New Britain herald., 1930-12-08
THE. BLOW FALLS

THE. BLOW FALLS
 David had the fancy to go to inc party as the ghost of Charles the First. in hlacl, hose and velvet doublet, and curled black viz, q Jazged scarlet line breaking the Gvid paleness Of his face and throat
 "David Frost-you are too awful, Don't you dare come near me- V cried a small yellow-hair pixie.
 Just as YOU say answered Da- yid snatched tho pixie from her partner and whirled her into the midst of the dancing throng
 Fanny had been counting all the way out on that first dance with David. They danced beautifully to- gether and it had been long weeks since they had had the opportunity. Held close in David's arms. swayins in perfect unison, perhaps he would make a rift in her dreadful depres- sion, heal the ache in her heart. But he vas dancing with some one else. The yelloW-halred pixie - Charlotte SturdeNant was young anu SdS anu liG iiL- II Lf-iI SItf fAN bL making faces at David. pretending to want to get away from him. And David was laughing,
 Emily Bennett always did every thing beautifully and her Halloween party vas no exception. Because Of it's distance from town the old place boasted no such modern con- veniences as gas and electricity. Tonight Emily had lighted the up- stairs and down with q myriad Of wax candles. Great log fires blazed in every room; yellow and white chrysanthemums were on every nantelpiece the orchestra had been specially imported from Philadel- phia; the punch vas breWed from an old family recipe: there was un- limited champagne at supper.
 Fanny vas never long alone at party. A ghost and a skeleton competed for her favors, and Fanny linked arms and danced with them both. AfterHard ir vas told and retold and told again that Fanny Frost had never been in better form tHan sne was that night. She danced as if she were 2 very fountain Of rnvthm. laughed constantly, was witty and gay, flirted outrageouslv, look the baton from the orchestra leader and conducted number, dil - an exhibition tango with Al Storer.
 When David looked for Fanny later. as he did half dozen times. she was dancing or was engaged three or four dances ahead. She had supper on the stairs in the midst ot 2 laughing chattering group; there va. no room for David.
 Not long afterward some one sug- sestad q. stroll in the park Fonr set out - David, Helen Alderson, Ralph Brander and Sue Peabody. David was too engrossed with Fle|- en to notice that Fanny "as stand ing in the hall looking after him. fPerhaps he had forgotten that that morning ne had planned with Fan ny to slip away and show her the park by moonlght) Ralph wore | skeleton suit and his thin shoes were soon wet by the dew He and Sue turned back.
 Helen and David went on, Tempt cd by the beauty Of the night, the succession Of lovely Eistas that lured them ahead at every turning trey walked for miles and miles When they got back 1t vas after and the party vas breaking up. Nc one had seen Fanny recently-her wrap was missing, Emily Renner' was almost certain Fanny had lei nith the Sidney PhilDrjchs.
 . A little shamefaced. 2 little sulky David drove home alone.
 Back at the house he found nc sign Of Fanny, He telephoned thf - Philbrichs: Fanny vas not there he last they had seen of her she was dancing. Emily Benentt bat TO telephone. David made the Ions drive back 10 Bennett Park fa' faster than inc law allowed. ths house was m utter darkness. bavtC turned his car and went hom' again. Fan must have taken { moonlight stroll herself; half z dozen people might have taken hr home; undoubtedly they had passac on the way,
 When he got within sight of hE mothers home he saw that the downstairs was abaze with lights and for the first time q premonitlol of disaster seized him. Scarce4 vaitins to turn off his engine h' dashed UT the front steps Tht