New Britain herald., 1927-03-28

1 fell from her for the moment as she appraised the boyish Nglre. l Tcddy's checks glowed with excite : ncnt and anticipation. "Stunnin'. I'd say. Steppin' out. be ye?"
 "Dance-at tn Bradhurst Coun- try club!"
 Teddy's brown eyes flashed with ' regal importance.
 Tn swell society, eh? Some pco- ple have all tn luck. Yez moight land a foin", wealthy husband tcllin'. wid tn chances yez how"
 "Oh. I'm not looking for a hus- band. Mrs. Speed. Besides. no enc takes me seriously. I'm just Teddy. tn sob sistcr'.'
 "Oh, well now. yez are young We've got all tn wor-ruld before yez"
 The warm-hearted old Irish wo- man uttered this hackneyed encour- ! agement impressively. But, tell me honestly -" Teddy reverted to her former gayety - that I don't look too out of date in this dress. Tn dehs who are going 10 be there, you know. will all have on dresses they've never worn before. Some of them won't even wear the same dress again"
 Don't yez worry. me darlint!" Mrs. Speed hastened to assure her. "yud be all roight in a kitchen apron: we're pretty 'nough. If only min wud hoy th' sinse to 'preciate real looks instid of clothes. Bnt you'll be all roight, honey. Don't yez worry"
 The ringing of the doorbell at this instant interrupted their talk. Dinny Morrison was waiting. Teddy made final dab at her chin with the powder puff and ran down stairs 10 meet him.
 It was q big night for Dinny. too. He kept his gaze on Teddy's animated face as much ns possible all the way to the clubhouse. The young reporter felt swell of pow CT as he guided his decrcpit fliv- yer coupe over the hiIly country roads. Once his free hand fumblet over Teddys. She pushed it gent ly away.
 None Of that stuff. Dinny," she admonished him mournfully"
 The young man drew himself up with dignified rigidty and clampcd both hands on the steering wheel.
 Tt certnly does beat every. thing" he observed. carefully avoiding any semblance of emo- ton in his voice, that you won't even give me q tumble. But then" he added. even more casually, "si long as there isn't some other guy. I've got q fighting chance. IN wait, You'l like me some day, Tcddy-maybc."
 What wonderful breeze! Open that other window. Dinny. please" said Teddy.
 ~ ch-rh, just like thnt-always! She changes th' subject won't even give me an audience" nut tered Dinny. as he turned the crank to open the window.
 They rode the remainder Of tho distance, breaking the silence only with occasional commonplace oh- scrvations. Dinny's mouth was set in a stubborn line and his eyes were bitter.
 Teddy sat back relaxed, except when the ancient car became af- flic.ed with temporary wheezing and Int some hocus pocus feat with It's mechanism. These little "eccen- tricities" in Dinny's "car" were quite diverting. Teddy assured him.
 She had not observed that her escort was all logged ont in q evening dress suit---his soup and fish, he called it. Instead, the glare Of the cars headlight on the road ahead merged into the picture of someone else-how HE would look in evening clothes. But she knew how he would look-the smile of almost womanly sweet ness danced before her mental vi- sion with a vividness she could not shut out.
 She lived again In swift flash of memory those hours In the sub cellar. Then on fancy's screen she saw herself standing at his bed side in the hospital. heard him tell ing her once more that he wanted her to marry him. The poignant hcartachc that lay in the recollec- ton of that hour was too sharp. And later. when she had gone back and told him he was frec---that she could not marry him with inc love all on one side. And he. .
 "You're a fool" she whispered