The Washington times., 1928-12-24
Deserted After Dance and a
Kiss, Lessing Brands Girl
/ Cheap Flirt in His
Bitterness
Bitterness

mocking lips, and had found that
world good. But he knew him
self, knew how introspective. how
brooding he could be. Unless he
dived into gayetv tonight. he'd
wind up by idealizing or by hating
and one was az bad as the
other-the common little girl who
had enthralled his senses at the
Casino.
Drive her out Of his mind!
Dance with some other grill 1e
was not possible that girls Of the
class who gathered downstairs
could be kissed at sight, but
kisses weren't necessary. He
hadn't forgotten how to dance.
Mrs. Carey would introduce him.
He dressed swiftly. went down
stairs, and found his hostess.
Tt was very rude of me, Mrs.
Carey" he said, mot to want to
come to your party. And I'm
still rude. because I'm not here
because 4 i think ought to be,
but because the party looks 80
wonderful"
Mrs. Carey smiled. Lessing had
said exactly the right thing. Two
minutes later Leasing was dancing
with a charming girl. Half an
hour later he had danced with
three charming girls, had been
introduced to a dozen more, and
was. apparently. having the time
OF his life.
But he wasn't. He was bored.
rfas,., IL IL Gwaf
been company he wanted; it had
been her company; it hadn't
been her dancing; it hadn't been
girls that he craved; 1t had been
one girl; 1t hadn't been kisses
though these he had not tried
to, gain--but her kiss.
And that company, that dane
ing, that girl, that kiss--wl1ere
were they or she? Probably
back in Fall River, or some other
nearby city. smiling herself to
sleep at recollection OF the trick
that had been played by her
upon him. Tomorrow morning
she would awaken, dress, 90 to
the office or mill where she was
employed and regale her fellow
workers with tale of the man
she had eluded last night.
Damn her! Why had she In
vited him to her side IL she
didn't want him there7 Why
had she mutely requested his kiss
IL she didn't want It? Why had
she returned that kiss If 1t had
been unpleasant to, her? Why
had she intruded her life, her
youth, her beauty and her charm,
into the life OF a man who was
doing quite well without them,
thank you?
His partner found him distrait.
As the music ceased, she MUIR
INJURED something, and left him.
Disconsolate, feeling completely
out of the picture, Lessing de-
cided to go to bed. He could
not recapture tonight could
never recapture-that moment
when he held youth in his arms.
had felt the lips of youth press
his own.
And then he saw her!
Across the lawn. emerging from
a marquee, legs still bare, dressed
still in tine wispy frock that she
had worn earlier tonight, she
came, escorted by a gangly
youth whose surrender to her
fascinations was obvious.
Directly across their path Less
ing placed himself. Although he
had changed his clothes, was in
surroundings so different, as to
seem another world, she too,
recognized him instantly.
She stopped, and over her
features crept an expression that
might have been embarrassment,
that might have been fright.
Hello" said Lessing grimly.
Hello" she responded weakly.
The youth with her took ad-
vantage of a situation.
"I say, sir" he said, Introduce
me. won't you? She was in the
tent there, and of course
thought we knew each other, and
now 1t seems 1 don't-and she
won't tell me her name"
"And IL you haven't brains
enough to find out who l am
said the girl, then you don't
deserve to know me. So I think
I'll not permit you to be intro
duced.
But" almost walled the youth,
i've pointed you out to twenty
people and none. of them know
you"
so" she said with severity,
"you didn't accidentally meet ms
in the tent; you followed me-"
She turned to Lessing. Shall
we dance?" she asked.
Disconsolately, crushed-he was
very young-the youth turned
away.
Lesslng stared at her. Three
hours ago she had been in the
public Casino. Now she was at
the Carey's dance. How had she
made that transition, a transition
that could not be measured in a
mile of space but that represented
a generation of striving? And the
youth had said that no one recog-
nized her.
He thought OF the detectives
presence, of the detectives words,
Of the detectives reason for being
here. Was this girl what the de-
tective had termed gats-crasher.
and why had she crashed these
particular gates7
Copyright 1928. by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.(
CONTINUED WeduasdaYl ~