Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-12-16
Women I'm Love" nuv&>xm
CHAPTER Is

"Quite HalloWe' 'en-lSh, isn't 1t! you
know the old superstition" His at
tractive voice was very close and his
reflection smiled over her left shoul-
der.
"About seeing a lovers face? Not
a bit appropriate, Mr.. Bradley" Her
glass halted in mid-air.
Keep her hand steady. Poise! She
needed it. Oh, why did he say such
thrilling thing to her if there was
no meaning, no intention back of it y?
And had she been too "on-coming'
in her answer? But he had asked for
it, hadn't he?
He lifted brimming glass from
the counter, still looking at her in the
mirror.
"Why inappropriate? Am | such
an old fossil?" were the amazing
mestions he ventured, under cover of
the uproar.
Now Ann had already had one cham
pagne cocktail and a warm and re-
assuring heat was creeping through
her veins. 1t gave her confidence
She turned to him gaily.
"You could be the youngest man
in the world if you'd let yourself go
a little, Mr.. Bradley. Don't you know
that? Shall we drink to it," and she
smiled at him provocatively over the
forget-me-not leis that was the exact
color of her eyes. !,
"Here's to Peter Pan-and you,
he said softly, smiling back at her.
"and here's to the impulse | have 70
carry her off to the tree-tops! Is
that young enough, Wendy? Let's
drink to it"
Laughing, they drank their cock
tails.
"You look about fifteen. DO you
know that?" .,
"That's a horribly gawky ageE
"Then Sweet Seventeen"
She thought, happily: He's no
adept at compliments, though he's Try
ing. I'm glad he isn't smooth ana
nracticed! That shows he isn't accus-
toned to flirting" It reassured ner.
More peoule arrived. Plenty OF
Young men greeted Ann enthuslastical
1v even tried to date her in the pres
ence of Paul Bradley. She wouldn't
have been human had she not Deen
eattered. Let him see she was pop
ular. A little competition was excel
lent.
Presently they were all seated at
a long dinner-table, Paul to her le1t'
They had their backs to the dance
floor. Directly opposite them was
Rosalind, the hostess, with couple
of the bluest-bloodest boys in town on
either side of her. Rosalind had I'M
bibed considerably, and was in hilar-
ious spirits. Her eyes danced mis-
chieviously every time they rested on
Ann and her grand fathers merchan-
dise-manager.
To AIMS annoyance, none other
than Captain de Freyn sat at her 9TH
er side. She gave him the back of
resolute shoulder. Pretended she did
not her when he asked suavely:
who's the lucky fellow" He repeat
ed his question.
The look she gave him was Arctic.
Whom do you mean?"
"The chap with the smouldering
black eyes. The one you're spreading
yourself out for" He grinned un-
pleasantly.
81 don't happen to appreciate your
special brand of humor."
"You don't give me an opportunity
to show it." as he fingered his tooth
brush mustache in no manner put out.
"By the way, how's Claire, and Carol
Ditmar? I've been so absolutely full
up with engagements that / haven't
seen either of them in the past age"
"How devastating-fo them, nat
urally," Ann commented sarcastically.
He raised his glass, his mustache
lifting at one corner in a wry smile.
II drink to the hopes of little ro-
nance for you, since all work and no
play makes Jill a dull girl"
"Drink to your better pickings and
leave me out of it," she retorted, not
mincing her words.
His eyes flicked to Rosalind. Ann
turned her back.
The orchestra broke into the strains
of isle of Capri" Many of the par
ty rose. "Shall we dance?" Paul ask
ed her. She got up.
1t was heaven to float with him in
the enchanting waltz. Irritation left
everything left her except the
knowledge of his nearness, the sheer
magnetism of his touch.
When the music ended, and they had
returned to the table, and walters