Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-01-16
A Wedding of Con-
venience Turns Into
A Marriage of Love
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE

"A MARRIAGE VI Love
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
Radford liked the new student from
his first look at her after her arrival
at the night school 1t was not that
she was strikingly pretty. But there
was . freshness and q vitality about
her that were very taking. and she had
what he mentally classified as IAN
air."
All this he observed in the first
moments Of their first encounter. while
he was asking her the night schools
conventional questions and writing
down the answers.
She spelled her name for him-"Zita
Van Gumpert"-before he could ask
her to do so. She added her street and
number.
II live there because 1t is near this
school. am told this is the best night
school In the city"
Her English was surprisingly good,
aside from a tendency to accent the
last syllables Of many words and to
give a slight sound to her is or &C.
casionally drop final or d.
Your English is very good. It will
@AohS Jun oSAlOOA WoIh mere easier,
Radford said.
You are kind to say so. have spok-
en- English all my life, but now In
America it mus be perfect" She spoke
up smilingly but with grave courtesy
You see, study medicine. In another
year I have-I shall have-my degree
The medical terms In English are hard
for me. I need help with them, but
cannot ask my medical professors to
repeat"
you are rather up against It," Rad
ford agreed. IF you will make a list
each day Of the new words and phrases
that come up in your medical work I
VIII go over them with you here at
night"
"Ah, but that Is kind!" Her face took
on sudden life that he was to watch
for later on. Thank you'll"
I'VE want to give every pupil every
help we can. It makes that easier for
Us when they tell us. as you have done,
just what they need most. What Is your
age. please3"
"Twenty-three. I have finished my
university work and three years Of my
medical work."
She was only three years younger
than he himself was. That interested
him. She would have another year be-
fore her degree, and year Of inferno
work after that. She could be full
fledged medico at Is. That, he reflect
ed, was going some"
Where did you graduate?" he asked.
TN Vienna" She added the name of
the college and drew forth her degree
from q package she carried. Her face,
rather pale, had taken on a sudden
color.
you are Austrian borne" he asked
her.
Eyes, my father was Austrian, too.
My mother is French-how do you say
ton both sides. We have lived in
Vienna all our lives"
Religion"
Lutheran"
Relatives friends?"
my mother Is my friend. She came
to America with me. She lives In the
country near here. She does not like
the city life"
He completed the questionable and
laid 1t aside. He was inwardly rather
staggered by his own conduct. He had
asked this girl few questions that
were not in the routine. and he had
offered her special help. He had taught
in the night school for three years, CIV
ing his work as labor of love, but he
had done that sort Of thing only once
or twice before.
His first impression of Zita Van
Gumpert had not been wrong. She had
an unusually good mind and she was
an unusual student AS the months
passed 1t became clear that she was
overworking. He suspected that she was
also undertaking, but that was
matter he could not interfere in. He
did, however. utter a word warning
about the work.
You'll make big mistake if you
break yourself down."
"Oh-break down." she dismissed
that possibility with gesture. II am
always well. Also each Friday night
I go to my mother in the country.
She is only one hours journey. That
change is good for me-"
VERY good. if you don't study every
minute you are there" he commented.
i've suspected ever since you came
that you don't get enough sleep. A
future doctor should know better"
She made a tragic little gesture OF
helplessness.
What can one do? My mother and
I have SO little money. It may not
endure. But last is the right word for
that, Is 1t not2 1t may not last till I
am able to earn more"
and you may not last" he said
sternly. unless you eat more and
sleep more"
She laughed suddenly. It was de-
lightful sound-a low delicious gurgle.
This was the first time he had heard
her laugh. It made his heartbeats
quicken trifle. Sternly he called his
Imagination to heel. He had now
known this girl barely two months and
he was thinking too much about her.
There was nothing sentimental about
the feeling, he was sure.
She held her fine young head high,
and asked no sympathy from anyone.
He could not feel that he knew her
much better than he had known her
that first night. even though he was