Evening star., 1941-09-18

open and she went In quietly. Mike
sat frowningly at the telephone. He
Jumped to his feet when Julie en-
tered. 1t couldn't be terror she saw
in his eyes. Not terror, certainly
Where have you been, Julie?'
he asked when she did not speak.
ITO a movie"
"a movie-ye gods" The thing
like terror in his eyes had been
replaced with anger. Were you so
engrossed in the picture that you
forgot Mother and Dad were dining
with us?"
yes, 1 forgot" 1t didn't seem to
matter that she had forgotten. She
added lamely, TT was good pic
ture."
Whats got into you, Julie?"
Mikes tone was one of baff1ed ex-
asperation. Il don't understand you
any more. For weeks you've been
behaving like brat. Last night at
Rita's dinner you insulted her open
ly, and the way you carried on with
that young Navy man was a dis
grace. And why did you pretend to
be tight when you hadn't taken a
drop? Tonight you fail to show up
when we have guests for dinner.
Honestly, don't get it"
Julie Is Furious.
''Why try?" Dodging past him,
she ran down the hall to her dress
inge room. Mikes displeasure was
the last straw. So he had married
a brat That's what he had called
her, brat. Hastily undressing, she
slid into shell-pink pajamas. She
put on robe, violently tying the
sash around her waist. She sat
down before the mirror. gazing
blankly into wild eyes. jules emo
tions had completely jumped the
track. They were hurtling through
space without control or direction.
Mike came to the dressing room
door as she furiously brushed her
hair. She had been doing every
thing furiously for weeks, the
stretch of her nerves demanding
physical expression.
May I come in?"
IF you care to-"
He stood behind her, looking first
at her frozen reflection in the mir
ror, then down at her shining head
There had been time, so long ago,
when she had felt free to lean back
against him, to give him a slanting
upward smile Tonight she drew
slightly forward, brushing madly
Her hair. fiat back at the temples
swirled into a fluff under the brush.
"Julie-we can't go on like this"
An icy hand clamped down on
her heart. Shed known that Mike
would say that someday, she'd
known it even on the day Of their
marriage, even during the heavenly
interval in Hila. Shed taken a long
chance and lost. Now she must be
good sport about it. She should
have been the one to tell him that
they couldn't 60 on. She had been
too weak. too craven. Now he had
said it and she must be a good
sport.
IT'S all right with me. Mike, -
she said. They say Reno is the
best place, the fastest place"
His attractive face did not change
expression. Has it come to Reno,
Julie?" he asked.
Tears threatened and she sum-
moned anger to her aid. You don't
need to look regretful. We both
knew that our marriage was just
just a stunt
Julie Sticks 1t Out.
Mike said grimiy: Stunt or no
stunt, it was a marriage and there
will be no divorce. Get that out of
your head"
jules curling lashes swept up
and down again I'll go to Reno
if I want to-" she declared, childish
ly perverse
You will not"
you can't stop me-" This was
being a good sport, wasn't it? Max
ing it easy for him.
I'll stop you if it's the last thing
I ever do"
"Why?" A silver of light touched
her sore heart. Mike didn't want
her to divorce him, he really didn't
But, surely, she had thought
Because you're too much of a
kid to know what's good for you,
he was saying gruff1y.
Look, Mike" she bagan trem-
ulously, "you married me because
Rita let you down. You loved her
then"
II know, but"
and you love her now. Ever
since we came back you've devoted
yourself to her, acting silly at par
ties, sneaking of to meet her fol
cocktails. You needn't deny it," as
he opened his lips to speak, II saw
you at the club this afternoon
incoming over her murmuring love
stuff" She stopped. The men,
ory of Mike and Rita at the little
cocktail table still caused violent
repercussions in the region of her
heart.
81 Hate You"
Cheap talk, Julie" he put in.
That's what I mean, it's cheap
I'm tired of being ignored and
pushed around. I'll get out of the
way and you can have your Rita"
For heavens sake" Mike burst
out irritably, haven't I enough