The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-31
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shall keep it up. I shall see tc that"
 And yet she went downstairs with strangely leaden feet. Give looking unusually big and formid. able in his black and white, held out his arm formally and they fol. lowed Mrs Cleespaugh and the apple-cheeked MT Williams in tc dinner. Liane experienced an un. wonted thrill as she curled her l fingers around that broadclothed arm. What a stern and gloomy young man he seemed tonight! He scarcely spoke. Liane glanced at him timidly now and again across the delft bowl with the late roses, the waxen candles in their silver holders. Louis XIV" MT Williams was finishing some argument magister- tally. "I always said the piece was definitely in that period" In daze Liane listened, watched, crumbled bread. Dimly she knew that this night marked the crisis in her life. She seemed to be moving, acting in a dream.
  spoken these words, made these selfsame gestures in a previous ex- istence.
 When the long. pompous meal was finally ended the four sat in the small drawing room and Mrs Cleespaugh poured amber coffee into cups of eggshell fineness. You children run off and amuse each other" she said firmly as Nora carried away the tray and set the table in place for the crib bage game.
 Come along to the music room and I'll turn on the radio. Get that what-dy'e call her?-that as- trolocical person." Give offered awkwardly. Liane rose. Now that the moment of decision had come she wanted to push it aside. But she followed him meekly.
 Give twiddled the dials for a moment, then turned to her with an abrupt movement.
 "Well, lots have it," he de- manded. "Tell me what you real ly think of me. I know I was no end of fool to have asked you what I did to-day. I ask your par don."
 She said quietly. Tt's I who must ask yours. was stupid and sch ool- -girlish. I've been thinking 1t over"
 You've reconsidered?
 She nodded. She could not quite trust her voice.
 Good girl" Liane stifled the hysterlcal laugh which rose to her lips. Was there ever so quaint a wooing?
 Give fumbled with his impec- cable tie.
 "We've got to make some sort of show of being pals, at least. be- fore we spring 1t on mother"
 "Of course. understand that" She was demure.
 Look here,' the young man said. giving her a shrewd glance. "This will be your show. run as you want 1t. You're nothing but kid. I'll play 1t according to the rules"
 She was mystified. She said, "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
 "Why, it'll be nothing but the regular thing" he said. "Going about together, sending flowers, and what-not. Mean to say you've never been beaued before" asked this astonishing young man. Liane shook her. head. "It, just isn't reasonable" Give objected seriously. "A girl who looks like you"
 "What-what do look like? ?" cried Liane, struck by his tone.
 "Oh, sort of glimmering dryad."
 She put her hands to her hot cheeks. There was something set her to bJushing.
 "You don't have to say things like that" she told him.
 He turned moody again. Strange intalcuable young man! rIn a voice suddenly cold and express sionless he said. "Oh course not, Sorry. I won't offend again."
 Liane, sensitive to the change in his mood. caught him up abrupt ly, ooh. but you misunderstood I didn't mean"
 Give said, Its to be kept on a strictly business basis. Isn't that what you meant? Right. Sorry I transgressed."
 Oh, well. she thought. if he's going to be mulish about it, let him. She stole side glance at the mutinous profile.
 Lets see, could we break it to them in about three say four weeks?" Give asked few mo- ments later.
 "That will be all right" Liane agreed.
 Well. how's for starting right now with a bit of dancing" the young man wanted to know. He turned the dials and presently the throh and beat of a far off dance orchestra entered the room.
 He held out his arms.
 The young girl. after an in. stant's hesitation. slid into them. An. but she hadn't known he would dance like that! She had danced with Van Robard and had loved it. She had been joyous dancing with Chuck Desmond but never had she experienced this fluid perfection of motion accom- plished by the born dancing man with wings on his heels
 The tune beat it's insistent way into her brain as her steps light ly and fleetingly followed his. wove themselves into the pattern of the music. A singer broke in raul cously:
 "Moanin' low, my sweet man, l love you so. If you die. where1l be-"
 The irony of 1t, thought Liane I,a isc of dn nnlnH fn