The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-11
- DAILY SHORT STORY -
 VACATION
Lou Lane, Bandmaster, Went to the Country to Find Rest and Found Himself Fighting
 Fruits of Fame
By SELMA DIAMOND

by SELMA Mae Martin was all excitement. New York's most popular orches- tra leader, Lou Lane, had leased the house next her fathers for the summer. He was coming to Gift wood for a rest away from the noise and tumult of the city.
 She had met him several times in the city and was attracted to him as were so many other debu- tantes. How they'd envy her with him right next door. Mae intended to make the pest of this opportu- nifty. She was going to claim him for her escort to all of Cliftwood's s social functions. It never occurred to her that he really meant it when he said he was coming for a com plete rest.
 Anxious to begin her claiming. she drove down to the station to meet the train. When he alighted at the depot she greeted him effu- sively, taking great care to smile her best movie-actress smile. He accepted her invitation to drop him home and entered the car.
 During the ride, Mae monopol- ized the conversation. She told him that she knew every one who was worth while at Cliftwood. She told him that she had been coming here for years and would see to it personally that he had a good time. Lou tried to tell her many times that he had come for rest, but couldn't get a word in. When they reached his home he had &C., cepted an invitation to tea for the next day because it was easier than saying no.
 The next morning he rose early to walk by the river and to en- joy the sunshine which escaped him in the city. He had walked about an hour when he came upon young woman silently fishing. Respecting the fisherman's rever- ence for silence he said nothing, and sat down quietly to watch her.
 She was pretty and Soung and terribly serious about her fishing. After twenty minutes of absolute silence she landed a ridiculously small fish. The sight of the fish, for which she had been angling at least two hours before Lou ap- peared. made her laugh. Listening to her fresh laughter made him laugh too. Amusement over the same thing served to introduce them.
 She told him her name was Ellen Davis. Before he had a chance to mention his, she inter- rupted him with, T know who you are. You're Lou Lane" and add ed. You're going to Macs for tea this afternoon"
 How do you know all this?" questioned surprised young man.
 'It was told with much ado by Mae at the club last night. The whole town is alive with it. You're celebrity, you know"
 Lou ignored the last remark and asked, will you be at the tea?"
 "No. I'm going to the dog races, Il answered Ellen, gathering up her fishing things. T don't like teas.'
 In a second she was gone and Lou was too startled to follow her She had looked interesting and re. freshing.
 Two weeks passed before he saw her again. And what a terrible two | weeks they had been. Teas, dances and dinners followed in dreary suc- cession and all at the invitation of Mae. Cliftwood was worse than New York. At least New York had sense enough to go easy in the heat, but not Cliftwood What was the point In coming to sum- mer resort to rest if it could make one as unhappy as riding in the subway on a sultry day.
 Ellen was seated at the wheel of her roadster. She looked cool and happy. Lou wondered how she managed. Then he remember ed she was never at the parties he had attended. Lucky girl" he said to himself But how did she avoid them? Why, of course, at their first meeting she had said that she hated teas and obviously she made it her business to avoid them. Ii could be as simple as that for him, too, if he hadn't been ensnared by Mae.
 Ellen saw him coming down the street toward her and hailed him. Hello, there, how are you stand ing the grind?"
 Lou tried to appear happy, but he failed. He hadn't had a good nights rest since his arrival in Cliftwood.
 'Well," offered Ellen. sensing his dismay, don't worry, the summer will be over in six weeks"
 She started her car, drove a short distance, then stopped. Lou repeated her words to himself: