The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-11-03
CHAPTER SIX

went to the apartment straight
from his. train. But Andrea was
there. She was sitting on a step
ladder, trimming the Christmas
tree because Beth said it should be
trimmed before Jim got there and
then they would have all OF Christ
mas eve to talk.
She didn't come down from the
ladder when Jim opened the door
and stood tall and handsome in his
Uniform Just looking at her, saying
nothing.
You ought to be framed" she
said. Il didn't realize before how
beautiful YOU are."
He tossed his hat and coat on the
scfa and walked over to the tree,
locking up. I've always known
you were beautiful, and devilish
and tempting, and l came here
just to tell you that
The fragile scarlet ball in AMP
drea's hand crumbled as some
thing hot swept up through her,
something she had never felt be-
fore.
Come down. he said, holding
out his arms.
She came down without taking
her eyes from his and closed them
only when his arms were It
about her, his lips young and hard
or her own. Then she drew away.
You knew?'
Yes, she said Funny, isn't
/ it?"
Not to me-
Wen not be good for each
other," she said. touching his face
with her fingers.
why noto We're the same kind
Andy, both out of our element in
the kind of lives we've been lead
| ing, drawn to each other without
words
Yes" she said, but l think l
know what that is Something we
can't help"
There's no reason why we
should. You're going to marry
rec
Andreas eyes were filled with
things she hid from him. Per
haps,'' she said. Have you been
thinking of me?''
/ Day and night"
I've ben thinking Of you, too,
but all had to, think of was the
way you looked at me, as if there
were no one else here, of the way
you seemed angry when 1 went out
with Dennis that last time
His arms were hard and hurting
around her. What about Dennis?"
\ Again she hid her eyes. That's
over" she said on a quick little
breath. And then, Beth will be in
soon.''
Beth knew before Andrea told
) her. She knew when she came into
the living room ard found them
5 putting the last Of the silver snow
] on the tree. She knew from their
: silence, from the looks that were
: Between them and from something
5 repressed, yet sparkling from each
u lHein.
But it was Andrea, not Jim. who
told her. And it was after Jim h;so
gone the day after Christmas,
when the red, velvety roses that
Dennis had sent were already fad
lrg IN the vases, but she still was
not prepared to hear it, to have the
rumbness that had encased her
through the two and half days
while Jim was there leap into a
soaring pain
She said her head ached the day
after Christmas and was not able
to 60 to the train with him, so
fndrera went, and when she came
nome, Beth pretended to be asleep.
But Andrea woke her rarnd said. :"
think you'd better know, darling.
jim and | arc engaged. He asked
re to marry him the night he
. came"
Beth prayed for words. but all
she could say was, Isn't it
sudden, Andrea? | know you both
SO well and yet / .
Andrea began to take off her
things and hang them up deliber-
ately. Sudden? Perhaps. Those
things happen that way, darling.
We've been seeing each other for
three years and then in moment
well, everything was differ
ent. We were both excitingly aware
Of each other. A lower plane mo-
ton. no doubt
do you love hinn?" Beth asked,
, tearing the question out of her
pain.
Andrea sat down at the dressing
table and, picking up a brush, be-
gan to stroke her cloudy hair.
Love p she repeated I'm not
sure l know about it, any more
; than you do. You have to love a
let, and lost your love, perhaps, to
know whether you do"
mo, no." Beth's heart cried,
you knoW!"
II don't know what it is, Beth,
y but it's new, exciting feeling ]
have about Jim. l want to touch
him. There's something brutal and
/ ruthless and selfish about Jim. I'm
$ that way, too. Perhaps that's why
y I'm feeling this way"
S Brutal, ruthless, selfish? Jim!
Beth could deny nothing, although
e she felt how wrong Andrea was
:. She said, ANDY, you said vol
loved Dennis only month ago