Show LEAP YEAR GIRL l A 1 1 Tell New Rob Eden Story BEGIN DEGI HERE TODAY Judith Avery was in love with Toby Locke and believed that he was as deeply in love with her When he started playing around with Donna Herriot she was sick with jealousy 10 To put an end to such misery she told Toby frankly that she thought they ought to get gel married Toby was embarrassed em iii but he had to explain that he had already asked Donna to marr marry him Judith crept into the house hoping that her parents pai and sister Rita Bita would not awaken and question her The They were all worried over her unhappiness durin during the last week when Toby had ceased coming to the house Luckily no one heard her come in in and she crawled into bed t to worry through sleepless hours over overall overall all the cruel tomorrows and most particularly the one just ahead when she must face Toby and the triumphant triumphant tri tri- Donna at the bank where they all worked NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY CHAPTER FOUR Everything was just the same when Judith entered the bank the next morning Just the same and yet so different Jim n Ritchie flitchie one of the porters smiled at nt her as she came in inthe inthe the hc door as he had done for three months and somehow she smiled jack back and answered the greeting he gave cave her Going to be hot Miss Avery Hot Yes she the supposed so What did id it matter whether it was hot or cold now What did anything matten mat mat- ten She hadn't even noticed the difference as she usually did in the temperature o of the bank and the temperature tern tem outside She didn't even oven feel relief on coming into the cool building after alter her warm walk walle from the street car eRr Everything was the same The same people doing the same things as JS if nothing had happened In a n few moments shed she'd be doing the work she had been doing for three months Toby was in his cage as she passed and LInd gave a quick glance but couldn't see his face His Ills back was v as turned What did he think of her today after alter what hat she had nad done last ni night ht Or had he thought about it at all Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she made her wa way to the gate that was marked Statements It was worse than she had imagined Her limbs were shaking unsteady her lips dr dry her eyes burning She had thought of staying home of having her mother phone that she was ill but had decided against it Too coward cowardly I She had to face things as is s the they were some time The sooner the better After today it wouldn't be so bad Donna was as already at her desk Str Strange because Judith usually arrived arrived ar aI ar- ar rived before Donna who was bly a few minutes late Lois Marsh was talking to Donna leaning over her desk her red hair close to Donnas Donna's s dark one Judith took the cover from her posting machine as quietly as she could In hi a moment shed she'd have to speak to Donna smile at her and she was steeling herself for the effort It was Lois who first noticed her Oh Judith come here A grand surprise What was there to do but go Then Judith saw it and all nIl the shame the disappointment flooded through her gain again On the third finger of Donnas Donna's left hand was a ring which had not been there yesterday A diamond rin ring sparkling in its setting setting set set- ting o of platinum Imagine Judith Lois went on excitedly ex ox- her blue eyes gleaming Donna is going to marr marry Tob Toby Locke Isn't that thrilling IVE WORRIED She must say S1 something She couldn't stand here staring at the rin ring Toby had given Donna dumb inar mar Yes Yes It wasn't much but it was all she could sa say at the present Lovely ring isn't it The desk at which Donna was silling sitting sit sil ting ling was v whirling around and around in front o of Judiths Judith's eyes the floor J I swaying dangerously under her feet She put one hand on the top to steady herself I Beautiful ring she said slowly There it was better belter The dizziness was gone She had thought for one moment that she was going to faint Im going to spread the news Lois announced and skipped off I just started to wear it this morning morn morn- ng ing Donna said rubbing the stone on her sleeve then looking at it proudly Ive had it il three days Three days lays Judiths Judith's mind echoed the he words dully Three lays clays ngo ago Toby had proposed to Donna Three da days clays s 's ego ago she h had d still lm been hoping She had hoped until last night I You dont don't mind do you rou Judith Toby explained all nIl about you How I jou you and he had just been good I smiled into friends Donnas Donna's eyes Judiths Judith's reassuringly then dropped once more to the ring Of course I understand stand I know how it is I sort o of hated bated to go out I him at first because I thought there might be s something methin serious be be- tween you but h he said there wasn't So that made it all ri right ht But Ive I've worried Judith and I thought I Id I'd d tell you oU I J worried TOnY TOBY LIES MES Nothing between them when Tob Toby had told her he loved her herl When Toby had lied A Again ain her hand and this time lime she left sou sought ht the thc desk it there bracing her bod body v en on it iL A pain shot through her head and she the could hear wondered if Donna she plainly as heating beating of ot her heart ns as did Donna You Vou dont don't mind do you ou repeated No How could she lie like that when she did mind so much of Tobys Toby's ring on onI When the sight I Donnas Donna's finger sent chills through herI herI her I knew you And well we'll I all 11 be just the same friends as ever everYou ever You and Toby and I J thin thing thine she 1 I Yes It was the only demanding she could say Donna was ay say it it I Im so glad lad Donna put her hand handon handI I Ion on the girls girl's arm Judith shrank from the touch but made no move to go away Toby and I are arc terribly in 10 inlove inlove love Judith I never thought I could love anybody the thc way I love Toby Words sprang to Judiths Judith's lips but bul buthe I she he didn't utter them How could Donna possibly love Jove Toby as much as she did But she mustn't give herself away behaved very well so far Donna didn't suspect anything V I Mother was tickled to death when we e told her last night night night- Judith caught her breath So Toby had gone on 11 to Donnas Donna's after aHer they had parted last night Tickled to death and nothing will do but well we'll be married Ion on her wedding weddin day Its It's awfully short hort notice but Toby is pleased June twenty fourth is the day and mother has already dragged out her wedding dress for me mc to wear She's going to have it all made over for forme me its me-it's its it's really very lovel lovely real lace and all that JUDITH JUDITH JUDITH-A A BRIDES BRIDESMAID Unconsciously Unconscious Judiths Judith's eyes sought the calendar on the wall Toda Today was June sixth The lonely jet black figure fig fiS' ure tire blurred and turned gray under her scrutiny Three short weeks hardly that and Toby and md Donna would be married Were Wre going to have a small wedding wedding wed wed- ding nothing elaborate but Im I'm going to have attendants and I want you to tobe tobe tobe be one of or the bridesmaids Judith Will you Judiths Judith's eyes closed and the stubby fat figure on the calendar continued to dance in front of or them II A bridesmaid at Tobys Toby's wedding when she thought she would be the I bride She couldn't It was v impossible ble bIe Of course you ou will I know Lois is to be the other and my cousin from Detroit is to be the maid of ot honor I wired her last night Donna went onI onI onI on I thought you ou could wear lavender because it looks so well vell on you jou and Lois green on account of her hair and Millicent that's my cousin yellow yel yel- low Organdy dont don't you OU think for forthe forthe forthe the dresses because its it's summer and organdy's so nice and crisp I mn may change mv my mind about the organdy but hut I dont don't think so And Judith Judth knew know with that there I I was no excuse she could make without with with- cut out giving herself awa away Donna had settled the question for her with her I plans that left no loophole Shed She'd have to be bc a n bridesmaid at Tobys Toby's I I wedding have to stand up and see sec I him married to Donna Three weeks ALWAYS 5 TORY TonY Tobys going goins to lo ask for his vacation vacation vacation vaca vaca- tion starting n June twenty third twenty third so sowell sowell sowell well we'll have two weeks' weeks honeymoon He's Hes almost sure he hc can get it then although he was scheduled originally for or the latter part of or July Donna continued And Im I'm going oin to quit next week week- I a million things I have to get ready and the times time's so short It'll ItIl be a 1 relief relie relie re re- re- re lie lie lief to stop work Judith I never have liked it you know A terrible bore having to be down town at 9 I inthe in inthe in the morning and o of course Toby doesn't want vant me to work after were we're married Toby always Toby Talking of him himas hima a as if she were married to him al al- al- al ready Im going to start looking for an apartment right away something away something small because Im I'm not so keen on housework I told Toby last night I should take a a course in cooking cooling and I he lal laughed hed at nt me Said it didn't mattel matter matter mat mat- ter tel at all about my cooking Sweet wasn't he Yes Yes sweet sweet Judith echoed How could so much happen in a aveck week How could Toby fall out of love with her and into love with Donna The ring was flashing as Donna quickly opened the drawer of her desk The blue flame lame of it stabbed Judith anew and she moved off orr to where her own machine was waiting for herThen herThen herThen her Then its it's all right to plan on lavender lavender laven laven- der for you Judith Donna called after her anxiously Yes Yes lavenders lavenders lavender's fine ine was as the soft reply To Be ne Continued |