The Washington times., 1935-12-24

GA1lS.
Lewis walked across the room
and stood looking down at her. He
didn't touch her. He just stood
there and looked at her and the
little flames in his eyes were dane
ing faster than ever. He said: 90
suppose I've always known thai
this would happen some time. =. >
and he put his arms around hel
and lifted her up until he was
holding her quite free of the floor
She felt lighter than ever as she
swung there between his stiff
tense arms. She laughed suddenly
and her face which had been
deathly white all the evening
flushed softly with color and she
began to tremble...
She said, closing her eyes
against the sudden vertigo: "You
must be very strong to hold me-
like this. no one ever has be
fore"
Lewis said: "A good many things
are going to happen to you that
never have before. E" and his
arms flexed suddenly and he put
her down.
Ann thought: How funny.
thought he was going to kiss me. u
And she SWayed against him a lit
tie because now she was dizzy.
Lewis hands were on her arms
on her shoulders in a searching
sort Of way even as they were
Steadying her. He said: Listen to
me, Ann, have you had too much
to drink"
Ann said: mo, I don't think So
At least, feel all right"
Lewis said: Good" He smiled
at her. A swift brief smile. You
see, it's important to me that you
know what you're doing"
Ann said: well, l do. :" and
she thought: II am trying to for,
get that Kipp is back in New York
and that everything that is the
least bit Importance to me has
gone to smash"
Lewis smiled at her again. He
said: II thought you did. but
had to be sure"
He put his arms around her
once more and they were tense
and hard and they hurt her Shout,
derS little. She felt the strong,
swift beating of his heart under
hers and something of that old,
slow, rather frightening excite.
ment began to run through her
veins.
She thought: "I shouldn't let
him do this but I want him to
kiss me.
when he does can stop think
ing about Klpp and Francine and
begin thinking about Lewis and
myself"
She stirred in his arms and he
bent his head and kissed her.
One hand found her bare
shoulder. did things with a
satin strap. Suddenly Ann knew
that this wasn't going to be any
good after all; and she tried to
push his lips away, even as she
felt a little sorry for him.
He held her firmly and now the
little blue flames in his eyes were
very bright and Scorching. He
said: Please, Ann. oh, please,
my dear! I thought you wanted
to be loved. -"
She said miserably: IT thought
I did, too, but I find 1 don't.
want to go home"
His grip on her frightened. He
laughed unsteadily. He said:
"You little devil, you don't know
what you want. :" and swung
her up into his arms and started
to carry her across the room.
She said: Where are you tax
ing me?" and he laughed at her
softly and said: Where do you
Suppose?"
Suddenly a queer blackness
came over her and she knew that
she was frightened. More fright
ened than she had ever been in
her life. And that she had been
wrong about not having had too
much to drink. She had had, of
course. And she was tired. So
desperately tired. Too tired to
keep on struggling $50.
Then the darkness receded and
she began all over again. More
violently this time. Pushing
against him with both clenched
hands. Kicking her feet against
him helpleSsly. One of her pumps
fell off with a soft clatter and
suddenly she was as furious as
an outraged and Inundated child.