Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION “Of course.” She smiled down at him, her fingers stroking his hair, and again felt the warning tenderness rising within her. She loved John. To have done what she did without love would, for her, have been impossible, but she loved something more. To her John was the symbol of her ‘real love, the transient image of flesh and blood which she could nurture and help, and then pass on to do that which she could not. To lose John in the face of that greater love would be nothing but to fail... She did not like to think of failure. ““You have been so good to me, Margaret,”’ he whispered, and she felt his arms tighten around her as he spoke. “I was desperate when we met, everything seemed against me. I couldn’t study and I couldn’t even think straight.” He lifted his head and smiled up at her. “‘What was it that made you help me?” “IT don’t like waste,’ she said. “I don’t like to see 48 someone with ability losing his chance through no fault of his own. It seemed logical to me to help you if I could.” Again her fingers caressed his hair. “Have I been of help, John?” “Yes,” he said sincerely. “More than you know.” ““Nonsense,”’ shesaid lightly. “*A few meals, a little comfort, a shoulder to cry on and someone to encourage you. Did it mean so much?” “It meant everything,” he said fiercely. ““Without you I should have gone under, I know it. If I pass the exam I shall owe it all to you.” It was the simple truth. She knew—who better ?—that without her, John would have abandoned his studies. To some men adversity was a challenge, but to others, the weaker ones perhaps, ad- versity dulled and blunted the edge of their high purpose. At eighteen John had been filled with a dream. At twenty, when they had met, he was on the road to disillusioned des- pair. Now, at twenty-three, comicloooks.com