The Washington times., 1937-09-10

the gang would be provoked into
haunting him openly.
What a cute idea. Isn't he
clever" she encouraged him Smil-
ing and defied the gang to make
one little crack.
MAKE PLAY FOR HIM
Then Rose, who wore the gown
of a haren dancer, began swirling
around Eric, woofng him entic-
ingly. For a moment Johanna
thought Rose was hooking him.
Then she noticed that the other
girls were taking advantage OF
their costumes and the freedom of
the masquerade to make a great
play for him, too. Only Rose didn't
let them get very far with it.
For moment, Johanna felt like
an employee suddenly dismissed
Eric didn't need her any longer.
With Rose Dalton'S approval, he
was a social success, a hit. Then
Johanna's heart lifted. If Rose
was occupied with Eric, maybe
Hugh would belong to Johanna
again.
In a romantic Arabs flowing
robes, Hugh stood off in a corner
sulking.
Dance with me?" she ventured
tenderly. Its our waltz"
Cant dance in this outfit" he
snubbed her ungraciously, his eyes
watching Rose and Eric.
Hurt, Johanna flung herself
into the duties of hostess, passed
refreshments, organized a grand
march, encouraged boys to dance
with the less popular girls, as
sisted guests with costumes that
had come unsewn and needed
pins.
She was aware Of Eric exagger-
ating his bad dancing and making
the gang howl with laughter. He
certainly didn't need her now.
1t was late in the evening that
Eric sought her out and politely
asked her to sit out a dance with
him. Exhausted and miserable,
she let him steer her out to the
porch swing. The gang was hav-
ing such fun, they didn't need a
hostess to keep things going any
more. Nobody needed her. Even
Eric was just being courteous.
THE PROPOSAL
The darkness cloaked her un-
happiness. The scent of honey
suckle softened the air with ten
derness, but Johanna was shut to
romance. She scarcely heard what
Eric was saying.
She was watching Hugh dane
ing by the door again and again
with Rose. His Arab robes didn't
seem to bother him any more.
In the doorway he even did the
little step he and Johanna had
invented for themselves.
would you be willing to give
up late hours, all this social stuff
and marry. a hard-working MANI"
she was suddenly aware that Eric
was saying.
In her amazement, she hardly
realized that she was actually re-
ceiving her first proposal of mar
riage. Tonguetied. she stared at
Eric through the dimness and re-
constructed all her ideas about
him. Why, why. he hadn't needed
rescuing. Hugh was just a silly
college kid and Eric Eric was
a man.
IT believe you enjoyed talking
politics to old Mr.. Dalton" she
accused him.
why, sure" he admitted.
"You don't really care what the
gang thinks! You don't give
boot whether you're in with them
or not!"
They're all right. I can put
up with them for the sake of see
ing you"
I'm little fool" she cried out.
You're a darling with the
warmest heart in the world" he
took her hand tenderly, Johanna,
will you cook breakfast for me
every morning at 1880 for the rest
of my life?"
I'll do more than cook break
fast" she promised vigorously,
drawing herself up with an absurd
pretenSe of maturity. "I'll protect
you and your career from all this
silly, Small-town social stuff"
THE END