Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-28
After Luncheon Fidau ~ Lois "'''''''

had every right to know.
1--WE asked three times" said Henry,
"if you'll try the brook trout. So I
have ordered it anyway, with new po-
tatoes and peas. There is a dry
Martini at your elbow"
ooh, nice" she said, smiling hastily.
Henry leaned back against the
lounge and smiled. too, In an odd way.
It was not his usual slow and honest
smile, but secretive, rather, as II he
we're sadly amused by the worlds
irony. 1t made Laurie uncomfortable.
She knew he had seen her watching
Vance Devlin and his wife and she
wondered what her face might have
betrayed. She remembered the worldly
character in Vance's latest play who
remarked: There are two kinds Of
women-those who wear hearts on
their sleeves and souls In their eyes
and clever women" But she
thought he should have added, "And
women like Georgia" For certainly
she didn't belong to either group.
did you like Torn Cobweb?'"
Laurie asked Henry. She was so con-
scious Of Vance being here In the
same room that she had to bring him
into the conversation somehow, any
how. She remembered, too, that Henry
had known Vance and Georgia long
ago, although naturally his dull bust
ness life had made him a stranger
to Vance's exciting genius. Henry was
the kind of a person who causes bril-
liant people to say: "Old friend Of
minel A princeI must see himl" And
then they neglect TO see him.
Eyes, liked Torn Cobweb, said
Henry. Really he was unique. No other
New York playgoer could have man
aged to remark on the comedy without
abuse or Qualification.
Cant you modify your verbs2" asked
Laurie. did you like it immensely
or rather or terribly or 'somewhat2' ,"
"It is good play" he said. stub
bornly mild. cit is well constructed
Vance Devlin always acts impeccably
in one Of his own plays"
"Impeccablyl" she said. That's
super understatement for sheer genius,
isn't it?"
Henry started to eat brook trout.
mo such thing as sheer genius" he
IF you could see through
1t, it wouldn't be genius"
She thought that over, undecided as
to whether it was stupid or astute.
More than meets the eye-all done
with mirrors, Henry?"
Exactly" he said.
Laurie noticed that two women at
l. 49, =
Oevlin and his wife. She heard one
Of them murmur, How on earth do
gou explain 1t? Why did he ever marry
her in the first placer" The other
woman shook her head: '"They say it's
Is years. And he's so marvellous. !
Strangel" When they rose and went
out Henry asked:
did you hear that, Laurie?"
1--WE heard it a hundred times" She I
ooked across the room again, feeling |
rec now to observe Georgia and Vance
luite openly. She had a view of his
Inc, slim back, his dark, close-cropped |
lead inclined slightly toward his wife.
This evening In front Of an open fire
laurie would sit with Vance at the
title Connecticut inn which was their
lWn QLoCOFCAy8 bAACAC WOuAA W Az
,ther gusets. The proprietor, himself,
would bring wine and the excellent
able d'hote and they would talk a bit
# French with him and pretend 1t
vas Paris. And when he was out Of
he room Vance would take her fin
.ers and kiss them one by one.
And his words would flare like rock
is, leaping with golden sparks above
In the Notwithstanding
Lull or dark spots, Transforming the
into magic. But oh,
lance, Vance Since we love each other
Thy do you never say anything about
ieorgiaI Surely I have right to
now.
He was rising now. helping Georgia
nth her wrap. He looked especially
rave and slim and youthful as he put
be short fur jacket around Georgia's
ride shoulders. She was big woman
Tho should not have worn a short
lr Jacket. The little black hat cooked
n one side of her head was perhaps
good French model but 1t lost all
nartness contrasted with Georgia's in
eterminate gray-brown coiffUre. Awk-
-ardly she dropped glove which the
alter hastened to pick up; she stopped
} smile and to thank him so heartily
vyo~,n- 10Th IrNlrad am