Evening star., 1942-06-21


mind speak her fears That best Get thing talked
If something was wrong bring it out into the open.
Van, she said in low voice His eyes were on his plate
He didn't answer 'Van" said Susan again.
He looked up, startled. "Oh - uh y yes?'
He deliberately making harder for her. She looked
straight at him. ivan. something's wrong
Yes he said. Something is.
She hadn't realized how much she had hoped that he would
deny it. But he hadn't He had agreed with her. too quickly
Now he saying 81" might have known you'd it,
Susan Your letters showed could put anything
you
Put anything oper! Then something really wrong very
wrong Was he married? Had the letters been joke? Had
hers been passed around for all the laugh at? She
thought with sckening shame of the things she'd written:
Il feel it too, Van she'd told him. clear all these
miles, feel meant for each other"
The girls the office had been right Shed been romantic
fool With rising anger she thought Of Vans last letter.
suddenly announcing his coming Meeting you face face
will only be verifcation of what already know You
as real the real You real love-
for you are my little love-" And Susan had believed him.
30 1T had been JOKE something pass the time Now he
bored with and her. Il see she said and hated
herself and him because she choked on the words
NO." he said. mo, you don't see
81 think do She began gathering up her purse and gloves
Don't co. he said And though she wanted to ignore him.
she found she could not Hope still struggled in her that
things could be set right.
He looking her at last very straight 1--WE got to
tell you this and get it with l. I'm not Van Holden
mot Van?" she repeated duly mot Van? Gadness filled
her. Of this wasn't Van Van her Van could
made her feel empty and strange But the gadness left
her quickly it had Van had certainly told this
about her. had let him here had pubiczed her
heart Worse she had in spite Of everything felt knshp
with this person who wasn't Van at all Oh, it
from start to finish and this the finish
Stumbling little she got to her feet. Very steadily she
sad Il felt strangeness you from the start 1t the
lie felt knew you couldn't be Van the Van who wrote
those letters if he cheap enough to show
my letters else She turned swiftly, and made
her way through the restaurant and the street
She knew he following her. but she paid attention
his hand when he touched her arm; he gpped it firmly
forcing her to STOP You're only making it worse she cried
There's nothing more to say!"
His hand frightened There s SUSAN Will you listen?"
Apparently have to- she said coldy.
Rapidly he spoke Van of my buddies Susan.
The second week in Iceland he scalded by boiler
ploso Tom and got the notion that letters from lots of
girls would help him through his long convaescence That's
how it started You ee had read the letters
him and take his dictation. He was blind, Susan"
Blind? Van blind? He didn't tell e"
He didn't pity. But don't look so sad. He's going
to be all right in time.
Fury filled her This This Van blind and another
man pretending to be him, stealing his girl!
Susan he saying maybe it wrong, but after
your letters didn't read Van YOURS more took