Show The Fiction NO REGRETS By Y Richard H. H Wilkin 1 Corner VALERIA'S AFFAIR with Eliot V Harvey had proved extremely gratifying After all Eliot was the most handsome and the most glamorous glamorous glamorous glam glam- orous man at Newfane Lake and the confession of ot his love had rather rath rath- er flattered her vanity But the duration had been brief Two months to be exact She had smiled a little wistfully the night she handed back his ring Its been swell fun Eliot but it cant can't last The feelings feeling's all on the surface It isn't real Not real He stared at her un un- un- un believing Good Lord Val Val Val- But S she h e interrupted him with a ages ages- gesture 0 Minute ture of finality S Fic Fiction on Its no use Eliot You Youre You're re far too glamorous a and n d handsome to fall in love I tried hard but it didn't work She patted his hand maternally Summer Summer Summer Sum mer romances are fun and this has been the best ever No regrets A hurt look came into his eyes to be replaced an instant later by exaggerated indifference He tossed the ring caught it pocketed it OK O 0 K sister I guess I can stand it His eyes held that smug your its funeral look that so fitted his role She felt released free again When Doug Metcalf asked her to n attend the Country Club ball with him she accepted without qualms of con con- science Doug was big and homely Thought there was no harm in asking he grinned You wont won't find me as spectacular as Eliot He looked at her curiously seemed on the point of asking a question and thought better of it She knew that he like everyone everyone everyone every every- one else was wondering If her heart was broken We Well let them find out for tor themselves Their pity annoyed her Who was this Eliot Harvey a god or something some some- thing The night of the ball dancing with Doug Metcalf she saw Eliot floating by with Sheelah Jackson He was looking down into her upturned upturned up up- turned face oblivious to everything else Valeria felt a little pang and impatient at herself gave her attention attention attention at at- to Doug Doug was watching her and there was worship in his eyes S SHE HE WAS DANCING a dreamy waltz with Doug when Eliot cut in Surprised she found herself in his his arms scarcely before his familiar features became able Well well well Look who's here herel Hows How's the Don Juan of Newfane Newfane New- New fane lane Val lets let's go out and get a punch His tone was almost harsh Valeria hesitated All right she said I could use something like that Its It's been a destructive evening Im I'm worn out They moved into the alcove where the drinks were being ed He led her beyond and through French doors that opened onto the terrace The place was crowded but they found a vacant bench behind behind behind be be- hind some shrubbery and Valeria sat down It was good to sit Eliot bent over her Listen Val I cant can't stand it Ive I've been crazy ever since you gave me back the ring Im I'm going mad Youve You've got to come back to me Amazed she stared up at him His eyes were burning coals lie He stood there stripped of his pride and dignity no longer the confident Don Juan the breaker of women's hearts Eliot youre you're drunk Im not Val dont don't you see Im I'm not Dont Don't you see how much I Ilove Ilove Ilove love you He dropped down beside beside beside be be- side her and suddenly his head was against her breast He wept Val was frightened and ered So all his indifference his casual acceptance of her dew to break their engagement his hlo b b- terest In Sheelah Jackson-It Jackson b hi all been pretense I A sham ohm A mask maski An attempt to maintain b ti Don Juan standing to nourish b i pride and vanity and conceit She stood up suddenly content conte ous ashamed of her own dor doubts disgusted with his weakness Si SA looked down at him without C compassion or regret turned mi aru and went eagerly back to find fini d dt Doug I O |