Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-03-18
Claire, the
WallAower
By LEETE STONE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(copyright.l
TLAIRE C0NLEY was a wallfow-
~ er. Ever since kindergarten daysi
Now, in her last year at fashionable
finishing school nestled In the Connec-
ticut hills, she still lacked that In
definable quality that draws men.
Claire was psychologist enough to
know that one convincing public proof
of power to attract men would instant
ly include her in that sought-for inner
circle that reached out successfully
toward matters masculine. She was
not unpopular; she played excellent
tennis aud bridge, and her frank per
sonaiitg NON her admirers among the
athletic contingent. But her constant
wish was to be included in that elect
group of girls, who got letters every
day addressed in bold characters, and
were invited to every Naval Academy
dance.
Looking from her open window one
June morning, with the scent Of new
mown hay from the great meadow be-
hind the dormitory meeting her nos
trils fragrantly, Claire admitted that
her desire to make a showing be-
fore the girls was camoulage. Deep
in her heart she knew she wanted a
mans companionship. She visualized
a home with a sun-lit living room and
a yellow china tea set-and tall man
who smoked pipe, dropping ashes
on the floor, and kissing her when she
scOldcd.
She went to attend a talk on the
"Art of Social Charm" by bespecta-
cled female In tweeds whose mind had
long outrun her charm.
Claire observed the lecturer, pencil
poised over her note book, with a
slight sense of pity. Angular, fat
chested and masculine how
could this woman have captured the
art of social charm2 ALI at once she
herself was captured by the woman's
incisive logic. Trenchant lines wrote
themselves mechanically In her note
book and unforgettably on her mind:
"Eyelashes, lips and trim figures
will catch husband; but 1t needs
brains to keep him Gagged In content"
and another, ats the woman
who acts Immediately on the sudden,
sometimes startling intuition Of mind
that conquers and keeps men, women
and society at her feetl"
That afternoon the tennis tourna-
ment finals were due. Claire was well
in line for the tall silver cup. She
had never felt more fit; more alert
mentally and physically. Her service
and net play were superb. At the
stroke Of four she slashed over the
vicious, courtlength lob that won her
the cup.
Her friends trooped the court to
congratulate. Even as she smilingly
responded a weary reaction set In.
Athletic honorsI What did they mat
ter?
The purr and whir Of the daily
mail plane sounded overhead. AS the
group watched 1t, the even drone Of
the motor ceased and a suffering
series Of coughs and racking explo-
sions took place. At once the grace
full man-made bird began circling and
gently dropping down to the long fiat
meadow, ideal for landing.
In the stress Of reaction a daring
intuition swooped down, like the plane,
to the fat, tired expanse of Claire's
mind. The Social Charm" lecturers
line returned to her consciousness
with renewed force.
The mail plane glided to a skillful
landing on the scented field, SO near
the watching girls that the pilots tall,
handsome figure as he stepped from
his flying niche to the ground was
distinctly visible.
IF only he will turn and look at
us >" thought Claire, almost wav-
ering in her daring course Of action,
designed to prove to the girls once for
all that she was not wallfower, but
in truth a "man's woman"
As II in obedience to Claire's men,
tai command, the young man turned
and faced the group with smile and
a CHEEKY, casual wave of his hand.
Claire's cuei Fllnging her racket
down, she returned the wave enthu-
siastically, crying to the amazed
group:
"Why-why-it's Joel They must
have put him on this run" And she
flew across the field toward the pilot,
who had turned back to his motor.
"Joe" looked around at the sound
Of Claire's running feet, and went
trife white under his tan as she threw
her arms around his neck.
Hug mep she whispered, "as-
though you loved me I'll explain
later II you'll leave me your address"
"You needn't explain" he murmured
In a breathless baritone. Suddenly he
held her shoulders out at arms length
and stared hungrily at her. A;blush
Redeemed. his boylsh face. Then he
smiled as II he visioned something no
one else could see.
He folded her close again; so close
Claire felt the thud Of his heart.
They chung so a brief moment. Rous-
ing herself from her new heaven, and
all at once a little afraid Of the stare
Of the waiting girls, she forced bis
arms away, gently.
II tnust-oh, must run-my-my
dearp
$50 must l." he replied, eyes on the
mail bags. But I'm coming back,
right to this spot-Sunday
"Elsgy" Advanced In Price
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