New Britain herald., 1927-03-29


 of the couples swaying to the mad strains Of q Hungarian one-step.
 He failed to see Diana among the confusion Of gay colors. But he found her few moments after ward in the ante room. She was slipping another highball. Walden at her side was pouring himself a drink from his flask.
 "Welcome-reform candidate"
 Diana uttered her words even more thichly than a half hour be- fore, following them with silly smirk toward Don.
 May I have this dance, Dia?"
 Ho approached hor. ignoring what she had said. If you don't mind. Walden" he added, including D!ana's escort.
 Not tall. or friends, youn Dia don min leasht bit" John Walden. Jr. was in a serenely acqUiasccnt mood. His flask was nearly empty.
 Don pllo.ed Diana through the maze of dancers, guiding her out in the direction Of the veranda.
 "TAo't you said you wanted [ dancn.' she reminded him quor- uIously.
 Not in your condition. Diana" he answered gently. You need air. my dear. Whats th' idea. drinking all that stuff, anyway?'
 "Qujt preaching" she retorted grossly
 T don't intend to preach. Dia. But l do want to avoid, for your sake, any nasty impression these people might get. After all, this is entirely unlike you, girl. Promise mo, won't you, that you'll not touch any more of tn stuff?"
 T resent your interference." she flashed back at him. her eau tiful gray eyes almost black with anger. I'm not kid. One would think I was IS years old, tn way you're ordering me about. Go an tend to Lola. She's tn one you came here with"
 Jerking her arm free Diana turned with an angry toss of her head and walked away. Don as she glidod across the floor her slight unsteadiness accentuatins her sjnuous movements. He could ,o' free him self from perturbation al her unusual behavior which per sisted throughout the remainder Of the evening. He voiced this worry to Teddy during their next dance . together.
 She seems almost hystorical" | his little protege admitted. al- ' though for the moment little else concerned her outside the sweet ness of Don's arms about her waist. '
 "A kind Of bravado, as if she were defying someone or some | thing"
 His words spoken close 10 her ear were barely audible above the ! din of the music.
 "Driftwood' what they're l playing. isn't it, Don?"
 Tcddy's voice trembled, but Don . hNHnc was unaware Ol IL. |
 T believe IL is" he answered matter of -factIy. Good tempo" Driftwood from the ship Of .
 dreams,
 Still drifts back to me; All that's left to me, it seoms-'"
 4 tenor In the orchestra was singing il. Teddy steeled herself . against the tide of emotion that insisted upon surging to the sur face of her.
 IL was ? o'clock in the morning | when Dinny and Teddy, Lola and ! Don departed. Don had fingered, undecided about Diana who was careening about the floor oblivious 10 her friends very existence. He finally concluded she would be safe ! enough with Walden. who had brought her to the dance. Wal den was a gentleman.
 Fully an hour passed after her four friends had gone before Diana admitted she was tired that she i wanted 10 20 home.
 "Don was right. Tn air is won dcrful," she remarked to Walden |. as they stood for q moment waiting {, for his car. She moved 10 the i edge of the porch where the scent of lilac blossoms dripped from tho | shadows. Their clean fragrance struck her nostrils like a balm, ! shaming the fumes of liquor with which she had been surrounded all , the evening"
 "Swcct-like 2 precious elixir,' she murmured softly, her nostrils