The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-22


 about 10 minutes after you left. Larry seemed rather worried about you"
 "He needn't worry any more" El- len replied quietly.
 What is it? Did something hap pen?"
 When Ellen did not answer Myra went on viciously, I bet that Clen- denning woman said something. We didn't stay, so l barely met her, but if 1 ever saw natural cat that woman is one"
 Ellen turned her head away from the glare of the light. She stared at a patch of starry sky cut out be- tween tall buildings and criss- crossed with clothes-lines.
 Don't let's discuss it, Myra," she said with catch in her breath. 1T don't feel up to it now. But I'm never going to see Larry again."
 She was wrong. She saw him the next night at Dreamland. The long spell of heat had been broken by a welcome rain storm. Rain had fallen all day and was still fall ing in the evening. As a result Dreamland was practically deserted except by stray gentlemen who tucked in to avoid the downpour. The rest of the meager crowd was made up of few ardent devotees of dancing who could have been kept away from Dreamland by nothing short of death.
 In spite of frequent absences from the dance hall-or perhaps because of them - Ellen had be- come popular with those habitual patrons. All of the men wanted to dance with the girl so difficult to Obtain for partner, the girl who was so different from the others, so standoffish and so impersonal.
 She was blue and discouraged as she danced. Her heart was heavy. How long the evening was. How she hated these men who paid 10 cents for 6 dance and expected a Irritation as well. A. sense of in justice oppressed her. Twenty years old--and she might as we'll have been 30. Yes, she was miserable.
 She was dancing when Larry came in. Ellen trembling saw him swep the floor with his eager eyes and felt her heart stop when those eyes met hers. He had started across the floor bent on snatching her from the arms of her partner when, fortunately, the music stop ped. The dance was ended.
 Would 'ja like something to eat, baby?" inquired her partner.
 "No, thank you" Ellen murmur- ed.
 She had managed to put half a dozen steps bewteen them by the time Larry reached her.
 q can't stay a minute,' he said quickly, reaching out to claim her cold hands. ''I had that note of yours this afternoon. It's all a lot of nonsense. l won't let you throw me down like that"
 Maybe you'll have to-" she had begun when he pulled her, half re- sisting, out on a rain swept bal cony. To the left the lights of Broadway flared and subsided and fared again. Below, like shining wet beetles, taxicabs rushed to and fro and honked discordantly.
 Under the coping he told her, ''and you'll not get wet. I had to talk to you a minute - alone. We cant use the time fighting because mothers waiting in a cab down. stairs. So you'll have to postpone till tomorrow telling me what a black hearted villain I've been. want you to meet mother-that's s why came up. You and I will have tea" his eager voice hesitated a moment "-because there's some- thing l must tell you alone. Then we'll see mother in the evening for dinner"
 "All right" said Ellen faintly. She felt the cold dash of rain against her face, across her bare arms
 "You're q darling."
 He leaned forward. His arms were about her, his eager, search