Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

into her eyes. Too big for her thin, white face, they smouldered with a sort of reckless abandon. When she saw Joan, they turned hard. "Oh — it's you," she said. She made no move to ask her in. "I've come to talk to you, Eve," she said gently. "Won't you let me in?"" Reluctantly, Eve stepped back and Joan followed her into the house. All its bright gloss was gone. Dead cigarette butts overflowed the ashtrays, and the room had a musty smell. Joan shivered. It was as if something had died there — dreams, maybe. "You shouldn't live here alone like this," she began. "It's wrong. It's not healthy, brooding over unhappiness." I DIDN'T let you in to give me a sermon," Eve said in a hard voice. "What I do is my own business now. What did you want to talk to me about?" "About the — the things you've been saying. You know they're not true. Why do you want to hurt me, Eve — and Harry and Phil as well?" "Because I hate you." The words were like acid. "You had Phil once and you threw him over. When I had my chance for happiness, you wouldn't let him go. You played dog in the manger. Why shouldn't I hurt you?" "Eve, you've let this poison your mind. I wanted to see you two happy and I told Phil so, over and over." "And felt very superior about it, too, having him run to you with his troubles. Well, let me tell you something. I used to think you and Harry were swell. That you were kind and generous and all that stuff. Now I know you both for what you are — just vicious hypocrites!" "Leave Harry out of this," Joan said angrily. "Oh, no, I won't. He's just as bad as you are. He took a child away from a poor, helpless old woman and left her alone and penniless. That's what your precious Harry did." "That's ridiculous You don't know anything about it!" "Don't I?" Her laugh was harsh. "Mrs. Ashbey used to sew for mother years ago, and she came to see me a few days ago for work. She told me the whole story." Joan got a tight grip on herself. The girl was really, as her mother had said, out of her senses. She believed these things because she wanted to, out of her misery. "Eve," she said quietly, "we've known each other ever since we were born. You're unhappy now, and you're turning on people who love and could help you. You're letting yourself believe lies. I think you do hate me. But can't you see you're hurting yourself just as surely as if you were taking poison? That's what hate does. And you're hurting others too — especially Phil, whom you love." Eve's voice cut through her words. "You and your pious talk! What do you know about being hurt? You've had everything you wanted all your life, including both Harry and Phil. Well, this time you're going to suffer too. I'd even give Phil up if I thought by doing it I could make you feel the sort of pain I've had. Now leave me alone!" Filled with a shocked sadness, Joan slowly walked home. This was what unhappiness could do to people. Harry was right. Talking hadn't done any good. She flung herself across the bed and wept — for Eve and Phil and all of them. But the tears didn't do any good either. . . . At least, Joan reflected next day, one good thing had come out of her talk with Eve: Phi] and Harry had a better understanding of each other. Phil had come over last night at Harry's request to discuss the situation, and the three of them had had a fine talk, free of rancor, or anger. They had agreed, quite objectively, that Eve was more to be pitied than anything else. She was like a sick person, and Phil said he would try to persuade her to leave town for a while until their affairs could be settled calmly and sanely. She would be better off without him in her life, and he was sure she would agree to a divorce after she had had time to think things over. And then Phil had said in a manly, straightforward way: "One of the things I regret most about all this, Harry, is that it's kept you and me from really knowing each other. I think we could be friends. Won't you and Joan have dinner with my mother and me some night soon?" "We'd like to very much," Harry had said simply, and Joan could have kissed him. THE dinner had been arranged for the very next night — up at the Stanleys' old lodge at Mountain Top. An old-fashioned, outdoor steak-fry just for the four of them. Joan felt happier, thinking of it. At least some of the misunderstandings would be cleared away, and the tension they had been living under relieved. Even her strange forebodings faded. PEPSODENT POWDER makes teeth TWICE AS BRIGHT Pretty Margaret and Marilyn Rick, Palatine, Illinois, Twins, chorus: "Pepsodent's really 'super'!" "People always hadahardtimetelling us apart ... in school, in the neighborhood, anywhere! "Did I learn about tooth powders! Our dentist was skeptical at first. . .then amazed . . . when Pepsodent made Peg's teeth twice as bright as mine! He said he never saw anything likeit! Neither didwe! Pepsodent showed us how really bright teeth can be ! tt ...But, say! After Margaret won the toss to see who'd use Pepsodent Powder, it was different! I chose another well-known brand, thinking there couldn't be very , much difference." | For the safety of your smile . ; ; use . <?,»»««. . . . see your dentist twice a year. JULY, 1942 . . . and the Rick Tw ins' Dentist says: "I was skeptical...Pepsodent's claims sounded too good. But, this test convinced me that Pepsodent's statement is accurate": Pepsodent twice a day Mae ce a year. JKr\ esrs POUND --owe l££Zg"*