The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-06
SYNOlsgrS

GALE HENDERSON. pretty
 and SS. works ln . silk mill. SlIe
 and her iO-year-OId brother.
 HII, support their invalid fac STEVE MEYERS who also
 works in the mill asks Gale to
 marry him. She promises to give
 nm m answer ln a few days.
 Later that evening Gale goes nEnttng on the river, goes
 sgrough tlle icc and ls rescued by
 skkAN WESTMORE. whose fa-
 Ater, now dead. built the mill,
 Brian asks Gale to waif while he ketsr nis car but when Ilc returns
 She is gone.
 Brian has come home after
 NH0 years in Paris, convinced Ie
 cnn never be an artist and eager
 so go to work in the mill. VICkY THATCHER. daughter
 Of ROBERT THATCHER, zen.
 efa1 manager of the mill. schemes to capture Brian.
 Brian sees Gale ln the mill and
 EccOgDizcs her. Next evening he asks her tf hc can walk home
 with her. Gale refuses but Steve
 sees her talking to Brian. Steve
 is Jealous and ile and Gale Quar. HGas
 Lonely. she goes skating again. nrian suddenly appears and says
 was hoping to find you here."
 CHAPTER XIV He held out his hands and Gale t0k them. Enc prayed that Brlah WestmOre might not hear the ter { rife beating of her heart. q. Hand in hand, Gale and Brian Mestmore skated up the river. The click of steel runners on ice was like silvery music. Ahead the mirror smooth surface of the river gbstened - a star-iit pathway against ebony shadows. Wind brushed against them. cold, invig- vorating. Gale, matching long strokes to those of the young man beside her. was caught by the spell Of the rhythm. She felt excited and warm and very much alive.
 She turned her head and saw that Brian was looking down at her. Why did you do it?" he asked.
 "Do what?"
 Why did you run away tho wait ?'
 .'.I--changcd my mind.' Gale told him.
 'And you've run away from me twice since---nf the mill I thought / LeWas never going to sec you"
 Hc could not soc, in the darkness how her checks had crimsoncd. T couldn't talk 10 you at the mill." she said. "I couldn't walk home with you"
 t...'Why not?"
 Because you're Brian Wcstmore one of the owners, and I'm---just one of your employees"
 What difference does that make?"
 "It makes all the difference In the world"
 That's nonsense" he said Abruptly. "Nothing but nonsense" sess Oh, no. 1t isn't Its--the way thiags are. that's all. You saved my life the other night and I'll never forget 1t. I'll never be able to thank you"
 "One way might be not to run every time you see me coming"
 sIhe laughed. She hadn't meant to, but there was something in the way he said 1t that made it very funny.
 ''I want to talk to you." Brian went on. "I want to know lots of things about you--your name, for HQStAnce.
 v 'Gale Henderson"
 Mice name" he answered. Gale yes, it suits you. And you're about 19 years old"
 *sTwenty- -three," she told him. "What?" He appeared startled. ''As old as that? My, my. how time does go on! So you're 23 years old. And you work In the silk mill and you don't like men who come pest ering around, asking to walk home with you"
 He was teasing and she knew it. Somehow he didn't seem to be Brian Westmore owner of the mill. any longer. He was just q young 2 man with q pair of dark eyes that laughed at you. demanding to be Laughed at in return--a young man who was an uncommonly good skater, whose long. sure strokes carried Gale on against the wind. cheeks glowing eyes bright. her heart beating that incessant tattoo.
 "You're an awfully good skater" he told her.
 t'Not az good as you are. I'll bet you can cut spirals and fancy fg- ures"
 q used to be able to when was c kid" he said T've probably for gotten how now Every winter I always think of this river and the fun I used to have here"
 "You're really going to stay at home now?"
 "Ycs. Didn't l tell you that the other night?"
 "You said you wanted to get q job
 i've got one - fin the mill. Oh 1t isn't much of q job. l guess they're afraid to trust me because there's so much I've got to learn yet. You know I envy you!"
 You envy mc?"
 He nodded. "Yes, because you know what it's all about. wanted to start in the way any beginner like the idea. He said should learn the business end first. He's right. I suppose--but I know I'd like the other n lot better. I'd like to he out among the machines"
 "Tt's no picnic" Gale assured "No, ! suppose not. But I'd like | to try 1t just the same. I'd like to work at something. instead of sit | ting at q desk and reading papers and trying to get through my head | what other people are talking about"
 Gale looked up quickly to see if he was Joking now. He wasn't, ap- parcntly. turn back now"
 "1f you want to-" he agreed.
 They swung around in broad | arc. The wind was behind them