Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-01-23
By ELIZABETH JORDON

came away, Miss Van Gumpert, were
not unobserved by the authorities.
You got away Just in time to avoid a
little trouble. You're in for intern
ment at least. II you 60 back. You
have an enemy who Is making a lot
Of mischief There seems only one way
out, an influential friend tells me. You
must marry an American citizen. You
cannot become one yourself for three
years. But you have taken out your
first papers and you will be in a
strong position as the wife of an
American. Your nazi friend apparently
wants to discipline you first and then
force you to marry him."
There was only one gesture now.
Madame Van Gumpert sat motionless
stunned Zita made simple move
ment of the shoulders, expressive of
utter hopelessness.
I'VE both know who that man Is"
she said. II have had much trouble
with him. But who here in America
would marry me?"
What I came out here to say"
Radford went on, whipping himself
up to the situation now that 1t faced
him, ais that I'm prepared to marry
you myself. as a matter Of form. I
make no pretensions Of devotion to
you," he hurried on. II am submerged
in my laboratory work. Between 1t and
the night school work all my time
Is occupied. I am making no preten-
sions at all of being In love with you.
But neither am I in love with anyone
else. I am in love with my work. To
be perfectly frank I don't want any
thing in my life that will interfere
with it."
II have a flat consisting OF big
living room which is also my dining
room, library and study, two bedrooms
q kitchenette. and bathroom. 1t Is
very comfortable and looks out on an
open square. My father lives in WASH
ington. My mother died when I was
16. Father is one of our American
senators and I am his only son. That
may help us in any complications that
come up. A woman comes in every
morning, gets my breakfast, puts the
flat in order, leaves enough in the
Ice box to feed me If I want supper
at home, and then disappears. Once
a week she has housekeeping.
"If we marry, you-" he turned
to zita, will have to live there. No
body but the three of us must suspect
that the marriage is merely matter
Of form. The apartment building has
a dining room for tenants who don't
have their meals in their apartments.
We shall have to dine there together
several evenings week. We shall have
to be seen together frequently. But
- he leaned forward impressively,
land this Is the important point, as
soon as the war Is over we will get
a divorce, and each Of us can enter
upon a free and independent life. We
will put that in writing, have two
COPIES made, and each of us will sign
them BOTH"
MAY I speak now?" 1t was zita's
voice.
I've finished"
"Well, then I want to say 1t would
not be fair for me to accept such
sacrifice from you. You give me a
home and your name and your pro-
lection, and I give you nothing"
Her mother said: "Zita Is right. Why
should YOU do all this for stranger
to whom you are Indifferent"
81 have asked myself that question
a good many times" he said thought
fully. There are several good reasons.
In the first place Zita is not stran-
ger. She has been my best pupil Tor
eight months. am not mdi11erent
to her. I admire and respect her very
much. She has a fine mind. She Will
make a good doctor and useful citi-
zen of the world, instead Of going OIL
her head in an internment camp or
marrying a man she hates. AS sclen-
fist don't want to see good human
material wasted. AS human being I
have a deep sympathy for your daugn.
ter in this predicament, and 1 shal1
regard this episode as bit OF war
work Remember, it Is only an cpl
sode. for the duration of the war. Each
of us reserves full personal independ-
ence. Short of doing anything to thro"
suspicion on us as a contented nus
band and wife, we can go our own
vavs and lead our own lives. Zita, OF
course, will go on with her medical
work"
"There is at least one thing can
do" Zita said quietly. You shall dis
miss the woman who looks after your
flat. Me, I will take care OF the 1iat.
I will keep it clean. will cook the
meals-both breakfast and dinner.
That much I can do and it Will Keep
for me my self-respect. 1t will pay
INV board. I shall work my way, as
you say it. shall keep accounts and
pay my share of the rent after l
start my practice. All that must be
understood, or I cannot take aoVan-
taee of this one-sided plan"
"That.s all right" Radford agreed
cheerfully. I'll let you do the work Il
you want to. except the one day OF
heavy cleaning. That Julia, the serv-
ant. must still do. To the rest I agree.
I know how you feel. forgot to men
ton that 1 have a pretty good private
income. We won't feel cramped. But
see here, we seem to be setting tne
details right now. thought you were
to think it over"
my daughter does not need to think
it over" Madame Van Gumpert said
gently. IT see she has made up ner
mind. You are a great gentleman, MI.
Radford We both thank you, ana we