The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-28
Hg}a{MfZMne,!$ 2 klt,; lZzM! 5y[ $ |,
 sO4 MABEL MCELLOTT


 full of pathos-but there was something about them. It was wall from the heart.
 shut that wretched machine off and ring for Ellen" demanded Mrs Cleespaugh, the autocratg We must have some bridge" Although Give made sh0w of rebellion presently the table was set up and there began for Liane an evening of exquisite torture. She sat opposite Van and when he was dummy he came and leaned impudently over her shoulder. She could catch the scent of the gar denia in his buttonhole, the aroma of his cigaret. His coat sleeve brushed her cheek and the button caught in her hair. There ensued one of those awkward interludes during which, "Pm sorry" and stupid of me" were said more than once, and from which Li- ane emerged extraordinarily rosy.
 "He did that on purpose!" she thought, half glad and half re- sentful. He was the sort of man who simply must be noticed. If there were no other way, she said to herself angrily, then he would catch his sleeve button in ones hair. oh, it was cheap. It was abominable!
 But although she tried desper- ately to hate him she did not seem to succeed very well. She knew every word that he spoke, every infection of his deep-timbered voice. It was spell against which she struggled in vain. At 10 their hostess, glancing at the great clock, began to rise. "I am an old woman,' she said ma jestically. You know my habits, Van"
 The game was ended. The even-, ing too. Liane had thought it in terminable but now she cast about in her mind wildly for some plan to hold Van here. She might not see him again-ever
 He stood, leaning idly against the mantel, and watched her as she swept the cards into a neat little pile. Give was punctiliOusly attending his mother to the stair case.
 Liane was conscious of a burn ing excitement. All evening she had felt Vans piercing gaze upon her. She longed now, with a sud- den fierce eagerness, to ask him why he blew, now hot, now cold, in her direction. None of this showed in her composed manner and before the words formed in her mind the moment passed. A coal fell in the grate with rattle and Liane pretended to start at the sound. This was the hour she had dreamed of when they should meet face to face. And yet she seemed to be stricken dumb. What an idiot he must think her. standing there tOngue-tied!
 She could hear Gives step In the hall Against her will Liane's eyes were drawn to Robard's.
 Tt seems we are not to have even a moment alonc," he said in low tone.
 The girl smiled faintly. What does it matter? We have nothing to say to each other." Suddenly she felt gauche and crude. Why need she have said that? She always managed to blurt out the wrong thing, perhaps because she cared 50 much. She could not be natural with this man.
 Give entered the room, seemingly unconscious of the tension in the latmosphere. After the brifest in terval Van announced he must be off. He shook Liane's hand for mally and withdrew The girl was folding the card table when Give returned. Here, I'll attend to that. You look all in. Mother always drafts her friends into these deadly bridge evenings. Never waits for them to volunteer"
 Liane smiled wanly. She was glad he interpreted her fatigue thus.
 "Youve known him long-Van, mean?" Give asked nonchalantly. She stiffened We've met once or twice before"
 Give lit a cigaret, glanced away. He said: Amusing to see him set ting down at last His engagement is to be announced tomorrow. he tells me"
 Liane heard strange voice ask: ITO whomi?"
 Give said. No wonder you're dizzy. It's like an oven in here" He threw open a easement. Over his shoulder he went on, Vans fiancee? Oh. MurieI Ladd." (TO he COntinucd)