Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

YS^HEN Linda Emerson married Steve Harper, very much against her father's wishes, she believed that love was the only thing needed to make a happy married life. She did not know that in every marriage there must be adjustments — the fusing of two personalities into a single one. And because she did not know this, she could not understand why her first year as Mrs. Stephen Harper was less than the perfection she had anticipated. Her father would have said that Linda was unused to the new, rather bohemian life she entered when she became Steve's wife. For Steve was a composer, and George Emerson, respectable business man that he was, had no use for composers. Steve had gone to New York once before, failed there, and returned to Axminster. Now he and Linda, together, attacked the big city once more, and before their money ran out, Steve wrote a complete Symphony and had it accepted for performance. Linda's joy in this step forward was shadowed, to some extent, by a girl whom Steve introduced as Agnes Corey, an old friend of his former days in New York. But Linda, reading the expression in Agnes' eyes, knew that to her, at least, Steve had been something more than a friend. As the weeks passed, Linda was unable to forget Agnes. Once she saw her with Steve in the park, and several times she telephoned, then hung up quickly when Linda answered. Linda knew that these meetings and contacts were all engineered by Agnes, not by Steve, but still she was afraid that the past was menacing her happiness. Then came a few days of contentment, when Steve and Linda returned to Axminster, planning to spend a week with her parents. New York and its problems seemed far away — until a hasty telegram summoned Steve back for a conference with the conductor who was to play his Symphony. It was their first separation, and Linda had never known she could be so miserable as 28 she was the night Steve Was later than he had promised in telephoning her from New York. LINDA kept telling herself she ^ was being foolish. There was really nothing to be upset or anxious about, except that she was here in Axminster and Steve was in New York — alone. He was working hard on his music — their music, the beautiful Symphony Steve had written for her and that was going to be played by the New York Symphony Society. But Linda couldn't hide her restlessness. She couldn't feel entirely at home here, in this quiet town, in the lovely white house where she had lived for so long with her family. It didn't feel like home without Steve. She tried to preserve her gayety before her family, but it was hard. She caught her father scowling as he had done in the days when he had been willing to move heaven and earth to prevent Linda's marriage to Steve. It would be terrible if George and Irene Emerson misunderstood. It would be terrible if lUfciCI Read the story of Linda and Steve Harper in romantic fiction form, based on the popular radio serial heard daily Monday through Friday, 10:30 A.M., EWT, over NBC network, sponsored by Old Dutch Cleanser. Illustration posed by Arlene Francis as Linda, Santos Ortega as her father. they thought that her marriage was a failure. It wasn't a failure! It was a success. Her love for Steve was surer, greater than it had ever been. There was only that tiny, gnawing fear — like last night, when Steve's telephone call had been late. If only Linda could be sure that Steve were telling the truth about that girl, that Agnes Corey was really unimportant to him — what a success their marriage would be! Late that afternoon, Linda sat alone with her mother. Mrs. Emerson's health had improved considerably, but the doctor had advised a good deal of rest. "I can't tell you how nice it was to have you here for a few days, Linda," Irene said. "I only wish Steve could have stayed longer." Linda smiled. "Steve wished he could, too, Mother." "I can't wait to hear his music played by the Symphony. Just imagine turning on the radio — and hearing them announce a piece of music written by our Steve — Ivan Jacoby conducting it — the New York Symphony playing it — and millions of people listening to it." "Yes, Mother." "Your pride won't be any greater than ours, Linda." Irene patted the bed beside her. "Sit over here." "Of course, Mother. Can I get you anything?" "No, dear. I was just thinking." Irene paused as though wondering if she should go on. "I know that you and Steve have been separated for the first time since your marriage— because of me — and I feel guilty about it." "Oh, Mother, you shouldn't. I've loved being here." "We heard you crying in your room last night, Linda." "It wasn't anything," Linda said, j "They were tears that hurt." Irene looked timidly at her daughter. "Linda — " "All tears hurt, Mother." Linda took her mother's hand. "But you mustn't worry about me — and Dad mustn't jump to any conclusions — " "I know how much you love Steve RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR