Radio Mirror: The Magazine of Radio Romances (Jan-June 1943)

him, life had become wonderfuh Gordon was everything Id ever dreamed about. He was large with wide shoulders, and he had sandy hair and clear, sea-blue ^eyes It's difficult to put into words, but there was a force that drew us together from the very first. Gordon knew it, too. "Mary, you're lovely, he said to me, that first evening at the dance, an hour after we met That night he took me home and at the front door he kissed me. I remember he whispered, "I'm going to love you very much." II E was a flying cadet then, studyn ing all hours. Still, he found time to see me and we'd gone out on several dates. We both knew, both understood the strength of the emotions that swept through us. That day when his orders came to report for active duty, he'd taken me in his arms and asked if I'd wait for him. There was only one answer to that. I told him I'd wait till doomsday. We lost ourselves then in talk about plans for the future. When the war was over, he would go into his father's architectural business, and we'd build our own home somewhere in the country. It was all foolish dreaming — and very wonderful. Then he'd gone, gone for two months that were the loneliest I'd ever known. Nothing in the world — work or home or parents — seemed to matter. All I wanted was to be with Gordon again. And now he had come back, with a month's leave. The moment I saw him there at the front door, the moment he swept me into his arms, holding me so tightly he took away my breath, I knew the world was right again. "We're going to be married, Mary," he said. "Now— while I have this leave. We're going to take our happiness while we can." Looking into his strong face, seeing the anxiety in his blue eyes, I found it hard to think. It was always that way when I was with Gordon. I stopped being Mary Rowan and became just any girl in love, bewitched by love I Gordo, had hardly spoken since they Joined „ „ ^ f ht'd frozen up enhrely. Earher hed been * wonderful and excited. And now he sat there wooden/y. L\V< couldn't analyze, couldn't be logical. All I could do was to feel his hands on my arms, listen to the pounding of my heart. Dimly, I heard myself telling him I'd marry him now, whenever he said. Not until the next day, when I went in to resign, did I think of Jack, and even then I was only sad because I knew I was hurting him. When I reached home, after my interview with Jack, Mother was helping the girf get dinner and Dad wa engrossed in the evening paper ^suLwht:vcameSand ^herand'lwaV' *" y0Ur Mother cried , ,ittle at dinner I understood. I'm their only and they felt they were losing J* "But you aren't really," I told "1 'Til be staying right here w Gordon's on duty. I'm giving "W^ job only because he — he want his wife to be working office." Mother daubed her eyes. , something so final about rnw ..< Even when you're sure you re All the time I was dress"* dinner, I had a mounting ^ exhilaration. In a few Gordon would be here, by The thought was warming; thing is different, when y°u , Ml"0 mg for someone important. The mere ringing of a doorbell is exciting. He was very handsome that evening, in his dress uniform. He had a big grin on his face as he greeted me and after a few words with Mother and Dad— they were impressed and didn't even try to hide u--ne slipped his arm through mine and we started out. .'Let's be alone tonight, Mary," he aid. .No excitement, no music or dncing. Just—some quiet place?" , m„i!1n^W,here you say Gordon." I Cr«w eep out of my voice the act that all that mattered to me **»<>MY. 1943 was just being with him, any place. He smiled. "You're swell, Mary. You know, all the time I was away, I was thinking about us, making plans — " We had dinner in a tiny restaurant and we talked about ourselves and the life we wanted. I discovered that all by himself he had worked out exactly the kind of house we'd have and where it would be built and just where each room would be placed. As we sipped our coffee, I noticed at a table across from us two familiar faces — Jane O'Brien, the receptionist at the studio, and Johnny Knight, one of the announcers. Johnny stands about five feet six and he's as chunky as a robin and lots of fun. Jane's a cute little redhead, awfully pretty, and always hunting for a new party or dance to go to. She loves good times. I hey saw me and waved and then they stood up and came over to our table Johnny grinned at us like a bad boy. "Say-you don't mind if we break into your little romance do you, Mary?" I smiled at him, "We'd love it Johnny," I said. He was SQ much of a boy, looking for excitement, something to joke about. Gordon seemed a little cold as he shook hands with Johnny and smiled politely at Jane. I understood that, too. Gordon's leave wasn't terribly long and he wanted to be with me as much as possible A one, I mean. And yet, I couldn't tell Johnny and Jane that. "So this is the boy friend," Johnny said. "Nice girl you're getting there, Gordon. Look— how about you two coming along with us and we'll hit some of the high spots. How about it, huh?" Jane was eyeing Gordon as if she wanted to buy the uniform herself "It certainly is beautiful," she said. "Don't pay any attention to her " Johnny said. "She likes anything in a uniform. Doesn't matter if it's a doorman or an usher or an admiral. All the same to her." Jane smiled. "How about it folks? Coming with us?" Gordon had hardly spoken since they joined us. It was as if he'd frozen up entirely. Earlier, he'd been so wonderful and excited, telling me about himself, telling me how much he'd missed me. And now he sat there woodenly. I said, "Well, I don't know, Jane. It's so hard to say — " I looked to Gordon who turned his eyes away. "Anything you want to do, Mary," he said, stiffly. "Well," I said, "you folks will understand. Gordon and I — " "So that's the way it is!" Johnny slapped his hands together. "Let's have a drink on it. We'll celebrate." But I knew Gordon didn't want that. "Look, kids," I told them, "how about a rain check on the party? Gordon only has a short leave and we've so much to talk over." They understood. They stayed a minute longer and then we all left and they went their way — on to the "high spots" as Johnny put it. Gordon was silent as we started home. I told him I was sorry they'd interrupted our evening, but they were my friends and I hadn't wanted to be rude if I could help it. "Oh, I understand that," he said. "Don't you worry. I think it's good you have friends, while I'm away. You don't want to be lonely. It's not good for you." Continued on page 55 41