from
the beauty o. the night with reluc-
lance.
last ollt Al ptt - Il lilolihtN,
she said, sliding between lavender
scented sheets, Got to be up early.
l see a busy week ahead
1t was a perfect week. Halle
didn't know that II whole week
could be such fun or pass so
swiftly.
At the end Of each perfect day,
smuggling down in the wide, warm
bed, she relived it in memory. She
held off sleep deliberately, commit
ting to memory for the future the
things that had filled her day.
The mornings she shopped with
Win and Eric in the village mar
kets. She was impressed with the
respect and frienGl!ness with which
everyone greeted Win. He was, she
realized, a big MAJ among his fell
low men.
"A big fish il a little pond, but
that's not for us, baby Eric said.
The afternoons she skated on the
pond that lay like a mirror below
the sloping hill on which they
sometimes went tobogganing. Win
and Eric did some skiing, and dur
ing those times. Halle had stayed
at home, making friends with
into a deadening miro of d%ulln-ss.
But one morning she woke up
and she thought: Breakfast, dishes,
the dustcloth, the vacuum sweeper
and my houseWork will be done.
Lunch alore. Marketing, Bridge or
the movies this afternoon?
She broke an egg into a yellow
bowl and then she burst into tears.
Leaving the egg and the bowl and
all the unWashed breakfast dishes
Eric had left earlier. she washed
her face and put on the badly fitted
dress she hoped would pass for her
spring outfit" damned her three
dollar hat on her head and snatched
up her purse. She hadn't the re-
hottest idea what she was going to
do, but she was not going to spend
another day in that square house.
1t was only a little after ten
when she got to Times Square. Too
carly to call Louise, and she had
no heart for the shops where there
was nothing she wanted that she
could buy.
She was conscious of sharp hun
ger, and other strange things in
her breast-rebellion born Of des-
peration, an urge to do something,
an impetus to action. She bought
the morning paper and read it at
a drug store counter where she Dr.
dered coffee and doughnuts.
Her eyes drifted down the coun-
ter and she SAY other girls. read
ing their papers. drinking coffee,
eating toast. Business girls, she
thought, and wondered what stimu-
lating things they'd be going on to.
They looked so smart with their
pert hats and spring coats, their
beautifully done hair and nails.
Halle felt like an old bag. She
put Is cents on the counter and
went out. walking toward Fifth
avenue. Without thinking very
much what she was doing. she
boarded a bus and got Off at the
corner of Tenth street. She was
going to see Sue.
Sue said. Halle, | believe in
prayer. I've got six figures to get
out by tomorrow and my mode
just telephoned that she's got a
stiff neck and now you turn up!"
"You lei I can help?"
HELM You %certainlN can Dnn,t