Evening star., 1941-09-13

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cially prominent pair who were soor
to take the marriage vows. JUNE
kept up with their activities by
dogged reading of the papers. 1t was
agony. It was like constantly prod
ding a wound to see if it still palned
And it did, dreadfully.
There was one day to be remem-
hered. It was the day when Mike
accidentally bruised jules hand
Hurrying to close the window
against a chill gulf breeze, she had
found the Venetian blind cord en-
tangled on the outside. She worked
to free it and Mike, intending to be
of aid, came to her side. His shoul-
der touched the sash and, somehow
1t crashed down on one of jules
slender hands. She cried out, throw
ing the other hand, palm out, across
her mouth.
Mike jerked the window up and
caught Julie in his arms. He held
her while she wept with pain. He
pressed her head into his shoulders
and the things he said, the tone he
used, were the things she would al
WAYS remember. I'm so sorry
does it hurt much, dear?' He actu-
ally called her dear. "Oh, what
stupid fool I am. There now-don'
cry-here, let me see it,
He insisted upon calling doctor
although the injury was really not
serious at all He himself took Julie
home, suggesting a nurse, the hos
pital for fe wdays, vacation
Julie finally laughed him out OF
hts remorse. She promised faithfully
to be fine in the morning and sent
him away. Flowers arrived an hour
later, red roses. In all honesty Julie
had to admit that Mixes kindly,
generous heart would have caused
him to treat the Office boy in exact
ly the same way without, possibly
the dear" and the roses. But il
was something, oh, yes, quite some
thing, in the way of food for a
starved heart The feel of his arms,
the big gentleness of him, to re-
member.
A Little Cloud.
1t was shortly after the incident
of the bruised hand that Mr.. Gray
senior, sent for Julie. He had
watched her work and found it eX-
cellent. He felt that her talents
were being wasted in his sons Office
Would she consider the position OF
personnel head in the organization?
One hundred dollars a week went
with the position. 1t was unexpected
it was f1attering and followed the
upcurving line of her success chart
but Julie felt no elation. Her ole
dreams of career had gone fiat anc
insipid.
Does Mr.. Gray know about thi!
ofier?" she asked, referring to Mike
Yes, he was supposed to broacf
the subject himself" Mixes father
laughed indulgently. TOO busy get
ting married. I guess"
The conference ended by julie
saying, Thank you very much, II
think it over" Somehow she had
queer feeling about the change.
In the rush before the wedding
jules duties spread beyond the
Office. She was on hand at the re-
hearsal, ordered about by Rita ano
her huttering mother, ignored by
the attendants, quietly making her
self useful. During these last few
days Mixes expression was one Of
rapt bemusement. Seeing him with
Rita, Julie curled up inside. Noting
Rita's casual acceptance of his de-
votion, she was torn with fury. An
other thing came within range OF
her possessively observant eyes
namely, Rita's less casual manner
with Dick Van Vleet, Mikes friend
from Boston, who had arrived to dc
duty as best man. OF course, Rita
was only flirting with the blonc
Bostonian, but need she f1irt? How
could she see another man, any
ether man, past Mike?
Julie Sees Something.
On the last day but one before the
great event Mike sent Julie to the
Deming home to take charge of the
extensively persistent telephone
Rita, drifting about in an aprico
taffeta housecoat, a pluned ciga'
rette dangling from her hand
greeted Julie coolly. Mrs. Deming
ouerulous and short of breath, or.
dered her to the library telephone
And for heavens sake catch 1t or
the first whirr,' she commanded
Grossly. 1--WE stood about all can.
Julie took over, effectively stran
Cling the annoying bell. 1t was aftel
lunch, hurried, disorganized meal
that a disturbing incident occurred
Dashing to the kitchen with a mes
sage from the caterer, Julie CAM
upon Rita and Dick Van Vleet il
the buffers pantry. Presumabl.
they were mixing drinks. Actual,
the best man was thoroughly ant
passiorately kissing the bride.
Julie stammered an apology ant
backed out of the buffers pantry
The episode remained in he
thoughts through the afternoon, un
comfortably distasteful. It WASH
so much the matter of a stolen kis
--broad-minded people were dis
counting the importance of kisSe
these days-it was something NOR
undefnable; Rita's eyes, the chok
In her confused laugh, Dicks f1ushe
tenseness.
At S, still trying to argue her
self out of an absurd intuition, JUL
returned to the Office. She sat i
Mixes chair. running her hand
back and forth along the arms. star
ing at Rita's picture. The weddin
party would be having cocktails i
Alys Thorne's apartment now Ally
was a homely little thing, chose
to be maid of honor because sh
i a. IL l..