Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-10-28
CHAPTER VIII

stared at her sister. "He's a hand
some devil, isn't he? / suppose you
picked him up at the Skating Carni-
val?"
"He's our merchandise-manager,"
said Ann. She felt resentful with
both Paul Bradley and Bernice-for
the latter's warm greeting of him,
so familiar, and at his curt departure.
Also the fact that he imagined she
frequented such places as 'The Laugh
ing Pig" annoyed her. Why hadn't
she told him in the car that she was
going to a charity affair?
"a neutrality-suspicious. ?" Bernice
asked sharply.
"a merchandise-manager. In our
store"
"Ho! A shopman?" with incredu-
lous disdain. "He seemed a cut above
that, to me-"-and giving Ann no
time to argue, she pushed back into
the restaurant and the crowd.
Ann followed, paid her two dollars
entrance at the secretary's desk, was
greeted by innumerable friends.
"Well named barnyard, ism tit ?"
came the mocking voice of Claire, the
eternal cigarette dangling.
Dumb clucks!" said Captain de
Freyn.
"Good God! Nothing dumb about
'em! Raucous!"-from Freddy.
1t was the usual New York party
of it's kind, becoming more and more
hectic by the minute.
Bernice's gown was repeatedly bap-
tized by jerky hands, until-as Fred
dy wittily remarked-one had only
to wiring it out to have a brand-new
cocktail he would name "blue velvet"
or "sweet sapphire!
Curious" thought Ann, chow peo-
pie imagine they are funny when
they're tight! Or am 1 becoming a
prude?"
Gordon Gavin arrived.
She had broken her date to dine
with him on the evening of the day
Renita Parrish had found them in the
fitting salon at the store. Gordon
had 'phoned her about it.
Unknown to her, Bernice had ask
ed him to this cocktail party.
Ann was put out.
Not that she disliked Gordon Gavin.
Far from it. But, realizing his feeling
for her, she wanted to discourage it.
She was sorry for him. Sorry, too,
for Renita Parrish, who was in love
with the boy.
But there was nothing she could
do about it, except see as little of
Gordon as was possible.
AS they worked under the same
roof, daily, it wasn't easy to avoid
him.
Renita was making it rather awk-
ward for her in the store. Not know
ing the meaning OF the word reticence,
Renita spread it about that Ann had
"come between" her and the good
looking young copywriter in the Ad-
vertising- that they had been on the
verge of an engagement indeed,
there was an understandings
AIMS advent!
By many, then, she was labelled
'man-snatcher."
There were ways of getting this to
the ears of the merchandise-manage
The night of the store dance ar
rived. 4
1t disconnected Ann to realize how
much she had been looking forward
to it. Why, she was even more ex-
cited about it than she had been
year ago at her own coming out party
at the Ritz-Carlton!
Being democratic is all very well"
sneered Claire, "but can't think why
you want to mix with that rabble!"
They're splendid men and girls!"
Ann flared back. "a thousand times
better than the parasites and show
offs who live for bridge and cock
tails and gossip!"
Claire had laughed nastily, and gone
off for an evenings contract at Carol
Ditmar's, with Captain de Freyn.
Bernice had been nice about it, or
at any rate had attempted consola-
tion by the remark that she didn't
blame Ann one bit, considering the
good-looking Paul Bradley would be
at the dance, and Ann would have a
chance at "vamping" him. -.
Ann wore the cloudy pink tulle that
had been made for her own coming
out party.
It was a lovely gown, and caught
on each shoulder with silver star,
xxy0,,Yo silva. c1iprorc