Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-25
By ROBERTA YATES

A PRETTY DRESS
Its n pretty dress. darling"
Mrs. Shannon said. Though IL
does seem extrayagant, when
you'll have 20 few places 10
wear IL after"
She stopped short, afraid she
had said too much, but Ellen
laughed.
I'm not going into a convent
Just because Cllnt's leaving,
mum. We deserted gals will
find some amusement"
"Are you sure you're In love
with Clint .. Mrs. Shannon de-
manded sharply. surprisingly.
"Of course, mum. Why not:
He's super"
Hes super enough, whatever
that means" Mrs. Shannon
agreed. But he's been engaged
several times before and"
She ended uncertainty. Ellen
laughed again. No wonder her
mother felt befuddled. Clint was
a killer-diller. Might as well
admit it. Every girl in town had
been In love with him at one time
or another, and he with them, or
imagined IL.
And Ellen and he had been
carrying torch only a few weeks,
only one week, TO be honest. This
week Of his leave. But war does
speed up things.
PANG OF MEMORY
Hes spent every minute Of
his leave with me, Num-" Ellen
reminded. THAT proves some
thing"
"A few months ago you were
I'm love with Johnny Thomas"
her mother persisted.
For a minute Johnny's homely,
monkey face with its twisted grin,
rose before Ellen. She felt an odd
pang. for something lost forever.
She had imagined she loved him
.because they had fun together,
because they saw so much OF each
other. But that was ages ago.
Before Clint came home on leave.
this high, tingling feeling.
"War upsets a woman's judg-
ment," her mother said.
Ellen smiled patronizingly. "How
do YOU knows"
"Odd rs it seems. I remember
how I felt during the last war,
though that probably seems the
A.
said dryly. IL got myself engaged
TO three different men-army,
navy, marine-befOre 1 married
your father.
cit was their uniforms. Your
father wasn't even In uniform.
He was I'm a hideous pair of
striped pajamas getting over flu
I'm a base hospital. So you see."
Ellen frowned. 81 don't see at
all" a.
A horn footed outside. Ellen
tossed her a kiss and ran down.
stairs. Johnny Thomas rose from
the porch swing where he had
been waiting.
Have you got n minute?"
he asked. I'D like 90 talk to
you"
"Not now she said, impa-
tiently.
Couldn't he see that Clint was
waiting in the car? She ran on,
leaving Johnny 10 stare after her,
forlornly.
They went TO the Cockatoo Inn
Clint and Ellen and Mary Duncan
and Steve Kern who was also a
cadet and leaving with Clint to-
night. Mary and Steve had been
engaged ever since high school.
They were quite ga-ga; neither of
them ever looked at any one else.
They said they didn't want 10
dance, and went out on the ter
race.
Ellen thought them silly 10 ig-
more music that was soft and sweet
and hot. She moved serenely.
, proudly in Clint's arms, aware that
other girls were watching her en-
viously. She put her cheek against
Clint's shoulder. 10 show her own
ership Of him TO the world. She
pictured herself as she would look
a few minutes from now. smiling
bravely from the station platform.
Seeing her hero off.
The music ended and they went
back TO their booth. Johnny
Thomas was leaning against IT.
$50 this Is why you didn't have
q minute" he said.
Really" Ellen began icily.
"Cut IL out. Johnny. You're
tight" Clint said good-humor-
eddy.
But Johnny wasn't tight. Ellen
knew. He was Just angry.
had no right 10 be. She had been
perfectly fair. She had told him a
month ago that she was through
He hadn't protested then. al least
} not much. What right had he Il
\ butt an now and ruin her big mo-
ment7 II
stand up and fight. my pretty
bird man." Johnny ieered.
"NOw listeBr Clint protested
Johnny didn't listen lie lei Clint
have it. smack on the point Of ms
handsome chin. Clint staggered
backward. Two walters grabbed
Johnny and hustled him out the
door. That was that.
Except that Ellen war so mad al
Johnny that she almost forgot