Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 10, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 10 October 1940 — A LESSON IN LOVE [ARTICLE]

A LESSON IN LOVE

By MEREDITH SCHOLL

Associated Newspapers. WNU Service.

THROUGH the screen door Tony saw Elinor leaning against the veranda post. Her back was to him and she was looking up at the moon. He glanced about furtively; the room was empty. Ruth and Ted had gone off somewhere. He turned, opened the door noiselessly and stepped out. She didn’t move, not even when he was directly behind her, not even when he leaned over and kissed her neck. She merely said, scarcely breathing the words: “Oh, Ted! Please.” Tony’s heart seemed to stand still. Ted! She had called him Ted! She had thought it was Ted who had kissed her. She had acted as if—as if she hadn’t minded. Ugly thoughts flooded Tony’s mind and left him cold and trembling. He turned, went back through the door, paused once to glance over his shoulder and saw that Elinor was still standing as he had left her. Alone in his room he sat down to think. The incident had opened his eyes, had explained many things. Had explained, for example, why Elinor had been acting strange of late. No, not of late. Only since a few days after Ted and Ruth arrived. She had fallen in love with Ted! He had made love to her, and neither of them had the courage to tell him. That was underhanded for you all right. Engaged to a girl, and she lets another man make love to her right under your nose. The irony of it made him bitter. He had been fool enough, to believe that Elinor’s uneasiness was caused by the fact that he had been displaying interest in Ruth. Could you beat it? He had been conceited enough to think that Elinor was actually jealous. Why, he’d actually been attentive to Ruth because it pleased his ego to feel that he had

enough power over a woman to upset her emotions. And all the while she had been laughing at him, playing up to Ted. Tony set about packing his bags. Unadmitte&ly it was pride that provoked the decision to go away. He didn’t have the courage to face the crowd again, to admit that he had been played for a sucker. He found the lower floor of the Dixon’s summer cottage vacant. He paused in the living room, considering writing a note to explain to Mrs. Dixon his sudden decision to leave: thought better of it, and went out. Unchallenged he rolled his roadster down' the drive, let out the clutch when the machine reached the highway and went roaring away into the night. Tony drove till nearly dawn. His thoughts were chaotic, confused, bordering on panic. With each passing mile the realization of the real depth of his love for Elinor, of the great emptiness caused by knowledge of her deception, became more poignant. Exhausted, at last he drew up before a tiny vine-covered inn, roused a sleepy clerk and engaged a room. But sleep would not come. He lay awake until long after the sun had risen, reviewing each hour of the days that had passed since Ted and Ruth had arrived at the camp. Thoughts of Elinor holding secret rendezvous with the handsome Ted Fisher tortured him. It was unbelievable, beyond comprehension that Elinor, in whom he had put his trust and faith and love, had betrayed him. Suddenly he sat bolt upright in bed. A startling thought occurred to him. Perhaps it was his fault! Perhaps he was to blame! Perhaps his attentions to Ruth had driven Elinor to retaliate. For the first time in his life, Tony Colbert faced a situation that his own feelings, honestly. Was it any more right for, him to practice deception than for Elinor, he asked himself? After a while he lay back and closed his eyes. Sleep came at last. And his last waking thought was an admission of wrongdoing and a feeling of guilt.

Toward mid-afternoon he awoke. Dressing, he went over carefully plan that had half taken form in his mind the night before. It took courage and suppression of pride to reach his decision. But eventually the battle, was won. When he descended the stairs there was nothing but grim resolve written in his face. Darkness had fallen when Tony once more drove along the drive of the Dixon summer cottage. Through the trees he could see lights, and the strains of radio music came to him on the still night air. He parked his roadster in the garage and made his way along the flagstone walk that led under the maple trees. At the foot of the veranda steps he paused. A figure was outlined against the lights of the room beyond. Tony’s heart began to pound. He set down his bag and came slowly up the steps. A board creaked beneath his foot and the figure whirled. It was Elinor. “Tony!” A gasp escaped her lips. She looked frightened. Tony came resolutely across the veranda. His hands gripped her shoulders. “Tony, I I thought I was afraid.** “Afraid of what?’* he asked. She hesitated, looked deeply into his eyes. “I was afraid you wouldn't come tuck. Tony, do you love me?'*

"Do you think I would have come back if I didn’t—after last night?” He heard her draw in her breath with a peculiar hissing sound. “Tony—l—l knew it was you.” “You knew?” She nodded dumbly, on the verge of tears. “I was jealous, Tony, dreadfully jealous. Of you and Ruth. And when I heard you come up behind me last night I decided to—to try and pay you back a little. Oh, it was mean and horrible of me. But that’s why I said what I did. I mean, making you think I thought it was Ted who kissed me.” “Then—” A glad light leaped into Tony’s eyes. “Then you didn’t think it was Ted? You—you haven’t been holding rendezvous with him?” “Of course I haven’t. I was merely jealous of you and Ruth.” “There wasn’t any need to be. Honestly, darling.” He drew her into his arms. “It was rotten of me to let you think I cared about her. But I didn’t. I guess I just wanted to show r you what a ladies’ man I was.” He laughed. “Oh, darling, it was torture, thinking you loved Ted. I had to come back and ask your forgiveness.” “You mean you came back to ask my forgiveness even though you thought I was in love with Ted?” He nodded. “That’s it, honey. That’s how much I love you.” She lifted her face and he kissed her. “Tony, it’s taught both of us a lesson. Let’s never again try to teach each other lessons.” “The only lesson,” Tony grinned, “that I’ll ever try to you from now on, my sweet, is "how to continue loving me forever.”