The Washington times., 1935-12-10

except the fact that she would
be busy, could she make seem at
all plausible. The time would noc
go quickly and nothing would be
gained by their being away from
each other except a great deal Of
loneliness and unnecessary heart
aches. at this point she always
reminded herself, in a brave at
tempt to treat the matter humor-
ouSly, that after all six weeks was
comparatively short length of
time and that they were still quite
young and had all the rest of
their lives to spend together.
In the meantime they were be.
ing completely, almost achingly,
happy as people are apt to
be happy who are living through
an enchanted interlude which
they know is going to end pres
emily with a separation. -.
Steve Cluett, dropping in on
them Unexpectedly one evening,
was so aware of this enchanted
atmosphere that he said he felt
about as necessary as something
left over from jig-saw puzzle"
But now I'm here" he added
plaintively, you've got to do
something about it. You can't just
let me sit around feeling super.
fluous."
Kipp said, how about a party?
He said. why don't you call
someone up and We'll go to a roof
and do some dancing and a mod
crate amount of drinking? Ann
and haven't done any of either
for weeks"
Steve thought it was a happy
suggestion. He said he would call
Cynthia. She's becoming a habit
with me-" he explained, waiting
for his connection, like reading
only books I'm paid to read and
only half reading them :"
Then Cynthia was on the wire
and he said to her: Hello, che-ild,
do you think you could elude
your admirable but oh-So-snooty
mamma and go places with an
underpaid young book columniSt
who will never, never even though
he lives to review thousands OF
bad books, get his name in the
Social Register?"
Cynthia thought she could
When she discovered where he
was telephoning from, she was
sure she could. She said: you
should know by this time that I
can always manage to go on any
party where there is the remotest
chance of my seeing Kipp. I'll
take a taxi and meet you there
in no time at ALL"
Steve grinned and hung up.
Whether you know it or not, !"
he told Kipp, "you are still that
gilt-haired child's love life"
Kipp snorted derisively and
went into the pantry to mix some
rye highballs.
Steve thought the party was
still to small by about two
people and Ann suggested
adding Carlotta and Bill Fer
guson. She said: you remember
Bill. don't you?"
Steve didn't; but he had a
theory, old and well proved. that
any man named Bill was invari.
ably an asset to party. He said:
"Stop and Shink and you'll find it's
so there's something about
the name that just naturally
exudes a party spirit"
Ann said: Excuse me, darling, I
have to change into something
properly festive"
She went into the bedroom and
Steve telephoned Carlotta.
Kipp came back into the living
room with a tray on which were
four tall glasses filled with rye,
ginger ale and ice cubes, and
presently Cynthia arrived, looking
like a beautiful and expensive
child, her gay gold head sleek and
shining above the exaggerated
tulle collar of her evening wrap.
She shed the wrap in SHIN
mering little heap on the nearest
chair, accepted a highball from
Kipp in return for which she gaze
him a slow, wiStful smile, and
then she wandered into the bed
room in search of Ann.
Finding her, she fastened wide,
blue eyes on her plaintively. Il
forget how damned pretty you
are" she told her despairingly,
until actually see you. Then it
hurts all over again"
Ann made a little face into the
mirror. She had seen Cynthia off
and on all summer and had grown
surprisingly fond of her. Don't
be an idiot, darling" she begged
lightly.
Copyright 1884, by Allene Corliss. Dis
tributed by King Features Syndicate. .Inc.)
To Be Continuedl