Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

ANDREA REYNOLDS could scarcely believe her own ears. 1 It wasn't possible that Frank Harrison was saying, "I love you—" that he was asking her to be his wife. She and Frank Harrison hadn't any meeting point, for he was the richest man in Beechmont and she was a teacher who depended on her meagre salary for the material things, at least. Not only that, she was in her I'arly twenties, untouched, untried, and he was in his middle forties — sophisticated, divorced. There was a gap of years and custom between them, as well as a money barrier. Why, it was only through his son Junior that he had come to her attention at all. She hadn't even considered him as a possible suitor. Junior — deprived of a mother's affection, inhibited, living aloni in a great house with his father and a staff of servants— had seemed more pathetic to Andrea than any of her other pupils. It was only natural that she should lean toward Junior, that she should try to help him Willi Ins lessons — the child was no student, i"1 needed help! It was only natural that she should take up Junior's problems with Frank, but sin hadn't dreamed that their stilted parent teachei consultations would lead to tins! "Mr. Harrison," she faltered, "I — i i-.illy, I don't know what to — to say. You've taken me — by surprise. I — I'm at a loss." Frank's voice, shaken with emotion, told her — "I'll be at a loss for She whispered, "What's come over us?" And then suddenly another voice was breaking the magic, as a bubble is broken. the rest of my days if you don't marry me — and so will Junior. Junior needs a mother and I need — you. Even if you don't love me, Andrea, marrying me will be an act of Christian charity and — " his voice roughened — "and I'll make you love me! I'll be so good to you, Andrea. I'll give you everything in the world." Everything in the world! Andrea's mind, traveling backward, found an evening five years ago when she and her father, himself a college professor, seated in front of their fireplace, had discussed her vocation. She, at seventeen, had been so sure of her ability to rationalize living and loving. "Being a teacher," she argued, "is the greatest job in the world but it needn't blot out happiness. You managed to reconcile love and a career, dad — why do you think that a woman can't teach and have a home — a man to love — at the same time?" There had been sadness on her father's face as he answered, "I don't think anything about it, Andygirl — I know. A man can build a partition in his heart — he can reserve one side of it for business and one side for his personal life — but a woman's different. A woman can't teach and have romance without one or the other suffering." Her father. He was dead now and Andrea was alone in the world more alone even than Junior, Frank Harrison's son. For Junior had Frank and she — once more the man's voice intruded on her reverie, breaking the thread of it. •I'll give you everything," he was saying. "Not only for yourself— 'or others. You can help the poor people of this town, Andrea— you can help RADIO'S ROMANTIC DRAMA TOLD AS A COMPLETE NOVELETTE plete, and — forgive me (or saying it, dear! — you're incomplete without us, too. Any woman is incomplete when she hasn't a husband and a child. Andrea, you — you're too beautiful, too warm, too human to degenerate into an old maul school teacher with a dried up heart In her breast and a shriveled sense "( humor." It was a cruel way to put it but Andrea realized the truth of Frank's summing up. It was the same old controversy she'd had with her father. "I— I like you, Funk." she said, "but I scarcely know you. And — " she laughed shakily Tin .1 tiny bit scared of you. You're such a formidable person." "I'll never be formidable with you," objected Frank. "Why are you scared, Andrea? Do you think that my wife left me, twelve years ago, because of — brutality?" His voice hardened. "That wasn't the case, I assure you — she left me for entirely selfish reasons.' Do you think that making money has made me so hard and unyielding that I haven't any softer side'.' Well, give me the chance and I'll prove that that'.-, not so. Andrea, I won't even ash vnu to give up teaching school if your work's so vitally important to your peace of mind — I won't ask you in do anything that goes against the grain. Just marry me and -" there was something boyish and appealing, / Two men loved her. but only one — the wrong one — had asked her to marry him. tnd Uj|, lie children that you've come to know— the ones who haven't proper 'ood and clothing. You can — Andrea, you can help me! I haven't food for my soul, and I'm shivering because I need love as much as those children need winter coats. Andrea, 'here isp't anyone else?" his tone Pew apprehensive — "Tell me there lsn't anyone else." Andrea reassured him slowly — N°, there isn't anyone else." Her existence, she realized, had been piously devoid of close attachents. Since her father's going she'd Pandered her every emotion on the youngsters that she taught in the eighth grade. "As the twig is bent » the old proverb came to her now, in his tone, "and lei me teach you a few things for u change " Andrea felt suddenly tired. Frank Harrison, despite the sprinkling ol gray on Ins temples, was a handsome man and a strong man He'd protect her and shield her — it would be pleasant and restful to know that someone else was taking over the responsibilities, was lining the teach ing. She heard herself nrhls) Bg ■Well, perhaps, if you don't too much of mt — " And then at his swift exclamation of delight — "I — I'll try to make a go of it. Ft I am sorry for Junior and I'm for you, too. And I'm very fond of Junior and I admire you immi and— and that'll be a good begin ning!" Frank Harrison breathed, "An 0ften_"so is the tree inclined She'd been busy seeing that the twigs who came her way were bent in the proper direction— it was a sacred trust, a trust that had kept her free of entanglements and sentimentality. Her days were spent in the schoolroom-her solitary evenings in her own small room back of Daddy Little's flower shop. Daddy Little— his image brought a fain smile to Andrea's face. The quaint o7d man with whom she boarded was her only masculine adm.rer Orlshe corrected herself-he had wlttuT'you-and Junior's incom * Andrea searched her heart, the town was """n. 1942 filled with mounting whispers of tcandal