Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-05-28

raised from the beginning. Never had
she been so sparkling, so radiant. The
pale blue evening dress-prlceless
product of Lanvin-set off her rich
beauty as a jewelers. satin case en-
!. phasizes the lustrous radiance OF a
stone of rare value. Eagerly, the near
by officers, many of them distinguish
ed beau sabreuers, struggled to en-
gage the ravishingly beautiful guest
of honor in conversation. To them
all, she was charming, attentive and
brief, invariably returning to the one
man of that entire gay assembly who
appeared not to care one jot or title
whether Anne Cleeves lived and
breathed or not. If he would only be
downright rude, she thought, it would
be so much easier; but Norman Rob
erts was not rude. On every subject
she introduced, he spoke intelligently,
sometimes with flashes of dry humor
that enchanted her in spite of herself
4 HIS IunQ OIL lIllOIILdIloH was e@oNO"AAN
ing in it's breadth and scope. But al
ways he avoided the personal side, no
matter how Anne plotted and intrig-
ued
The Comtesse, charming hostess
that she was, caught her husbands
eye as he presided at the far end of
the table, and with esoteric signs, nod
ded toward the distinguished young
couple, who seemed wholly self-ab-
! sorbed.
"You see," she seemed to say, "she,
too, has fallen under the spell of that
extraordinary young American" Over
the clusters of brilliant, sweet-smell-
ing flowers, General Jacques nodded
wisely with all that satisfaction
that comes to a Frenchlflan who be-
holds a match he has conceived pro-
crossing satisfactorily.
By the time the soft-footed, white
clad houseboys had poured the dessert
wine, and the guests had tasted of
the cool sherbert from tall crystal
glasses, Anne was on the verge of
angry tears. In desperation, she
skillfully played a card which had new
er in her experience failed her.
"Won't you tell me something about
your work." she pleaded with an al
most wistful expression. GIVE known
so few men who really do things. Gen.
eral Jacques has been singing your
I praises all evening long, and l know
he bestows the palms very sparing-
ly."
i" General Jacques'?" Roberts eye
brows shot up in interrogation. Gen
J. eral Jacques?" he repeated. "The
Comte de Brionville?"
Eyes, you see I've known him since
l was a small girl-it's my nickname
for him"
He nodded and twisted the stem of
his champagne glass between muscu-
lar brown fingers. "I'm surprised u
he observed, "that the Comte, who
generally shows the greatest of wis
dom, allows you to come and go about
the Insalah unguarded."
She caught her breath with little
click of annoyance and almost spoke
sharply, but with her purpose strong
in her mind she changed her tone.
"He has just returned from tour
of inspection" said she Jelly, "and,
besides, you don't seem to realize,
Captain Roberts, that I'm not accus-
toned to being shepherded about.
usually go where wish to go-when
I wish to go-and how 1 wish to 60"
"How very interesting life must be
for you," was his astonishing counter.
"Now 1 should imagine life without
obstacles would be wholly without
zest." He took little sip of the bub-
bling amber fluid as he waited for her
reply.
Her gaze dropped to the glowing
tip of her cigaret, lightly held between
her slender white fingers, and, for a
moment, she fell silent; then she rails
ed her head suddenly and looked him
in the eyes.
cts an astonishing truth you've
Just said," she confessed-at last the
ice was breaking! you're quite right
| never realized that it's the obstacles