Evening star., 1934-08-30
NU r Sc
BY
KATHERINE
CARSON

Really, don't remember anything Of
the sort. Thank you, Mr.. Brown.
You'll ask me again some time. won't
you, Ted7"
She gave Ted lsnguishing look
and prepared to slip into the arms OF
Mr.. Brown. when she heard Gerald
laugh and say, Its too bad you don't
remember. because / do" And mex
plicably she was in his arms. She
could hardly make herself conspicu-
Gus by struggling, but she made up
her mind she would not submit
meekly to his hieh-handed methods.
Surely you don't expect me to
dance this with you?" she Missed.
She was somewhat taken aback
when he replied calmly, mo. I'm
taking you out of here as soon as I
locate good door. want to talk
to you"
IT don't want to talk to you. I'd
rather dance-with somebody else"
But before she knew it she was
seated in a little room unmistakably
belonging to Norine's father. and
Gerald was smiling down at her.
You're Staying them with that
Cosima stuff, aren't you, MAZDA? You
really are good at it."
He was the first one to see what she
was doing. Even Stanley had not
noticed. She wanted to chill him
with hauteur, but praise is sweet to
the actress, especially the amateur.
She was forced to smile at him. In
stantly he took advantage Of the
smile.
You aren't mad at me about this
afternoon, are you?" he asked her
caressingly. You have been avoid
ing me like the plague all evening.
Can't you take a joke?"
So that was the line he was going
to take!
II should describe 1t as an insult.
What was it-you we're leaving town
while it was still possible to get
any reason to think was angling for
you? Or is your monumental conceit
the only reason for your insinuation?"
Stanley put his head in the door
and withdrew with an apology. MAZDA
felt like a fool. At the moment she
was showing righteous indignation
against any one who thought she was
hunting rich husband, Stanley,
whose fortune hunting proclivities
had been described to her by Gerald,
had to pop up like Banquo's ghost. 1t
was too ridiculous. If Gerald gave
her so much as a meaning look, she
would hate him forever.
But Gerald, disregarding the inter.
ruption. said gravely. "You misunder-
stood me- Will you do me the honor
of becoming my wife?"
"No, I WON'T" snapped Mazda. She
stamped her foot and glared at him.
She retired in dudgeon to an ample
wing chair, first turning it around,
and there she sat, staring out the
window at the dark october night.
She was furious with Gerald. At no
risk to himself, for he had asked her
at a time when no self-respecting girl
could have helped refusing him, ne
had made it impossible for her to ac-
cuse him of being so egotistical that
he ran away because he thought she
was chasing him. He had turned the
tables. She had come to the party
to humiliate him, and she herself was
made to feel cheap. She nursed her
anger a few minutes, for she wanted
to keep it sizzling until Gerald should
pry her out of her retreat.
At last she peeped cautiously
around. Gerald was gone. Darn him,
he was too clever by half. While she
crouched in the big chair, wondering
whether it would be better to give
Gerald a piece of her mind or Just
ignore him, she heard voices behind
her and realized they had been talk
ing for some minutes.
at seem fated for eavesdropping, :"
she said to herself, thinking of the
medical fraternity dance, when hid
den behind palms she had been forced
to listen to Cookies accusation Of DR..
Gillespie.
But, Norine, you can't mean that
saying. why, I've counted on 1t all
Summer"
'T can't help It," said Norine stub
bornly.
"I don't think it's fair" Stanley
sounded like a spoiled boy. you
should have let me know sooner II
you did not mean to have me. Here
I've been dating you all Summer, and
you let me 60 on wasting my time.
sWhy, I would have picked some other
girl If I had known you were not
serious. 7 could have had other
| chances.
"Oh, so you just wanted to get mar
RED" said Norine, playfully. Il thought
you came here because you liked me. u
Stanley was very serious and very
| abused.
"Is he going to have the gall to tell