Radio and television mirror (Jan-June 1942)

ipi" "Mill SHE'S (ytX! wcam SHE USES IRRESISTIBLE PERFUME AND LIPSTICK An exquisite perfume for your new Spring Bonnet ... a challenge to Spring ond o young man's fancy. A touch of IRRESISTIBLE PERFUME mokes yoo divinely exciting, glamorous, irresistible and assures you of his devotion. Nov/ in an adorable Easter Box. Only 10« at all 5 & 10( Stores j^. USE IRRESISTIBLE lipstick illiant new reds and ruby tones. The lipjlickthofs WHIPTEXT to stoy on longer . . . smoother 10« Bunny, that it's more likely she did the asking." At her tone, Joe's lips tightened. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions," he said in a voice that indicated plainly he didn't want to continue the conversation. JOE was using that kind of voice more and more lately, Mary found. He was tired, she knew. It was impossible for Joe Marlin to tackle a job with out throwing himself into it completely, and he was giving every bit of energy he could to the task of being a good Senator. This was to be expected, and Mary approved; but it was not to be expected, and she did not approve, that all his precious leisure hours should be taken up with social activities initiated by the Mitchells and the people they had met through them. Parties, dinners, weekends at Frazer's estate, "The Shadows"— frequently Mary longed for just one quiet hour for them to spend together with Davey. But when, timidly, she expressed this wish, Joe said coldly, "I understood you were as interested in my career as I am." "Of course I am! But — " "Darling," he said with restrained patience, "surely you see it's important to be close friends with one of the most influential men in Washington. I've been unbelievably lucky to know him — and through him, other influential people who make or break careers." "It's the people back in Iowa — who will make or break your career, Joe," she reminded him. "Oh — well — in a way. But I can't possibly do a job for them unless I'm strong here in Washington . . . Besides," he added, "I like Frazer and — Bunny. I enjoy their company." Was it imagination, or had he hesitated, ever so slightly, before pronouncing Bunny's name? Mary faced, honestly, the problem brought up by that doubt. She did not believe she was jealous of Bunny or any of the other beautiful, smartly gowned women who moved in Bunny's set. She did not believe that this could be, even partly, the basis of her wish that she and Joe could live a simpler, less active life. But she was forced to admit that always, in the background, there was the memory of another time when Joe had been irritable, impatient of her opinions and of anything that resembled interference in his movements or activities. That other time, the explanation had been Sally. . . Gradually, as the weeks passed, she came to believe that there was still another reason why Joe should see less of the Mitchells. They were not, she was convinced, the best ones for him to know, even politically. Frazer was an old-line conservative, an aristocrat, who believed in privilege and property and distrusted both the ability and the intelligence of the common people. He and his like, Mary thought, were remnants of a world that was dying. She did not want Joe to be part of that decadent world. She wanted him to be a leader toward a better, newer world. All this she would have expressed, not to Joe, but to Eve Underwood, who was in Washington now and wao had not lost her interest in Joe's future. But when the chance came to speak, she was silent. It seemed too much like disloyalty, although she was certain Eve would have agreed with her. Certainly, Mary was much less happy in Washington than she had expected to be. She and Joe lived in a large and expensive house on Woodley Road; Davey had an English nurse named Miss Fairweather; and a stiffly correct butler served their meals when — rarely — they dined at home. She would gladly have exchanged it all for Main Street in Cedar Springs and old Annie bustling noisily about in the kitchen. Annie was with them here in Washington, but that, oddly enough, brought Mary only one more small irritation. Annie was jealous of Miss Fairweather, and stubbornly took it as a personal affront that she had not been given full charge of Davey. In the end, it was this minor feud that precipitated a crisis between Joe and Mary. They were at a very gay party — too gay, as usual — at the Mitchells' when Mary was summoned to the telephone. It was Annie, reporting that Davey, who had been sniffling all day, was worse. "We'll be right home," Mary promised, fear thudding in her breast. But Joe, when she told him of Annie's call, saw no reason to leave. "Why did Annie call?" he asked suspiciously. "Isn't Miss Fairweather with Davey?" "I — I suppose so," Mary said, anxious only to hurry home. "I didn't think to ask." "Well, I'll ask." He left her, and when he returned he was smiling. "I talked to Miss Fairweather. She says Davey is perfectly all right and for us not to worry." "Oh, Joe — I don't know—" Mary demurred. "Annie's so loyal ..." "Oh, for heaven's sake, stop fussing!" he interrupted her roughly, and suddenly weeks of hidden, stifled irritations stood naked and ugly between them. White-faced, Mary looked around the room, at the laughing, dancing, drinking people. "You mean," she said, "all — all this — is more important to you than your son?" "I mean I don't see any reason to leave a place where we're having a good time — where I am, at least^because Annie is having a nightmare." "Shall I go alone, then?" Joe's face became expressionless. "If you insist on it — yes." Without another word, Mary turned and left him. It did not help that, in the end, Joe proved to be right. Davey was not seriously ill, and Annie's zeal had been excessive. But their quarrel had not really been over whether or not to leave that particular party, and they both knew it. It had been over the entire situation — and the situation was unchanged. Joe, when he apologized, was for a few minutes the man she loved — tender, considerate. But when, emboldened, she begged him COMING NEXT MONTH— THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS IN LIVING PORTRAITS See the people you hear on radio's great serial as they really are. 64 RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR