Show r 1 1 f r 1 By HELEN PETRONE JANET ANET opened the door to her apartment thinking as she did so that it had been only a week since C Craig lg and she had shared this apartment apartment apartment apart apart- ment they called their ivory tower tower tow tow- er cr named that because of its odd shape It had been a storage room until the housing shortage became prevalent Then old Mrs Root feeling feeling feeling feel feel- ing sympathetic toward the plight of Janet and Craig Norris newly married married married mar mar- ried and homeless had cleared it out partitioned it off oft into two small rooms and rented it to them That was just 13 months ago Janet remembered dropping her gloves on the table and lighting the lamp with the same gesture They had been marr married ed only three weeks just long I enough to realize they were imposing imposing imposing ing on Craigs Craig's family who were I cramped for quarters themselves i Just a week ago they had the quarrel that had sent Craig from the apartment It had been a blow I II I M Y Yi i- i 1 t 1 p r s y y She sat down at the window and looked out at the dark starless sky to his pride from the day of their wedding that Janet should continue working She enjoyed her position in the advertising firm where she had risen from a clerk to 10 copy copywriter copywriter copywriter writer in just two years Since she left the house after Craig in the morning and returned before him at night she never felt her working interfered interfered interfered in in- in any way with her household household household house house- hold duties But friends had spoiled everything with their snide remarks about poor Janet still working and it was more than Craig could bear They think I cant can't support you youl I hed he'd storm at her but the themore themore themore more he pleaded the more adamant she had become And now he was gone The whole thing seemed so unimportant unimportant unimportant un un- un- un important now She glanced at the telephone inclined half-inclined to call him home but her own recalcitrant nature nature nature na na- na- na ture refused to allow such a move She turned on the radio instead and pretended the tears that welled in her eyes at the strains of Silent Night were merely tears of weariness weariness weariness ness after the preparation of the theoffice theoffice theoffice office party that morning Deliberately Deliberately Deliberately she opened the dresser drawer draw draw- er to put away last nights night's ironing Her souvenir box loomed temptingly before her Lifting the cover she stared at the t items she had collected collect collect- ed Craigs Craig's class ring exchanged for a diamond after their graduation graduation graduation tion from college a pressed orchid one of those she had carried at her wedding various cards Christmas anniversary birthday valentine She picked up a small gift gUt card and read again To my dear wife Janet on our first Christmas It was the card with the watch he had given her last year Pr TREMBLING she closed the box and turned quickly from the dresser She had been a fool she decided Without Cra Craig g Christmas could never hold the same meaning for her as it once had She didn't stop to lock the door for there was I nothing of value anyone could steal I from her Even her Christmas bonus lying on the table went un un- un- un noticed The one thing she must not lose was happiness and that was no longer in her home with Craig gone She hurried into her coat as she started breathlessly down the 3 3 flights of stairs Tears coursed down her cheeks and she prayed with fanatic fanatic fanatic fan fan- zest that she was not too late As she reached the last flight of st stairs irs she crashed into a figure who was hurrying up as oblivious of his surroundings as she She gasped at the impact but the man quickly quick quick- ly regained his balance and caught her before she could fall Janet he cried She looked at him almost in dist dis- dis belief Then throwing her arms t about him she gave full vent to her tears Oh Craig Darling I was just coming for you He kissed her and held her tight tight- ly Janet Ive I've been such a fool I didn't realize until tonight what an anI I 1 awful thing pride can be Will you ever forgive me She sighed Theres nothing to lo forgive Craig I was the one who was wrong Im I'm going to quit my job right away No uNo you I dont don't want to deprive you of any happiness and if want to work you Im I'm not going to to stop you She laughed shakily Well argue argue argue ar ar- ar- ar gue that out later shall we Arm in arm they climbed up the stairs |