Radio and television mirror (Jan-June 1942)

ting him to put on an overcoat. John thinks he belongs in the Arctic." "That leaves you and me, Elizabeth," Harry Bartlett said. "Maybe we should go to an island somewhere near the equator. Because I like the sun." "It's a date," Elizabeth said. John looked at Elizabeth. "I can't spare her, Harry," he said, and he thought as he said it how true it was. How much attached he had become to the settled, orderly life and love she gave him. He thought of the comfort and relaxation he felt when he sat in the big chair in the living room after dinner with a fire glowing slowly on the hearth, Elizabeth knitting or reading just where he could look up and see her without turning his head. And upstairs would be Carol and Joy asleep, and perhaps Granny, returned from one of her beloved movies, would come in and tell them about it. Then they would go upstairs to bed, and perhaps on the stairs he would put his arm around Elizabeth's waist and be able to tell by touching her that she loved him and he loved her. TOHN brought his mind back to *' the dinner table just as Granny brought in the dessert. The conversation had shifted. "She has a really good voice," Claire was saying. "It's a pity she can't go on studying. But then, you can't have everything, and Marianne is lucky in just being as pretty as she is." "Your sister?" John said politely, but he had a sudden desire to change the subject. He knew all about Marianne. The story was very old — a youngster with a half formed talent becoming the vehicle for an older person's idle, half-forgotten dream of childhood. John drew Harry into a conversation, and found him open and engaging to talk to. Later, when the Bartletts had gone, John stood in front of the bureau, taking off his tie. "How did you like Harry?" Elizabeth asked. "All right." John yawned. "How much all right?" "Well, I'm going to see what I can do for him. Is that all right enough, darling?" "Of course it is, John. I'm so glad," Elizabeth .said. John put on his pajamas and climbed into bed. "We'll begin to take on extra help for the Christmas rush pretty .soon. He should fit in." Elizabeth threw open the window and .stood for a minute in her bathrobe hetting the cool breeze 1(> blow on her uplifted face. "It hardly seems possible winter's here again," she said. "Uh huh." John had forgotten about winter and about Harry Bartlett. His mind whirled for a moment with plans for the next day — things to find out and things to do. Then gradually he sank down into sleep. A week passed, slowly for the children and fast for John and Elizabeth, faster still for Granny. John sat down in his favorite chair after dinner, lit a match to his pipe, and crackled open the evening paper. It was good to be quiet and peaceful at home after the hectic day at the store. It came to him consciously as he began to read, how well off he was — not in money, but in other things that count for more. When Elizabeth came into the room he knew it at once, although he kept the paper up before his face. Elizabeth sat down, and John sensed from her restlessness that she had something to say to him. "Let's have it," he said. "There's something on your mind." "I met Claire's sister, Marianne, today. She just came back from She was a sudden vis/on of delight. Here was no adoring child, John thought, but a lovely, desirable woman.