Evening star., 1941-09-15

less pleasure. Iney drove dIllOIls
the feathery, reaching palms, they
golfed and danced and swan, they
lay for hours under striped UNI
brella on the sand. Julie had to be
taught how to ride the breakers,
her swimming was definitely anna
teurish. Mike must never know that
his wife had once been a profess
Sional swimmer.
Julie Wonders.
Sometimes Julie would say out OF
a great content, You really should
tell your father where you are,
Mike. He might need to get word
to you"
He would answer as lazily, Every
things all right. Let's forget that
any one exists except ourselves"
Julie fretted silently about the
borrowed yacht, the remote beach
cottage and Mikes seeming deter
mination to remain unidentified.
Why had they not come on the
liner? Why were they hiding out
in a Hila beach cottage instead of
appearing openly at Honolulu ho-
tel? Was he ashamed of what he
had done?
One day they were loafing on the
broad piazza, Julie knitting indus
triously, Mike idly reading a Los
Angeles paper. 1t was a heavenly
day, a blue and white Wedgwood
sky above, blue water advancing
and receding on the sand below, a
snug little cottage among the palms.
Julia said, Mike"
He dropped his paper as he always
did when she spoke. Mike was find
ing immense amusement in his wife.
Different from the girls he had
known, absurdly childish, she con-
stantly amazed him with the clever
workings of her mind and the keen
ness of her perceptions. If asked
the question Mike would have ad-
mitted that not for one moment had
he been bored on his honeymoon.
Mike Explains.
"Un-huh," he said, watching her
nimble fingers.
They are making up stories about
us down in the village-especially
the old ladies. They think we are
notorious criminals or not married
or something"
why should we be the subjects
Of curiosity?" he asked, amused.
We'll, we haven't spoken to q
soul except the shopkeepers and the
swimming boys and the flower girls.
Even when we went dancing we
stayed all by ourselves"
Didn't you like that?"
"Oh, yes, like it, but"
But what, Julie?"
why did we come on the Yacht
and to Hila? Why are you so Sc
cretive, Mike?" She really had to
know Dropping her knitting need
les, she worried an amber curl.
"You know what would have hap
pened. dear, If Michael Gray had
turned up in Honolulu"
"Well-yes"
"All the late unpleasantness would
have followed right on our heels.
We would have been scandal head
liners. If you think the old ladies
buzz now" He allowed her i'm
agination to go on from there.
II know. Mike. OF course, I
know" He had saved her, even
more than himself, from a difficult
situation. There she was, a secre-
tary. honeymooning with her boss,
pinch-hitting. as it were, for the
bride he wanted. A flush crim-
soned her cheeks. What must Mike
think Of her deep down in his
heart? She was sure that he had
not allowed himself to think in the
past month. Much better II he had
faced his marriage squarely, thus
lessening the shock of an unloved
wife when he returned to familiar
surroundings Getting to her feet
she started to leave the piazza.
We'll 60 home on the liner,
julie" Mike said.
"1t doesn't matter"
How about going tomorrow-if
we can get passage?"
Without meaning to, she walled,
"Oh, no-I can't"
An Unpleasant Surprise.
He came to her, drawing her into
his arms. "It will be all right,
darling" he said gently. "You are
my wife and I'll always be glad" :"
She wanted to throw her arms
around his neck, to beg him to love
her, to say all the mad, foolish
things that welled in her throat
night and day. But that would be
taking advantage of Mikes kindly
fondness. Slipping out of his arms,
she lightly patted his cheek.
'T1l start packing" she said
quietly. "You see about reserva-
tons" .
On shipboard, steaming back
across the Pacific, Mike sent a
radiogram to his father. Arriving
San Francisco Saturday. S. S. Alex
andria. Home by plane"
Watching him write the message,
Julie said, you didn't tell him
about me-"
I'm keeping you for a surprise, 4"
he told her.
They stood at the rail on Satur-
day afternoon as the big liner eased
into dock. Below them was a sea
Of upturned faces. There we're
shouts and beloved greetings from
the snip and from ashore. Stewards
flew about, luggage was piled on
trucks. Julie felt herself inwardly
receding. Although she did not
move, she seemed to be drawing
away from Mike-or was he draw
ing away from her?
All at once, peering down at the
faces, she gasped, "Oh-" Mike
turned quickly, questioning her
with his eyes. She pointed. THAT
girl down there-it's Rita"
(copyright. 1s41. the Chicago Daily News
Inc.)
Continued Tomorrow
Rita wins the first round of her
battle with Mikes wife.
Woman Factory Hands
Given Shopping Cards
Snecia1 shoppipc cards ORC heipS