Show SANDRA By VIDA BURST A BEGIN HERE From the moment she sees David Davic MerrIck Sandra Hoffman knows he heis heis is s her hel prince charming and her hap i is complete when he confesses that hat he loves her But David does not wt understand the thc generous impulses impulse that hat lead Sandra into trouble when she the befriends people and his ardor ardo cools He falls taIls prey to the apparently Inn Innocent In In- n wiles of Sandras Sandra's cousin ChrisLine Christine Chris Chris- tine Line San Sanderson erson and their engagement soon oon follows Heartsick Sandra moves move away from Aunt Mm's Mins roof which has tas sheltered her most of her life me But Bu Buthen when hen she discovers that Chris is car car- on a flirtation with her old love Barry Holbrook Sandra determines td c win David back David and Chris set their wedding date but Chris and Barry flee to a desert resort El EI Mirador to havone have hav one last dance together Barrys Barry's wife insists that Sandra go after them Sorry for Lois Sandra takes a plane plan to El Mirador Mh and brings Chris back to Los Angeles with her Sandra goes to see sec Lois CHAPTER 38 Sandra stumbled down Yucca street blind with tears The Thc scene in Lois Lois' ois bedroom had snapped the last las leash of her already overstrained self self- control If she could only keep from fromI I crying until she reached the rooming I house But she The pen pent pent- up tears she had refused to shed fo for weeks streamed down her checks cheeks It mattered not at all that people she met stared with curiosity Sandra Sandr pressed I a handkerchief against he her eyes and averted her head hed but th the I tears flowed on as S if i. i once started I they would never cease Only one idea was In her mind a ashe as she reached the rooming house am amran and ran up the steps to reach the door doo of Df her own room without being stopped topped by her interested landlady But she mi might ht have known it i would 1 be he impossible No sooner had thc the door clicked behind behind be be- behind hind her than Mrs Bolton Blon was calling call ing Is that you Miss Hoffman Hofman DA DAVID VID COMES Without answering Sandra flew few on up the steps but her landlady's voice I pursued her hor Theres a gentleman genteman to see you you Caught Sandra turned dabbing futilely at her wet eyes Who is i it i she stammered He didn't give his name He just jus said hed he'd wait vaIt until you OU came But I cant can't see him Sandra cried impatiently Youl have to tell tel him As A she spoke the folding doors leading lead leading ing into the parlor parted revealing David David His Hi face was unusually ser serious seri serl ous as he said quietly Im Im sorry I if l Im I'm Im Intruding Sandra but but I really must see you OU He followed her back into the parlor par par- lor and closed cosed the doors Shaken out of her customary poise Sandra cried tremulously I cant can't talk to you just now Would you mind going away and comin back later YOURE WONDERFUL David answered gravely I r cant can't go away until Ive I've Ive said what I came to say Sandra Wont Won't you sit si cown down She had never felt fel at such a disadvantage disadvantage vantage as a she did facing him with v wih tear streaked face and nervous trembling trem trem- bling hands hand She sank into a chair chai because she was unable to stand any longer Her knees had suddenly givan sn an n way beneath her just as her overwrought overwrought overwrought over over- wrought emotions had done a little while before I just want to fo tell tel you David said still seriously what a wonderful person person per per- son I think you are Why the sudden appreciation Its Is all off of with Christine Christne and me David spoke dryly Lois Loi came to m mj my apartment last night after you had left lef and told me rae everything She promised she The Thc poor kid was wa half hal insane She wasn't responsible for anything she shedid shedid shedid did but I do know that every word she said about Christine and Barry was true I was a fool not to have seen sen It i for myself But David Sandra Interrupted longing to comfort him in spite of her resolutions I 1 think Christine Christne is telling tell tel ing lag the truth when she says they only wanted one l last t week weekend week dancing anc and anC swimming together THE OLD LOOK I dont don't know that it matters maters a lo lot what their actual intentions might have been David answered logically I r don't dont suppose you'll believe beleve me either when I tell tel you Im I'm not nearly so hurt as a man ought to be under such circumstances One of the reasons rea rca sons I wanted to marry Christine was because I considered her the thc most inexperienced in experienced girl I had ever known know The other was because she s seemed med so completely devoted to meShe meShe meShe me She told me some time ago ngo his eyes ee lighted with wih an amused twinkle on that first day when we had lunch together oge er that tha she had been hopeless hopeless- ly in love with wih me when she went to Oakland but as long as a I cared about you she didn't dare to show it i. i Sandra reflected dully duly that Chris Chrs would say that but David was certainly certainly not exhibiting the signs sIgn of anguish an a disappointed lover should feel eel feel He was actually smiling as he continued The little minx said she would do anything to fix things up for tor us but she als also wanted me to know now that I was the only man she would ever care for foro H He broke off of to laugh lugh outright outright Lord I must mut have been a conceited ass a to believe beleve all al she said raid Lis Lois told me rae last night that what she really went vent to Oakland for was to be near Barr Barry When Sandra did not answer the theold theold theold old unhappy look came back into his hi eyes TEARS Ive Ive treated you c caddishly San Sa- Sa Sadra dra It I doesn't matter Nothing mattered matere now but that he should go away and leave her alone But But darling it does Ive I've been unkind and unfair but Ive I've Ive loved Javed you always Every Every moment of the time Black eyes drenched drench d with wih tears she he defied him You expect me mc to believe beleve that that Would it be bc asking too much of you It I certainly would when less les than i week ago told fold old me a man might love a girl mad madl tad yet still not wish to mk her his wife true but I was blind with wih jealousy I couldn't understand how howa a girl could be Innocently Involved In Ins Inso inso so s many sensational situations Theres boon been no change hange in any of tem them But 1 I understand bettor better now I r realize ealise realie now that at you are arc too fine to t s stoop to anything cheap cheap The telephone rang rag and Sandra answering answering an an- s heard Aunt Mins Min's harassed voice voie That you Sandra Christine Chrite is i ih haying having hysterics I dont don't know kow what's t th the he matter mater with wih her but she wants want you to come over here ri right ht away STARVED ARMS For the thc first time In her life iEEe Sandra refused to go to her cousins cousin's assist assist- ance Im Im sorry Aunt Min Mm but but- but butI I cant can't possibly come tonight You cant can't Do you mean you wont won't come when Chris is asking for you ou I Im Im dead tired tred Sandra Sndra insisted I didn't get any sleep last lat night night Ive I've Ive been working all al day day Take Tako a taxi then Ill I'll Il pay for it i but but you must come Sandra You ar arthe are the only one who can do anything with wih her when she gets get like le this ti Beaten as a usual by the frightened helplessness hellene in L' L Aunt Aut Mins Min's voice voie Sandra San San- S- S dra surrendered Oh all al right She turned tuned to David with wih tears o of vexation in her eyes Will Wi you take me to Aunt Aun Mins Min's ics Lea Christine is i having hyster hyster- Davids David's face fac clouded I dont don't b blame me you for being dis df dis- dis gusted guste How youve you've managed to be b s ee sweet to either cither eter of us u in the face o of all that's happened I Dont let that worry you she retorted re re- re sharply If I youre you're feeling feel sorry for me mc save ve your ou pity fo for lor somebody else But the thc huskiness In her ened voice forced him to realize hi th the truth truth Suddenly his hi starved arms ar were about her His lips lp pressed against her wet tear cheeks chek HAPPINESS Sandra darling darlng Dont darling darlng me He seized her slender shaking shoulders shoulder Please dont don't cry sweetheart It Its It's Is I's Isben been ben a costly costy experience but lets let's b be grateful we found out the truth before before before be be- fore it i was wa too everlastingly Jat late Her voice came muffled against his coat What truth That we do really realy and truly trl love lov each other David said tenderly That in spite pite of the fact fac that each of ot us has made and and will wi continue to tomake tomake tomake make mistakes we want to be married mar mar- ma led ried and to make them together together But do you really realy Do I what Want me to be b your wife and th the mother of your children More than anything else cle In this ti world he assured her solemnly Oh Sandra kiss kL me Ive I've Ive waited s so long Close Cloe against his hi heart her eyes eye shining through tears Sandra found herself hersel remembering a text she ant and Christine had learned as a children Hope deferred the heart hear hert sick but when the desire cometh i it itIs i is i a tree of life lIe But she said no word to mar th the te magic of that moment Only pressed presed her arms arm more tightly about his neck and nd drew his hi head down to hers The End |