The guardian., 1941-07-12
Nothing but Love
By THAYER WALDO
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.)


upon him; mind and spirit were
elsewhere-behind that closed door
thirty feet away. No sound had
reached him for minutes past, but
he knew that in that bedroom Char
lotte was packing. That when it
was done she would go, away from
him, out of this house that had been
theirs together for three wonderful
years.
There had simply been the sudden
outburst of bitter quarreling that
brought anger, then hatred, and
| finally cold, furious silence. Even
the specific cause had become an
item remembered dinly, if at all.
Of course the basis was clear
enough. Ever since Charlotte had
reached top in the Hollywood pic
ture scramble, their bliss had with
slow certainty ebbed. Two thou
sand week matched against his
hundred and quarter made very
poor balance and evidence of her
lavish spending was everywhere.
His wife was just emerging from
closet, arms fluffy with gowns and
lingerie. She gave her cargo into
the waiting hands of a maid who
stood before an open wardrobe
trunk. A second girl was busy with
three smaller bags.
Mabel" Grant said, 'you and
Pearl may leave now. You'll be
sent for when you're needed again"
Charlotte swung about to face him,
but kept silence until the girls were
gone. Then,
Would you mind" she suggest
ed, voice brittle, explaining your
self as quickly and briefly as posi-
BILE? This is most hampering in
terruption."
God! she was lovely, Grant re-
fected.
Sorry" he told her, "but it was
necessary. I believe there are some
angles to this move you haven't
thought over properly"
II see. And those are p"
"Well, for one thing, the publicity.
You know you've always said your
reputation couldn't stand the stuff
lot of other stars get away with.
There's been too much sweet-and-
pure painted into the picture the
public has of you"
Her brief laugh was utterly scorn-
full.
Thanks for the solicitude, Grant,
but don't think I'll need to cling to
you to protect myself"
He flushed a little and looked
away.
"Very well; but 1 should think
| you might be little less precipi-
tate. We have social engagements
it isn't going to be easy to ex-
plain"
"You can find the himsiest argu-
ments," Charlotte retorted, un-
moved. eff that's all you have,
would you mind saving your breath
and my time? I've train to CATCH"
Grant gazed fully at her for a
long moment. Strangely, through
his Illustration and discontinue ran
strong current of desire to shout:
"You can't go because I love you'll"
Yet he was glad it could be kept in
check. That sort of maudlin snivel-
ing would never do at time like
this. He turned to the door.
Certainly" he said; Stupid of
me to have come in at all. Good-by,
then, and good luck"
Busy again, she neither looked
around nor spoke. He went out and
paced slowly over by the huge easy
chair again. The book on the floor
caught his eye and he stopped for
it. Noticing the title for the first
time, he recognized it as Charlotte's
favorite volume of poems-one he
had given her. Taking it to her now
would be no sentimental gesture,
for her interest in the work itself
was genuine. And-it presented an
excuse to see her for one fieeting
instant more
His knock was answered by the
servant, Pearl. Charlotte wasn't in
evidence. Feeling an odd sense of
embarrassment, Grant said:
"Give this to my wife. Tell her
l was reading it and remembered
she might want to take it along"
For twenty minutes after that,
Grant stood by the FRENCH windows
in the outer room. The spot would
permit him a glimpse of Charlotte
as she left. That finality no longer
stirred passionate rebellion in him;
there was only sort of aimless
dreariness now.
Somewhere behind him a door
latch clicked softly. From the shad-
ows appeared form diaphanously
white. 1t was Charlotte, negligeed
and smiling up at him with gentle
radiance he had almost forgotten.
you're not" he began.
''No, my dear, I'm not" she muir
INJURED, walking serenely into his
arms. Her lips were raised and
thirstily, in dazed joy, he took them.
When the long kiss ended, she
looked into his eyes.
"And do you know why? No-of
course not, you silly, beloved, stiff
necked darling! That book you
brought mel opened it where the
book mark was and the page had