The Indianapolis times., 1936-05-27

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+ EIGH hated games at parties.
L. She knew she was stupid at
them and really no asset to James
springtime party anyhow-in spite
of her blue Chiffon dress.
At the American Roofing Co., she
was intelligent, neat and imperson-
al, an ideal secretary, a useful piece
of office furniture, happy to efface
herself. But at one of James live
ly, crowded affairs in her big house,
your personality had to shout.
She hated parties even more after
Jane introduced handsome Donald
Hart to her. He was blonde and tall
and poised. He pressed Leigh's
hand warmly and looked into her
eyes as If he saw the charm be-
meath her shyness and social stu
pidities.
To Leigh, he was the man at the
party But every other girl in The
room seemed to have the same idea.
If Leigh could have been alone
with him she might have made
some impression.
II II
DUT after that one moment when
D Leigh felt her shyness dropping
from her under his appreciative
eyes, Jane was introducing him to
Mary Ella, with her Southern ac-
cent and intriguing ways-to ge-
NAL, laughing Hester-to Undine
who was tall and willowy and self
assured-to SO many girls, it was
no wonder he forgot Leigh was
still there.
AT last the original Jane an
nounced a contest that appealed to
her secret love of romance. They
were to pick an envelope bearing
the name of a man at the party
and write him a love letter.
Jane, noticing that Leigh was in
an. isolated chair and out of things,
came to her first Leigh deliber-
ately cheated and took the envelope
with Donald Hart's name on it.
She finished her note while the
other girls we're still giggling pro-
tests. She wrote:
Donald,
"CL1P away from the party for a
~ few minutes and meet me un-
der the elm tree at the corner.
"A girl who would like to be alone
with YOU"
Leigh scarcely heard the howls
OF laughter and the jokes they
made when Donald read his letter
aloud. She hardly noticed which
love note received the prize. She
was watching the blue china clock.
At 1l:15 Donald obviously offered
to go out and get gingerale. Leigh
lost her courage. She went to the
dressing room, knowing she would
never dare put on her coat. There
she found Hester and confessed.
Hester had been her friend for
years.
Lets both so" Hester suggested.
Gratefully, Leigh accepted. 1t
was too cruel joke to let Donald
go out and have nobody meet him.
II didn't know l was going to
be fortunate enough to have two
girls meet me" he said gallantly
as she and Hester hurried up.
I'VE thought it would be a good
joke if you came back with both of
us" giggled Hester.
n y
L EIGH couldn't say a word. And
~ then-out of the darkness-Un-
dine made her entrance, looking tall
and beautiful under her lovely
orchid wrap.
"Three!" screamed Hester.
Now which one of you wrote
that note" Donald demanded. II
refuse to go back until you tell"
Leigh felt she was going to sink
through the pavement.
Il did, of course" Undine spoke
up coolly. But 1 didn't expect you'd
be so popular"
Leigh didn't know how she man.
aged to drag Hester away from
them.
But I thought you wrote that
note the bewildered Hester pro-
tested. IF Undine could stay and
talk to him, don't see why we
couldn't have stayed too"
A half hour later, Donald and
Undine rejoined the party. I'm
dine-Leigh noticed-had the dewy-
eyed look of a girl who has been
kissed.
DESPERATELY, Leigh concen-
H. trated-on games-and won
the BOBBY prize, a little memo book,
at the end of a long evening. She
made herself laugh it of. but as
soon as she could she slipped of
inconspicuouSly and went home
alone.
She took off the blue chiffon
dress that hadn't saved her from
social failure and flipped the memo
book bitterly. Then she forgot her
humlliations. The prankish Jane
had filled it with the first names
and telephone numbers of every
man present. Donald's telephone
number was in it. tool
All she had to do was to call him
some evening. Two nights later.
she was phoning him.
This is Leigh she confessed in
voice that didn't sound like hers.
"Leigh?" he fumbled.