The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-18


 frock swirlng around her ankles, creamy white velvet wrap, pearls at her throat, a sparkle of crystal at her small, high-arched white | slippers. Dazzling Liane thought | her, as she stood there. She was panting, a little, as if she had been | running.
 "You didn't expect me, ] know" she said. smiling. "But l just had to come. Tell me--did Chuck stop by yet?"
 "Chuck?"
 "Oh, heavenly day!" Muriel evil denced impatience. "Chuck Des- mond from The Sphere. Grimes told me when ] got in from grand mothers that he'd phoned he was on his way. I'm mad to see him. Where is he?'
 MuriePs eyes were starry. Her young bosom heavcd with ex- citement. Liane thought she had never seen her look 50 lovely.
 'I put him in S-1, on the left" she said automatically.
 "Now, look" began Muriel por- tentously. I'm going in to sit with him. Wait. Who's here tonight? The Wakenings or the Bairds or the Stapletons?"
 Iiane wrinklcd her brows. Lets see? No, none of those. But your cousins, Grace and Sylvia Masters, are down in B.
 "Oh, hell, 1 don't want to be seen" muttcred Muriel, rebelllous- | Iy. Those old scarecrows will be l f1 tn m nt she arrives. But I've got to see him. Look, you romp in and tell him I'll wait fin the car. Down at the end of the drive. Tell him to leave early and we'll break away. Or no, you cant say all that. The whole gang will stop watching the | show and listen in. Give me some paper and I'll write him note." Murieps fingers shook a little as she wrote. My friend for lifc," she told Llanc, dramatically, hand Ing her the missivc.
 Desmond cooked a humorous eye at the tall girl who bent over | his shoulder with the folded slip. Thanks" the deep voice said la- conically and several dowagers turned to glare as Liane slid out.
 Muriel was stroIling restlessly up and down, her taffeta skirts crack | ling. She turned to stare at Lianc. | "Thanks," she said. "Id have died if I'd missed that message tonight. Haven't seen him since Wedncs- day"
 Then she threw back her head and laughed soundlcssly at Lianc's amazed look. "Yes, I'm absolutely head over heels with the young man." she explained. Don't be q goof. He's the most absolutely priceless lamb. Oh, you should hear him talk! It's too marvellous Of course, mother'd have spasms if she knew l was seeing him. She caught me at tea at the Colony last winter with him, wanted to know who his grandfather was all that rot. Chuck just laughed in her face. Treated her rough. She forbade me To see him again. Forbade! HoW's that for a laugh :? If l had my hands on that money grandfather left me I'd run away with him in a minute. If he'd have me! There are dozens of girls af- ter him. Too devastating!"
 Liane stcmmed the tide momen- tarily. "He seems-attractive," she said.
 Attractive? Is that all you can give him? Why, my dear, he's ab- solutely d knockout, smoothly. Pm so afraid someone will run off with him before 1 have q chance that I cant sleep nights" She went to the door, threw away the half-smoked cigaret and be- gan .meticulously to redden her fuchsia- colored mouth.
 "Don't tell anyone you've seen me-" she cautioned as she tripped down the steps.
 Liane went back to her counting. She felt curiously drab in her last years blue crepe, q very Cinder- ella mulling over the em bers. How rich and lovely and full of life Murlel seemed. Liane scarcely mo- ticcd the door open and the lean young man flash past. She must have been sitting there five min utes when she was startled by the Iappearance of Van Robard, hat less.
 "Seen Muriel?" he cried breath 1cssly. The doWagers were by now beginning to stream out, staring at the handsome man who stood talk ing wildly to the pretty girl in the box office.
 "Come along" he cried as Li- ane paused to turn over her cash box to Don Knowles. the company manager. Knowles smiled at her humorously, knowingly. "You get along with your boy friend,' he said, I'll finish here."
 "Whatever is 1t all about?" Li- ane wanted to know as she ran, stumbling in the dark, beside Van Robard on the way to his car.
 "Murieps run away with that newspaper chap" Van growled, slipping the motor into gear. L- ancs' heart turned sick with pain and jealousy. It was as if he had twisted a knife in her side. What did 1t matter to him if Muriel went off with another man?
 T don't understand--" she be- gan, on a note of faint protest. Resentment cQlored her tone. Smiling little grimly. the man in the drivers seat half turned to