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any particular girl. He is quite content to bask in the atmosphere of Sharon and Jacob's
love for each other.
When Sharon has gone, he spends the evening talking about her and
congratulating Jacob on his happiness. Jacob listens with delight. Earl has, in fact, taken
possession of their affair and regards it with a kind of wistful, brotherly pleasure. He even
has schemes that Jacob and Sharon shall be married from the Medwin home. From now
on, he declares, they are all going to be the greatest friends and see as much of each other
as possible.
For SOME years, the Medwins have owned a beach house near Santa Monica,
down on the ocean. It has hardly ever been used, but now Earl, who is at length getting a
little tired of the garden, begins going down there with Jacob to spend the day in the sun.
And Sharon, of course, is invited to come along too.
While Jacob goes for a run along the beach with the dogs, Earl gets the
opportunity of talking to Sharon alone.
Naturally, they talk about Jacob. It is the only subject they have in common. Earl
asks Sharon what she and Jacob plan to do when they are married. Sharon replies that she
supposes they'll go and live somewhere out in the country, work, eventually buy a ranch,
settle down, have kids, and stay there for the rest of their lives. Perhaps a note of slight
wistfulness comes into her voice, and a tone of slight resignation. This isn't lost on Earl,
who is extraordinarily sensitive and observant.
"And what about your singing?" he asks.
"Maybe the cows and the roosters will appreciate it," says Sharon, with whom this
is still a sore subject.
"You shouldn't talk that way," Earl tells her. "You ought to believe in yourself
more."
The sympathy of this good-looking boy is very agreeable to her. More so,
perhaps, than she is ready to admit.
"I haven't had much encouragement," she says with the old bitterness coming into
her voice.
"Jacob believes in you," Earl reminds her.
"Jacob. . ." Sharon smiles. "That's different. That's only because I'm me. Besides,
he doesn't know anything about music."
"I believe in you," says Earl softly and very seriously.
"You really do, Earl?" This is the first time that she has called him by his name.
"You wouldn't kid me?"
"You know I wouldn't. . . Why, you could do anything you wanted to. You could
be a great singer. You've got a lovely voice. . . and lots of personality. . . and you're
beautiful."
Sharon laughs. Earl, in his own way, is as naïve as Jacob. But just the same she is
pleased and flattered and excited; after all, he is a well-educated, cultured boy. His
opinion must be worth something. He talks with such conviction. And he has such
beautiful eyes.
"How do you know what you can do?" he continues, pressing his advantage. "You
haven't tried."
"I've had my chance. I never got any place."
"You call that a chance? Why, those bums on Main Street wouldn't know Mary
Garden from a rooster."
Sharon has to admit that this is true.
And then Earl unfolds his scheme. He has been thinking things over and he has it
all figured out in advance. The man who owns the Star and Garter, one of Hollywood's
most exclusive nightclubs, was an old friend of his father's. In fact, some of the Medwin
millions went into backing him; Earl still owns shares in the place. This man would be
only too glad of a chance to acknowledge his debt by doing Earl a favor. And, besides,
this wouldn't really be a favor, because Earl would be helping his business by presenting
him with a new star.
Sharon, of course, is thrilled and dazzled by the prospect. All her dormant
ambition is aroused. To have one more chance -- a real chance this time, of realizing
those dreams of the old days on the Carter Ranch! Maybe Earl is right. Maybe she hasn't
been fair to herself. Wasn't it just weakness which made her decide she could never be a
singer? Hasn't she been too ready to accept defeat?
But then she hesitates. No, it's just a dream. She has made her decision. She loves
Jacob, and the rest of her life is for him. When you want anything badly, you always have
to make some sacrifices.
"But how do you know," says Earl, "that Jacob would be against it? I should think
he'd be tickled to death."
"I'd never even ask him," says Sharon with decision. "It wouldn't be fair."
"Why not?"
"Well -- suppose you're right. Suppose I did make good. It would be spoiling his
whole life."
"I don't see that at all. You could get married right away."
"Can you imagine Jacob married to an actress? Hanging around my dressing
room? Coming with me to parties? Why, he'd be miserable."
"And wouldn't you be miserable," asks Earl with a sudden touch of what is almost
cruelty, "milking cows and feeding chickens?"
Sharon looks quickly away from him. "At least I'd be with Jacob," she says at
length.
"Throwing the garbage to the pigs," Earl persists, sadistically teasing.
"If that's the way he wants it," says Sharon firmly.
"But, Sharon, he couldn't want it. He couldn't want to make you unhappy. . . I
know darn well I'd -- I'd never ask you to do anything like that."
They are on the verge of criticizing Jacob, but Sharon hardly realizes it.
"Earl," she says gently, "you just don't understand how it is. . . The girl you marry
will probably want the same things you want."
"If she didn't," says Earl obstinately, "I'd be the one to give way. A fellow has to
make a girl happy."
Sharon is silent. Mentally, she contrasts the two of them. Earl has been spoiled
and petted, no doubt, but he seems so easy to get along with. Jacob, on the other hand,
always appears so docile, and yet there is something unyielding and independent about
him. He has always gone his own way. Perhaps that is why she loves him.
Earl is watching her reactions. He presses his advantage. "Of course," he
continues, "I could quite understand your going to live on the ranch one day -- later on --
when you'd had your career and everything. Then you'd know you hadn't missed
anything. You wouldn't be unhappy then. You wouldn't have any regrets. . . Look here,
why can't you two come to an agreement? You have your chance at the Star and Garter,
and do the things you want to do. Then it will be Jacob's turn." "I couldn't ask him,"
Sharon repeats with decision. "It wouldn't be fair."
"Do you think it's fair not to ask him? Suppose he got to know about this later?
Wouldn't he feel like a heel?" Earl looks down the beach. Jacob is approaching. "Suppose
we let him decide?"
"Earl -- you're not to say anything about it!"
"Why not?"
"Promise me you won't!" Sharon is greatly distressed. "Promise!"
But Earl only laughs at her like a teasing little boy.
Jacob runs up.
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