The Washington times., 1935-11-30

The moment his finely-shaped
back had vanished, she took out
her pocket mirror, and applied q
fluff Of powder to her cheeks,
forehead and nose. Never had she
looked prettier. She was assured
Of it. Her heart sang q little
song Of happiness.
Terry returned with two large
glasses Of champagne. She &C.
cepted one Of them. He seated
himself close beside her, holding
the other. Here's to q pretty
girl"
Suddenly she thought Of the
! unknown Alma" Her heart sank
as she asked: which one?"
you, Of course. Fishing?"
She slipped slowly. How best to
broach the subject? 1t was rather
delicate.
But she must know. Immensely
attracted to him as she was, and
admitted to herself, better o swift
knife-thrust than a long agony.
But all she said was: "For q
foot-loose wanderer, you aren't
so hopeless at making pretty
speeches, when you've q mind
to-"
Going to practice on me, are
you? All right. Go ahead all you
want" He leaned forward in his
chair, looking quizzically at her.
Il don't know what you mean"
She Redeemed.
Perhaps the wish was father
to the remark"
What shall I practice?"
Being your own sweet self,
Miss Vernon"
Il wasn't aware Of being any.
thing else. You men are so vain,
suppose you thought I was de,
liberately posing or Something?"
He didn't reply. He slipped his
champagne meditRtively.
Penny for your thoughts?" she
asked.
You should have asked that
last night on the train when we
were gazing UP at the new moon,
NY CIAAIOs
II thought we talked rather
comprehenSively. I told you an
awful lot about myself. But you
were not equally communicative"
Curiosity
That's the prerogative Of my
years. How old are you?"
"Tw-"-She checked herself in
time-"eighteen."
And I'm twenty-five"
"And full Of common-sense, Mr..
Methuselah?"
Not when I'm with you. I
have-impulSeS."
Interesting onesP" She slipped
her champagne. 1t gives her a
warm feeling. Made her more
courageous.
That remains to be seen. Bet
ter not tempt me too far.
Remember I've been in the back
Of beyond for aeonS. I might be
the wolf waiting to carry off
sweet Little Red Riding Hood"
"Ah, that would be thr-rr-illing!
Would you carry her far-er-
from this sort of thing?"
This isn't so bad. Not when
we're alone, like this. Look up at
me again. Your eyes are lovely"
"Story-teller! Go on, though.
like it."
II thought your eyes were
pretty last night, when we looked
UP at the moon on the train.
Sort of starry. They're more
shadowy now. Mysterious. Deeper
What lies at the bottom Of them.
Vernon?"
Secrets" Her flowerlike face
was tempting as she leaned back
on the chintZ cushions.
TELL me-" He touched her
hand. An electric thrill rushed
from that point Of contact to her
heart.
II was thinking about you
and a girl"
yourself, you mean?"
mo. A girl called Alma"
Alma Fairbanks. She's In Hot
Springs. D'you know her?" His
face showed neither enthusiasm
nor guilt.
mo. I just heard-tonight-I
overheard in the conservatory
that you and she are-en-
gagged"
what rot! I've known Alma
for donkey'S years. We're friends.
Nothing more"
She breathed in deep relief.
''Then why did they say"
my child, don't you realize this
town is a hotbed Of gossip?'
"As big a place as this just as
goSSipy as little places?"
Terry said: "a lot more so, bad
luck!"
"Then there wasn't any truth in
what I heard over the little hedge
in the conservatory"
"Who said what?"
an girl said to Someone-I don't
know who they were-that you
were to be married soon to this
Alma"
"Confound their gossip ing
tongues. You tell them to go to
the devil"
That's your business, not mine,
You wanted to know what l was
thinking, and I've told you"
would you mind If were en-
gaged?"
"There goes the conceited male
again! You're irresistible! Why
don't you get UP on the roof and
crow?"
81 stand rebuked, my child. I
was hoping you would say yes