The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-02

don't see how she came to do 3
thing like that"
Its different, of course, from
her abstract workout I think it's
good, John, 1 really do"
He had said no more-after all,
he didn't want to spoil Gerda's
pleasure. But he tackled Henri
eta about it at the first oppor-
tunity.
what did you want to make
that silly thing Of Gerda for? It's
unworthy of you. After all, you
usually turn out decent stuff"
Henrietta said slowly:
II didn't think it bad. Gerda
seemed quite pleased"
"Gerda was delighted. She
would be. Gerda doesn't know art
from a colored photograph"
1T wasn't bad art, John. 1t was
just a portrait statuette-quite
harmless and not at all preten
tious."
"You don't usually waste YOU
time doing that kind Of stuff"
He broke off, staring at a wood
Ell figure about five feet high.
"Hullo, what's this?"
cts for the Internationa
Group. Pearwood. The Worship
err"
She watched him. He stared and
then - suddenly, his neck sWelleG
end he turned on her furiously.
80 that's what you wanted Ger
da for? How dare your"
II wondered if you'd see :"
Use it? Of course I see it. IT,
here" He placed a finger on the
broad, heavy neck muscles.
Henrietta nodded.
eyes, it's the neck and should
ers 1 wanted-and that heavy for
ward slant-the submission - that
bowed look. It's wonderful!"
Wonderful? Look here, Henri
eta, I won't have it. You're to
leave Gerda alone"
"Gerda won't know. Nobody will
know. You know Gerda world
never recognize herself here-no-
body else would either. And it
isn't Gerda. 1t ISN'T anybody"
II recognized it?"
you're different, John. You -
see things"
cts the darned chek Of it! [
won't have it. Henrietta! I won t
have it. Can't you see that it was
an i~ndefensible thing to do?"
"Was it,"
Don't you know it was? Can't
you feel it was? Where's your
usual sensitiveness?"
Henrietta said slowly:
"You don't understand, John. l
don't think I could ever make you
understand: You don't know
what it is to want something-to
look at it day after day-that line
of the neck-those muscles-the
angle where the head goes for
ward - that heavness around the
jaw. I've been looking at them,
wanting them-every time l saw
Gerda. In the end l just had
to have them!"
"Unscrupulous!"
eyes, I suppose just that. But
when you want things in that way
you just have to take them"
"You mean you don't care a
darn about anybody else. You
don't care about Gerda-"
Don't be stupid, John. That's
why l made the statuette thing.
To please Gerda and make her
happy. I'm not inhuman!"
"Inhuman is exactly what you
are"
do you think-honestly - that
Gerda would ever recognize her
self in this?"
John looked at it unwillingly.
For the first time his anger and
resentment became subordinated
to his Interest. A strange Subs
s1ve figure, a figure offering up
worship to an unseen deity the
face raised-blind, dumb, devoted
- terribly stron0. terrible fanati-
cal. 80. He SAID:
That's rather a terrifying thing
that you have made, Henrietta
Henrietta shivered slightly.
She said: eyes - I thought
that"
John said sharply:
whats she looking at-who is
it:-there in front of herr"
Henrietta hesitated. She said,
and her voice had a queer note
in it
IT don't know. But I think-she
might be looking at you, John"
(To Be Continued)