The Washington times., 1938-03-07

And, in her corner shop, sur.
rounded by cigarettes, cigars,
magazines and her pet Angora
kitten, was Gloria Lee. Though
no one called her that. The
hotel residents called her Miss
Lee; the salesmen addressed her
as Baby" and Tommy Lee, her
brother, who was the red-headed
young clerk trying to assuage
the lady with the black nails,
called her Clio.
One or two o. the women who
lived in the Palace called her
that girl at the cigarette coun'
ter" because Gloria was dis
turbingly beautiful and they re-
sented her fresh, clear color, her
copperish hair with the cornsilk
glints, and her astonishing blue
eyes.
GLORIA WAS BUSY
Gloria was very busy today
and she was having good time.
She liked her work. Because
she wasn't a prig, she did not
resent either the college chaps
who strung her a line or the
movie directors-real or pseudo
who talked of screen tests
and then tried to date her.
Those same directors" on their
second visit to the hotel usually
showed her snaps Of their babies
and sent boxes of candy, through
her, to their wives.
Gloria was perfectly happy
and sensible and content with
her scheme of things. She had
no talents. No illusions OF
wanting to be a movie star, an
authoress, an opera singer or
even a first-class secretary. Oc'
casionally she would gaze upon
the daughters of the rich in the
hotel. And because she was 19
and human, little gasp Of ap-
preciation-and perhaps a slight
tingle of envy-would color her
cheeks. For long moment she
would stand and wonder how
it would be to have money or
fame.
Then she would turn her blue
eyes on the counter mirror and
smile wistfully at the cheap
dress which her mother had
made. She would finger, rather
enderly, the slim gold bracelet
hat bore the inscription: ITO
1lo', from Isabel. With love.
Xmas, 1886"
She would look across the
lobby at Tommy. an enormously
powerful young man, and when
he caught her eye he'd wink a
silent, affectionate greeting. She
would feel warm, then, and lover
and not at all envious of any
one.
An eager young man in a bat.
tered hat hurried up to the
counter.
Gloria said. warmly, Hi, Bar
ney!"
MARCELLA READY TO WE'D
Barney Trapp was a reporter,
and he was at the hotel, she
knew, to cover the wedding
breakfast Of a rich society girl,
Marcella Drake, who had been
married an hour ago to Baron
Hans Won Dreyfuss at the fash
ionable Episcopal Cathedral. 1t
was a most important wedding,
and the newspapers had made
a great deal Of it in advance.
All through the autumn there
had been items, elongated to
half columns, even to whole col
umns, under double-column
heads: Drake Nuptials Set for
November 21st". Miss Marcella
Drake Chooses Attendants"
Baron Hans Won Dreyfuss,
Fiance of Marcella Drake, En-
tertains at Cocktail Party" =.
Rodney Callman Home for
Wedding Of Cousin"
NKARCELLA DRAKE was 10.
V1 and she was marrying a
young nobleman from Vienna.
and from Palm Beach, and from
Bar Harbor. Me. It was ex.
actly like her, everybody felt;
it was the logical next chapter
in a life that by comparison
with other youthful local lives
and older ones. too, for that
matter-had always seemed as
glamorous as a movie.
Behind Barney Trapp stood a
group of photographers with
their flashes ready. A little to
one side stood a chap with a
movie camera. They were wait
ing at the entrance to the ball
room where rich music, soft and
muted, mingled with laughter
and wedding toasts.
Barney said: well, Gloria.
I'm told you don't drink, don't
smoke and don't neck in rumble
seats. What do you do for fun.
my gal, and -" He stopped
short, whirled around. And
then he shouted out: "Hey-y,
boys! Here comes the bride!"
Lights began to flash, the
movie camera clicked. A slim
girl, in a Russian coronet and a
trailing veil Of fragile antique