Evening star., 1941-09-14


been the one to hurt him so. Hei
:
Deming had eloped with Richard
Van Vleet on the eve of her mar
riage to Michael Gray. Miss Dem
ing and Mr.. Van Vleet had flown
to Boston, where they would, pre-
sumably, marry and make their
home. There were pictures Of all
the persons involved, comments by
the wedding party, and an interview
with Mrs. Deming. A great deal OF
typographical dust was thrown In
the readers eyes in an effort to con-
ceal the fact that the Tilted bride
groom had not been located.
A Sudden Suggestion.
Mike f1icked the smiling picture
of himself with outfiung fingers and
threw the paper to the floor. His
smoldering gaze fell on the tickets
and he regarded them intently.
Miss Nash" he said with stiff
precision, will you do me the honor
of accepting my hand in marriage?"
please have another cup of coffee,
Mr.. Gray. Your head must ache
dreadfully" She spoke nervously
wings f1uttering in her throat. On
the rebound-she had heard of girls
catching men on the rebound and
she had been properly scornful. AS
if she'd marry man to spite the
girl he loved. Ridiculous. Just the
same. drums pounded in her heart.
Miami is a beehive of scandal
this morning." he continued, "and
I'm not in the mood to face 1t. I
have two tickets for a honeymoon
and it seems a shame to waste one
of them. Will you marry me, Miss
| Nash?"
She said helplessly, her voice, for
some unaccountable reason. rough
ened with tears. My name is Julie. "
Will you marry me, Julie?"
"Why?"
Good Lord I don't know why.
I'm lost in the woods, you're spar
and I'm clinging to you-I'm getting
my metaphors mixed-I want to get
out of this town and don't want to
go alone" He looked at her sharply,
Are you in love with some one?'
Julie shook her head She could
not have spoken a word.
Then marry me-" He sighed
YEARLY. You won't be doing so
badly. See me through this and Ill
be a model husband, the American
kind-give you everything and ask
little in return-that kind"
Julie Fends Reporters of.
Julie was slightly shocked She
fidgeted, having no idea how to ham
die the situation. At last, Your
mind isn't working right this morn
ing, Mr.. Gray, and goodness knows
don't wonder" She was so serious
that his lips relaxed a little. Tell
you what" she went on, you stay
here and think things over Don't
answer the door or the telephone.
I'll go to the office as usual Maybe
I'd like to marry you, I don't know.
The setup is $3.50 queer" She
rolled up an amber curl and let it
spring back. Call me this afternoon
or just disappear. I'll understand"
AS she left the table he rose, look
ing down at her. You're such a
sweet little kid, Julie" he said
thoughtfully. I've never known a
girl like you" Glancing about the
kitchen, he asked, Shall 1 wash the
dishes?"
IF you will, please. I'm dreadfully
late. My boss won't like it." A shred
of laughter remained in the kitchen
after she had gone.
She was in the Office, surrounded
by insistent reporters, when Mike
called in on the private line. II
can't find the dish towels, Julie"
he said
Upper drawer to the right of the
sink" she answered carelessly, and
turned back to the reporters. No,
she hadn't seen Michael Gray. Had
they tried his apartment-and his
club? After while the reporters de-
parted and Mixes father came to
talk with her. She had dreaded this
interview, but he merely talked wor-
riedly and sighed, obviously not
dreaming that she knew the answer
to his many questions.
A Surprise.
AT 2 o'clock Mike called again
Will you marry me, Julie?"
Call back at Sim very busy, "
She must give him every chance.
With pounding heart she waited
or one thing Julie was certain. If
Mike Gray really wanted to marry
her, she was willing-on any terms.
Let the future answer its own rid
dies.
At 5 he had not called. At Sis
he had not called. Julie went home
nerves ragged, a little sick in the
pit OF her stomach. He had thought
better OF 1t. She had known he
would. we'll
Wearily she climbed the apart
ment stairs. She fumbled for her
Key, the contents of her purse lost
In blur. Il don't care" she kept
whispering childishly, Il don't care
at all" One tiny ray of comfort
warmed her heart. She would re-
main Mikes secretary so long as he
would have her. No tempting ad-
Vancement could change that. Grad
ually he would adjust himself to the
loss OF Rita. Might he not turn to
her II she were patient? They had
come very close during his trial by
fire. She would never again be
merely a stick of Office furniture
They were friends now. Some day
they might be more than friends #
was forlorn hope, but still a hone
Approaching her door, she found
1t open. Mike stood just inside. His
bags were piled on the living room
floor. He started to say something
Jocular, something about the tired
oreadwinner returning at eventide
1t didn't sound jocular and he
stopped. He said, Hello, Julie"
Her voice broke down when she
answered, Hello"
(copyrisht' 1s41, the Chicago Daily News
| Inc)
Continued tomorrow
A cottage In Hawaii.
Ro~.,Ior~ d.