The Washington times., 1936-12-26
NOW READ On
By MAY CHRISTIE


"I see tonight you're gettint
plenty of good work in. But Tn
a poor hand at flattery," he sale
shortly. It was like a dash o1
cold water on her high and happy
mood.
They walked silently down the
stairs.
Thought Ann: els he really q
woman-hater? Does he think I'm
deliberately trying to vamp hin
so as to get ahead in the store
or what?"
She held her head high.
But once on the ballroom floor
her VeXation with him was forgot
ten. She loved dancing. Here, as
with him at the Ice Carnival, was
the perfect partner. They moved
as one person.
Was it her fancy that, as the
strains of the wonderful love-song
rose higher about them, he held
her more closely? Intoxicating
hour! The orchids on her Shoul
der curled in wax beauty, and the
perfume of her hair, her youth
rose to his nostrils like incense.
Love?
Was he in love with her?
If so, he'd fight it. Never give
In. Love was a plaything to this
spoiled society girl whose aim, it
seemed, was to garner as many
bruised hearts as possible. He
thought: II may teach her a les.
son not to play with fire!" The
thought excited him.
He looked down on the smooth,
FURNISHED sheen of her patrician
head.
Against his better Judgment. 1t
came to him how wonderful it
would be to bury his face in her
bright hair, to revel in the warmth
and scent of it, to hold her closer
and yet closer.
Then memory of that scene on
the balcony came to him.
Was that why Gordon Gavin's
work in the advertising was so
poor. of late? Was it because this
girl had beWitched him?
Speak to me of Love . that I
am longing to hear - the leader
Of the orchestra sang through his
megaphone. 1t brought Brenda
back to him. Brenda who had OBJ
viously wanted a response that he
could never give.
Love was an ignoble thing, max
ing fools of ordinarily quite SAINT
people, such as the Gift Shop
buyer.
But this adorable child in his
arms (young in years but no child,
apparently, in her knowledge of
mans vulnerability) was certainly
no fool. She was remarkably we'll
poised.
What was going on in her mind
as they danced? he wondered.
Ann was thinking: Hes the
most fascinating man I've ever
knoWn-but do know him at all?
He likes me now-perhaps more
than likes-but whenever this di.
vine music ends. he'll be quite cool
and distant. It's maddening!"
She gave herself up to the beau
tiful unreality that the waltz en-
gendered.
Closer-he was holding her closer
so that the white orchids on her
right shoulder touched his chin
that strong chin with the cleft
in it.
''If I could only make him fall
In love with mel" she told herself,
feeling the magnetic current flow
ing between them, swaying them
round so that, as they swayed
together in complete unison, they
seemed utterly isolated from the
other dancers.
Was it only sex-attraction?
The glamor of his high position
In the store as compared with hel
own humble one?
Was it his undeniably handsome
looks?
But in her short life, she had
known plenty of good-looking men.
Was it his usually aloof atti-
tude? That sense of withdrawal
about him?
Oh! that this gorgeous musiL
might never end!
It did, however. There was an
encore. After it was over, Paul
said brusquely: Let's sit out
somewhere and have cigarette,
shall we?"
Nothing could have pleased Ann
better.
CHAPTER XVII
Paul found a secluded nook and
O comfortable divan.
Ann sank down on it, curling
her slim legs under her in little
girl fashion.
Let him start the conversation,
she decided. He was too accus-
toned to women playing up to
him.
He leaned back beside her on
the divan that was plentifully sup
piled with gay cushions. He puffed