The Washington times., 1934-07-28

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I do anything else"
It was almost dark when they
left the library at half past
four.
Tete-a-Tete
Let's go in here and have
some tea or coffee-or whatever
girls like to drink at this time
of day." Allen said suddenly as
they reached the corner where
the st. Vincent hotel lifted its
ornate gray stone bulk above
the street.
In the dining room just off
the lobby an orchestra was play
ing ut Must Be True" and the
lingering twilight was blue in
the high windows with their
heavy silk draperieS. Only three
or four tables were filled, and
Susan felt as If she and Allen
were alone in the great softly
carpeted room when the waiter
had taken their order for coffee
and cinnamon toast and left
them at a table in the corner
farthest from the door.
"It's terribly expensive, isn't
it?" Susan said. The familiar
little pang of pity that she al
ways had for him shot through
her again as she saw the shine
on his blue serge coat and took
in the cheapness Of the silk in
his dark blue necktie.
Then she was instantly sorry
that she had spoken. He had
wanted this afternoon to be per-
feet, no doubt, as any man
would want his first gesture OF
hospitality toward his girl to be.
But it's lovely just because
it is frightfully expensive" she
hurried to say. my aunts used
to bring me here to lunch some
times a long time ago when we
had more money than we have
now. We used to spend whole
days downtown shopping then.
I always adored coming here"
In the mirror she could see
him watching her from his side
of the table, the lines in his
cheeks deep as he smiled.
"Cute," he said.
"What?"
"Yeur nose and you eye
lashes and your mouth. You'll"
Thanks"
They looked at each other
and laughed, as if each of them
had said something extraordl-
narily brilliant and witty.
what a lovely time I'm
having" Susan's face was
flushed with happiness of the
moment.
The orchestra began to play
the newest song hit and the
leader crooned the words in the
wistful manner made popular
by radio tenors.
I'm confessing that I love you,
Tell me that you love me too.
I'm confessing that I need you.
Honest I do"
"You hear songs like that all
your life and they never mean
a thing to you," Susan said, her
eyes on the coffee as she poured
it, until you fall in love your
self and find out what it's all
about"
"I know that's true" One Of
Aliens hands reached out
across the table and covered
hers and the coffee was forgot
ten for a full moment. II know
because on the night of Decem-
ber nineteenth I saw a girl
named Susan Broderick for the
first time"
Susan Broderick. What a
prim and proper name! She
must be an old maid," laughed
Susan.
"I'll like her name a lot bet
ter myself when it's Susan
Sholes," Allen said, taking his
cup from her. His eyes darkened
as they fell on the hand that
held it out to him. "How long
are you going to wear that fel-
lows ring, Susan?"
I'm going to take it off this
minute. forgot I had it on"
Susan slipped Wallace's ring
from her finger and tied it in a
corner of her handkerchief.
CHAPTER XXI
"When's Wallace coming back
to town."
you'll tell him everything
just as soon as you see him,
won't you, Susan?" She could
feel the intentness of Aliens
eyes on her as she spoke, and
her own eyes veered away and
fixed themselves on the nearest
window where the darkness
was thickening behind the pane.
"Of course I will-only it's 60
ing to be a terribly hard thing
to do"
But you'll do it?" His hands
reached out across the white