| OCR Text |
Show BILL WAS A GENTLEMAN I By Virginia Morris Stifling a yawn, Bill Harding forced himself to look at the weirdly lighted stage. He'd enjoy "Marondo's Modern Ballet" If It killed him Bill that is. Marondo was probably good for another twenty years. Bill glanced at the rapt girl beside be-side him. Janlne's eyes never left the stage; even when she leaned her head on his shoulder, she continued con-tinued to stare at the performer. "She really loves the arts." Bill thought gloomily. "That's probably why she thinks so much of that educated slob, Tobias." He shifted his body carefully, trying to ease a cramp In his leg. Just because he'd never learned to appreciate the finer things in life . . . he thought longingly of the boxing match he was missing. It was really all Aunt Ellen's fault .... he remembered the first letter let-ter that had come . . . he'd been stationed in Missouri . . . who was JanLne Lewis? Opening the letter, he'd read: "I honestly can" say I remember remem-ber you. but Aunt El, who gave me your address, Insists we are back-door cousins. She's certain that we have a great deal in common, com-mon, and tells me that you are a perfect gentleman. Would you mind if I wrote you once in a while?" Once In a while turned out to be a couple of times a week, and they got to know each other pretty well. Bill learned that Janine liked concerts, con-certs, the opera, musical recitals, and the ballet. She also seemed to like a certain Tobias Zediker . . . Bill was interested in the fights, the Dodgers, and an occasional beer party on Saturday night, but he was determined that this girl shouldn't find it out. Fooling her then had been easy for Pfc. Rich-Boy had helped Bill write the proper letters home, but fooling her when he got back would be harder. Things had worked out. He found, to his delight, that she was the girl he'd dreamed of. One look Into her soft brown eyes and he knew he'd do almost anything to keep in her good graces. He asked her to get tickets to the things she wanted to see, and ha went along for the ride. Once we're married, Bill planned optimistically, we'll ease Into another an-other kind of life. The fights, a ball game He moved uneasily. Why didn't they make these blasted seats larger? Janine seemed comfortable comfort-able enough. Guiltily, Bill admitted that his discomfort might not all be the fault of the seat My fool conscience, consci-ence, he almost groaned. He remembered re-membered reading somewhere that inside of all men, even gentlemen, there Is a conscience. A nuisance, the writer had explained, but there all the same. Bill was beginning to feel guilty about fooling Janine. How could he even ask her to marry him? "Let's face It, BUI Harding," he told himself sadly, "You hate the finer things of life. You can't fool jher, and you can't fool yourself." There. It was a relief to admit it. Tobias, the gentleman would win. Bill relaxed in his seat and watched the dance. That Morondo wasn't so bad . . . he'd have made a good basket ball player. A sound from Janine caught Bill's attention. He looked down at her sharply. He'd have sworn . . . A suffocating tenderness tightened Bill's chest. He grinned Aunt Ellen El-len telling Janine that he was a gentleman! The poor little darling! When the applause thundered around them, Janine sat up straight and clapped like mad. And Bill, a gentleman always, srid not a word. Enthusiastically, he joined in the applause. Bill sighed happily. He had really real-ly enjoyed the evening, especially, most especially, had he enjoyed Janine's contribution, a gentle, persistant, lady-like snore. I That fool, Tobias, didn't have a ' chance! |
