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

thing that perhaps I would have to try to forget. On Monday I left the office without having seen Victor all day. By now I was definitely afraid, and by now, too, I was beginning to be Miss Prim again, discouraged and defeated before the battle was half over. I walked slowly up the long block toward our home. I was three houses away when I heard familiar laughter ring out — laughter which sent my heart soaring, and then plunging sickeningly back to normal to thud out a warning. Victor's laughter. Another voice joined in, high and light, like music. Helen and Victor. Helen and Victor, sitting together on our front porch, laughing together, as if they had known each other all of their lives. It's happened again, I told myself, and tears stung my eyes. Well, you might have known it would. You might have known it couldn't last. You might have known that Helen — I couldn't bear it. Swiftly I turned on my heel and fled back down that long block. I walked — oh, I don't know how far I walked, how long I walked, but at last I turned back toward home. I'd have to face it. I couldn't stay away forever. But I knew what would happen now. Victor had met Helen — Helen, the fairytale princess, the beautiful Helen no man could resist. And now I could go on being Miss Prim for the rest of my life, and Victor wouldn't even notice, wouldn't care whether or not I was lonely . . . TT was dark when I reached home. -* Victor was gone, but Helen was still sitting in the glider on the porch. She hailed me cheerfully. "Hi, Connie! Where on earth have you been?" "I had to work late," I told her. "Well, your boss didn't," she said. "Connie, you've been holding out on us. Why didn't you tell us that you've been going out with such an attractive man?" "He — " I began, but Helen went blithely on. "Victor McAllister came calling tonight. Too bad you weren't home. He said that since he knew you so well, it was high time he met your mother and your sister. Connie, he's a darling — " But I couldn't stand any more. I ran into the house and up to my room. Too bad I hadn't been home! Too bad I'd ever been born! I sat in the chair by the window, thoughts like dull hammer blows beating in my brain. I had lost. I had lost. And then, born of my misery, born of my fear that there was nothing left for me, a desperate plan took shape. Helen had everything she wanted. Helen had ten men running after her to every other girl's one. Why couldn't I take a leaf from Helen's book? Heaven knows that I'd heard enough of her gay chatter to be able to imitate it perfectly. What else did I need? Courage? I'd find that somewhere. Maybe all of this sounds foolish to you. But it wouldn't if you'd ever had a sister like Helen, if you'd been overshadowed from the day you were born by another girl's beauty and magnetism. If, when you were a little girl, you'd heard your mother say over and over again, "Oh, yes, Connie's a dear child — but have you seen Helen? Connie, run out and find Helen. Tell her mother wants her to play the piano for the company." It was Helen who had had the pretty dresses because she had put down her tern •"** Anne Shirley IN RKO-RADIO'S "Bombardier" :.;-.> Try BLONDE BRUNETTE BROWNETTE REDHEAD ...the color stays on through every lipstick test Here's something new for you in a lip make-up creation . . .Tru-Color Lipstick, created in lifelike shades of red based on a new patented* color principle discovered by Max Factor Hollywood. Yes, the color stays on through every lipstick test. Lovely reds, glamorous reds, dramatic reds, exclusive with Tru-Color Lipstick ...designed to accent your blonde, brunette, brownette or redhead beauty. Smooth in texture, non-drying... Tru-Color Lipstick helps keep your lips soft and lovely. . . $ i x?s "U.S. Patents No. 2 i 57667 221 1465 COMPLETE your make-up in color harmony with Max Factor Hollywood Powder and Rouge T^O^?To3w *^«\W^N«nA, 77