The Washington times., 1937-02-24

each other any more, not TALK
He said to the leaves swirling,
to that warm air that yet, under its
warmth. held promise of cold when
the darkness should come: You
know wish I could do something
to help, Denise"
She moved, just a little away
from him. said brightly to the
empty path ahead of her: After
all. it's not the end Of the world
Keith. Neither father nor mother
will starve; and I myself will live
to buy new silk stockings, 1 sup
pose"
A policeman passing by said to
himself: Society people, quarrel
ing. They only come into my PARK
to quarrel. or ride horses in a pat,
ronizing fashion over the bride
path-as if it wasn't long enough
to show their skill" For one OF the
nursemaids had that day snubbed
him for a private chauffeur, anc
his life was embittered. However,
he was a very young and resilient
policeman, so he added to himself
THE girl is pretty" and glancing
at her again, ignored the young
man altogether. So the policeman
became one of the few people who
ever saw those two together who
did not think: THE mans much
handSomer."
He was; he was a gorgeous
young man, from his shining
brown hair to his shining darker
brown shoes. He was, and had
been called, heavens gift to a
stag line, a man wasted out OF
Hollywood, the handsomest man in
his class at Hillsville School, the
handsomest man in his class at
Princehaven.
He was also Cor despite all that)
rather nice. so that he suffered
now, knowing that he was com
pletely failing to rise to crisis
and knowing Denise knew that
too! But he could not, would not
ask her to marry him, especially
now that her family had lost all
their money. His own father would
not possibly increase his allow
ance. His father was continually
angry as it was, because he showed
no aptitude for the family busi
ness, and preferred to waste his
time painting. How on earth would
he support Denise? He didn't sup
pose he could get a job at $40 q
week if he were put to it; and
those shoes she had on, if he
knew anything about girls clothes
cost forty!
And yet-raising his eyes from
her pretty feet to her hands
crossed in her tweed-skirted lap, he
was conscious that those hands
were trembling; and he wished. oh
he wished he were really domi
nant sort of person like his father
who could get his own way and
order other people about. He'd
order his father to give him the
Maryland house, with enough tc
run it.
She said, End of Denise Rendale
and Keith SheIdie!" very softly, as
if speaking to herself.
Why do you say that, Denise?
He knew very well; but he was
startled, none the less, that she
admitted it.
She answered lightly: Because
we shan't be meeting at many OF
the same parties. I'm going tC
business school; and at night
early to bed.
What you mean is, that I'm moi
asking you to marry me now, not
telling you that I'll look after you
and your father and mother. Yet
you know I love you"
Il know you've said so, Keith
Lets not go into it"
He spoke very slowly. I can't
look after you, or them and you
realize it,
You could try, Keith No
for the sake of my pride, I shall be
sorry afterward that I said that
so consider it unsaid, please. ]
really should be starting home. Fe
licias waiting for me-" But she
did not stand up, feeling the most
curious difficulty in managing her
knees, as if they belonged to some
one else, who was shaking so!
Keith put his hand on her arm
Denise, you won't have to list my
limitations to yourself some day
when you've decided to hate me
III list them for you. in advance
so you'll remember, at least that
knew them"
But she interrupted; Il shall
never hate you; I've cared about
you too much. And we're both be
ing insanely serious. Nothing haE
happened at all, really. We went fo,
a walk in the park; I told you ia
theirs gone bankrupt finally, anc
that it will be in the papers tomor
row. You said you were sorry
Nothing else happened. Now In
going home. alone, because yol
have an engagement uptown, anc
I'm walking crosS-toWn. Telephone
me tomorrow"
She started to stand up then, bu
his hand on her arm held her.
II think you probably hate me {
little already, Denise. All right.
do have an engagement with m,
father-Whom I do not keep wait
ing, because when he dies, III hav
a great deal of money if I do no
offend him"
"5top it. Keith"
mo, let's have it out. The onl,
thing about my father. the prac
tically retired tycoon, that's odd il
that he doesn't seem to wan