Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-11-04
Women In Love mw&um


'It's just that we're entirely differ
ent, and so we could never really fall
in love with each other"
Now this logic wasn't quite cor
rect, but the main thing was to let
poor Gordon down easily, for Ann was
eminently kind.
He said quickly, looking at her with
unhappy eyes that carried some re-
sentiment: "Is it because 1 took din
ner tonight with Renita Parrish and
brought her to the dance? Is that
it,?
The pleased look that came to AIMS
face was denial enough.
"Renita is gorgeous tonight. 1 was
just thinking how particularly well
you two looked together on the dance
floor"
Suppose you're hoping I'll return
the compliment to you about how you
looked with Bradley? Well, I won't.
He's years too old for you"
VXed as she was, she burst out
laughing. No point in reasoning with
Gordon!
Presently the strains of a perfect
waltz drifted up to the balcony.
Gordon, I'm booked for this dance.
Will you take me downstairs 2"
"Not if you're dancing with the big
butter-and-egg mani"
ooh, there are plenty here would
fit that description"
"You know darn we'll whom
mean"
"Come, Gordon, don't be unkind.
It's rude to keep people hanging
about"
"Rude, you say? Well, 1 see it in
your eye that your next partner is
Bradley"
"Then if you won't come with me
I'll have to go alone" She half turn
ed, looked pleading at Gordon. He re-
mained where he was.
eve can have the third dance to-
gether. It's tango, Gordon"
81 don't need your pity"
"Why, you're behaving like a hor-
rid, spoiled little boy!" She turned
and hurried from the balcony, into a
salon, and directly in front of her saw
Paul Bradley heading for the stair
case. She overlook him.
She smiled up at him. "Mr. Brad
ley, 1 think this is our waltz"
She was not to know that Brenda
Selz, ablaze with jealousy and from
the snub that Mr.. Bradley had ad-
ministered had paused on her way to
the ladies' cloakroom (she had made
the pretence of going there to get
out of an awkward situation, for she
had no partner) and was watching
their meeting at the top of the steps!
Ann put a light little hand on
Paul'S arm.
1t stiffened at her touch Had she
made tactical mistake? Was he
carrying store etiquette into the year
ly festivity? Quickly she removed it.
"I'm so sorry. D'you know, quite
dared to venture, provocatively.
forgot our relative. positions?" she
"What do you mean?"
king Cophetua and the Beggar
Maid! You get the idea?"
He thought how piquant and lovely
she is, in her pink tulle gown. But
Brenda's innuendoes-nay, more than
Observation-Disclosures information
on AIMS flirtatious doings-made him
harden his heart against her.
Il see tonight you're getting plenty
of good work in. But I'm a poor
hand at flattery," he said shortly. It
was like a dash of cold water on her
high and happy mood.
They walked silently down the
stairs.
Thought Ann: els he really a wo-
man-hater? Does he think I'm delib-
eratcly trying to vamp him so as to
get ahead in the store, or what?"
She held her head high.
But once on the ballroom floor, her
veXation with him was forgotten. She
loved dancing. Here as with him at
the Ice Carnival, was the perfect
partner. They moved as one person.
Was it her fancy that, as the
strains of the wonderful love-song
rose higher about them, he held her
more closely? Intoxicating hour! The
orchids on her shoulder curled in wax
en- beauty and the perfume of her hair,
her youth, rose to his nostrils like in
cense.
Love?
Was he in love with her?
If so, he'd fight it. Never give in.