'THOU SHALT NOT LOVE’

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 184, 7 August 1939, Page 9

'THOU SHALT NOT LOVE’

Synopsis of Preceding Instalments: Jocelyn (Josh) Kelvin, a year out of college, roly-poly and careless of her dress, has been conducting the Mary Lou Temple advice to the lovelorn column for a New York newspaper syndicate. Mrs. Temple, now 70, in Europe on leave, writes that she can no longer do the work and the editor asks JosH whether she has a boy friend. When she says no ho says ho will give, her a permanent chance at tho column, adding that the most useless thing in tho world is a woman in love. Since the death of her onco wealthy father Josh has been supporting her selfish mother, Maida, her twin sister, Jacqueline (Jako), blondo and beautiful, and 10-year-old Suzio (Jinx), her tomboyish sister. When Jinx is hurt by a hit-and-run driver, Dr. Kelcy Lowell, who has just moved in across tho street, carries her into her home and attends her. Josh cooks a late supper for tho young Texan, who had been delayed at tho hospital. After they dino tho next evening at a quiet old Long Island inn, ho stops the car at a moonlit beach and impulsively kisses her. She’s surprised that sho returns his kisses. He apologises. They dine together almost every evening. When ho asks her to a dance, sho buys an evening gown, and Maida berates her for extravagance, but Jinx tells her not to be a sap and let their mother and Jake spend all her money. At tho dance she overhears girls remark on her clothes and her weight and resolves to diet. Kel Lowell does not ’phono one evening as she expects, blit Lincoln Laine, the syndicate’s star cartoonist, does and reluctantly she goes out with him.

Josh was almost able to forget that she had ever been unhappy when she climbed into Lincoln Laine’s car and 1 they sped out on Long Island in the May sunshine 1 Dear old Line! He was like a brother. She didn’t- even feel tubby and miserably conscious of her weight, as she was certain she would have with any other person in the world. Ho made her feel as though she were doing him a big favour sitting by his side listening to him talk of this and that; or harmonising with his baritone, as the spirit moved. Miraculously, they found an almost deserted little beach and stretched out iu the sunshine. Lincoln was really handsome, sho decided* He was lying on his back shading his eyes, staring at the gulls. Tho peculiar grey of his eyes was hard to describe. Line’s eyes were brilliant and alive to bo slato. Too warm to be steel. His head was that of a brilliant man, with tho full, high forehead. Sho liked tho strength of his chin and the brown leanness of is cheek. Women, sho knew, were made about him. And sho didn’t wonder. Too bad he was a cynic where they were concerned. Ho really owed it to himself to find a nice girl and settle down. She would have been surprised if she had known Line was thinking the same thing about her. And that he was hoping she'd tell him of the man who had been taking her out. Sho’d told him over tho ’phono she had lots to talk about. He hesitated to lead up to the subject himself, remembering how touchy Josh had been when he teased her. But apparently, sho had no intention of taking him into her confidence. It was getting dusk when ho suggested they have dinner at tho Gull Club. Jocelyn looked ruefully at the wrinkles in her navy blue frock, but shook the sand from her slippers and laughed it off. It didn’t matter with Line. Their faces were beet-red from the sun. Josh felt as though she were due for a case of sunburn, and asked Line to remind her to stop at a drug store on the way home for a lotion for her face and arms. Several times on the road to tho club Jocelyn found herself wondering if Kel had called her. Tho head waiter found a tablo for them in a softly lighted corner, and they were being seated when Jocelyn looked across the room and saw him. At first sho thought it must be her imagination. He was with a woman. She sat down hurriedly, stunned with tho sickening little paiu that shot through her heart. Line took up a menu at once; tho air from tho Sound had made him very hungry. Josh rallied all her resources to try to keep from showing how she felt. It was an entirely new experience. Nonsense, sho told herself severely; probably tho woman was just somo old friend. Anyway, it was none of her business with whom Kelcy Lowell stopped out. Ho was under no obligation to bo true to her, certainly. There was something familiar in tho way his sunny-haihed companion held her head. When she leaned toward the doctor with a characteristic little gesture, Josh stiffened. It was Jacqueline! Strango sho hadn’t recognised her at once. But Jako was tho last girl she would ever havo expected to see bothering her designing little head with Kel Lowell. They wero deeply engrossed in each other. So much so that they seemed entirely unaware of tho room full of people around them. Josh’s first impulse was to ask Line to take her somewhero else, and try to get out without being seen. But sho didn’t dare to bo so obvious. Looking up, Line said, "How about the regular dinner. Everything from soup to nuts. I could eat a grizzly.” Ho saw tho grey look on her face. "What’s the matter?” He was frightened at tho chango in her colour. Josh made a poor denial. "Nothing. Just a little weak from tho sun; maybe. Wo—probably—shouldn’t havo sat out for so long the first day.” "Maybo you're hungry?” Line looked alarmed. ‘ ‘ Let mo order somo hot broth right away?” "All right. But I’m feeling hotter now. Please don’t worry.” She gazed

(By Alma Sioux Scarberry) Instalment 13.

across the room, pretending to see Jako and Kel for the first time. "Why, look! ’ ’ Sho jumped as tfiough she had just made a great Uitcuvery. "There’s Jake and Kel Lowell. • "Don’t tell me!" Line turned. "I haven’t seen Jake sinco you young 'uns were fourteen.” By that time Josh was trembling. It was a situation sho was in no way capable of handling. Jealousy! If that was the way it made peoplo feel, she was thankful she’d had no experience with it before. But, somehow, she had to see the situation through and try to be clever about it —acting a part she did not foci was also a new role. Her smile was strained. "What—shall we do? Leave them alone, or let them know wo see them?” "She seems to havo him charmed in#> a lengthy monologue,” Line grinned. ‘«Let’s eat awhile and let them discover us.” Josh swallowed the lump in her throat. "Let’s. When they come down to earth they’ll seo us.” Try as she would, Josh could not keep her eyes from straying to tho table across the room. She picked at her food until Line chided her. "Going on a diet?” "Exactly,” she admitted, trying to smile. "It’s a long story. But I’m going to a famous specialist to-morrow and see what can be done about shaving off about twenty-five or thirty pounds. I should have done it long ago.” "I—thought so,” Line said knowingly. "First new clothes. Then she starts worrying about a few extra pounds. Come clean. Josh. I’ve been dying with curiosity all afternoon.” Josh blinked, and looked down at her plate. It took all her courage to keep from laying her head over and giving way to hysteria. But it just couldn’t bo done!

1 "Line,” sho choked then, “you re—--3 just like on of the family. "I—l can tell you. But I couldn’t tell anyone i else in the world. Promise you won’t l laugh.” i “Darling,” ho leaned his elbows on i tho tablo and smiled at her queerly, 3 "why should I laugh at you? You’ve r listened to enough of my piffle with a 3 straight face. Como on, tell old Pop ; Laine what’s happened.” 3 Through stiff lips she managed to tell him of Kel Lowell, and how sho had t met him. How for almost two weeks - had been his constant companion. She r eliminated tho part about tho kisses at ; Malba Beach. But she told him of the ; Doctors* Club dance, and how sho had i overheard the conversation about- her--3 self in the lounge. > "It—it’s nothing, you see,” she assured him then. ".Tusfc that I was very , b—busy all those nights. J: —just tryI ing to be a good friend to him. He—i ho’ll be a famous specialist some day, , and I thought if my friendship could ; help him—” s She ended lamely. Line’s faco was a [ study. [ "And so, you sort of fell in love, meanwhile. Is that it?” > "Oh, no,” she denied hurriedly, "I • don’t think so. It’s just that—well, he ; happens to be tho man sitting over . there with Jake.” Jocelyn saw the amazement in t>.e : grey eyes’. Then Line’s jaw hardened. 3 "Nice-girl.” - *‘l guess/’ josh broke in, "sho just [ can’t bear to seo anyone get any attention but herself. And there may be i another reason. I found out Friday ■ night he is to inherit several million doli lars in several months. Jake may have . heard it, too. Or, mother might have i put her up to it to keep him away from [ me. There could bo several reasons.” : * 1 Can it be possible your mother would do such a trick? What would 5 her reason be?” ' Josh flushed self-consciously. Then she spoke tho blunt truth, remembering what Suzie had said. "She’s afraid she’ll lose her meal > ticket, I guess. Oh, I mustn’t talk like j that, Line! Forget it. I’m feeling a j little bitter these days.” "About time.” Lincoln snapped | viciously at a piece of celery. “I think I’d like to have a little fun, if you don’t mind.” "What’s on your mind?” ‘ "It seems to me,” Line speculated, "it would bo lots better if you let Jake know you were wise to her. I think wo j should make our presence known. The doctor probably has seen you, and is hoping you haven’t seen him. Let’s get 7 up to dance, and I’ll recognise Jake like t a long lost brother.” "Oh, I dread it.” Josh looked pan- • icky. "I’m such a failuro at posing.” I "Snap out of it,” Line said master- : fully. "It isn’t as though you were in I love with tho guy. You’re just feeling • rocky becauso Jako has been getting in somo dirty work at tho crossroads. Come J on! Let’s dance! You look up into my 1 faco dreamily, or close your eyes and 3 lean against my shoulder. I’ll do the • great discovery! ” ■ Jocelyn was sure her knees would - buckle under her when she got up. LinJ coin’s arms was tight around her waist. "Smilo at me as though you meant l it,” ho grinned. "This is going to be great. ’ ’ i When they neared tho tablo across ■ tho room, Kel Lowell was busy studying his plate. There was no doubt in Line’s inind he had socn Josh. Ho danced the faint lady almost into tho doctor’s chair before he protendod to seo Jake. Then ho stopped and stared. Josh looked up ■ at him questioningiv. "Ah I seeing things?” He grinned ■ his broadest and pointed. Josh swallowed. "Why, hello,” she said with well feigned surprise. "Look who’s here.” "Fancy!” Jako trilled. "Meeting you here! ” "Hello, Kel.” Josh got her bearings almost instantly when she saw tho confusion of the couple before her. Kel got up, reddening. Then Josh introduced tho two men. Lincoln pumped Lowell's hand ns though he’d just bumped into an old fraternity brother in Shanghai. "Small world/’ Jake said dryly.

"Well, well!” Line stood back and surveyed her, shaking his head. "How I rccognisod you, 1 don’t know! If I’d ever dreamod you were going to grow up into such a- houcy I’d never have given up tho old homestead next door at Southampton. The last time 1 saw you, you were a skinny, long-logged little homely kid.” Jako gavo him ner long, slow smile. Sho was cool as a cucumber. "I used to have a terriblo crush on you! But you wouldn’t pay any attention to me. After that description, I’m not surprised.”

•W—won’t you sit down and have dinner with us?” the doctor finally managed to ask. "We’vo had it, thanks,” Josh answered. "We haven’t had our dessert and coffee. ’ ’ Line reached for a chair. 1 ‘ Let’s make it a party. Golly, it’s grand to Bee you again, Jake! How you been?” (To be Continued.)