The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-23
THIRTEEN

there quietly? How much had Bill
Mallory seen of that little play OF
welcome?
She said, II -. I've got some
thing in my eyes," and dabbed at
it with a minute handkerchief.
"Ill take it out for you." Pos
sessively, he guided her toward the
light. There was a twinkle in his
eye, but the expression on his lace
was professionally concerned.
IT IT,. 1 think it's out now" she
said.
"We're glad to see you back, Miss
Seymour. I guess you gathered
that. The kids 80"
"Oh, the kids" she said hastily,
embarrassed. You know how they
are. I just got here. Is Ellen
about?'
ELLEN is everywhere about. She
hasn't lighted anywhere since we
got here. I think we might find her
out 'front.'"
Fabienne said, Lets go look"
AS they came down the aisle to
their seats in the front row, the
lights went down and the curtain
rose jerkily.
The play was on. The play was
a dramatization of episodes from the
lives of George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln. 1t was played by
a cast that ranged in years from
four to Twelve; by a cast that spoke
with the tongue Of foreign lads,
and spoke with the childish stilted
phrases that were a delight in
themselves. Fabienne felt proud.
1t was over very quickly, too
quickly. Because Bill Mallory sat
by her side and because she was
aware of the pleasure in his face,
his simple delight that she, too, felt
in the children's performance. Once
she looked at him and whispered,
you like them, don't you?"
Kids are more interesting than
people," he said, smiling. Il work
with them all the time, you know"
DO you?" she said land returned
her gaze to the stage.
The play was Eel and they rose
to stand for the playing of the ma
tional anthem.
Fabienne dropped her purse.
She bent to pick it up.
Bill bent at the same time.
Her soft hair brushed his cheek.
His hand fumbled with the purse.
touched hers. A flame ran up her
arm, into her throat and made her
face feel hot, her eyes burn.
Thanks" she murmured, and
turned ava from him quickly be-
fore he could see how his touch had
affected her. She said, "Oh, there's
Ellen"
Ellen was coming toward them.
holding out both hands to Fabienne.
"Fabienne! You came! I knew
you would, Wasn't it wonderful?
The children did it for you. You've
no idea how you've been missed. I
haven't had the heart to tell them
that you'd left for good. The older
girls have been asking for you and
making plans to show you when you
come back" Ellen chartered as she
cid them out of the hall.
1.-The older girls?" Fabienne
asked.
Ellen was leading the way to her
office.
{ THE sixteen-year-olds. Wait I'M
til you see them. They're wearing
their hair like yours. There's a
wave of saddle shoes and sweater
and.skirt costumes sweeping the
entire neighborhood" Fabienne had
adopted the collegiate costume fol
her work. land they're ever trying
to talk like you. You've supplanted
Carlo and Ginger Rogers as thei,
ideals, my DEAR"
Bill said, It'll buy you girls {
drink later. I think I'll drop in an6
see how Hopkins is getting along
and pick you up later"
When he had gone, Ellen said
I'VE need you, Fabienne. Mrs
Cheeseborough has promised us z
gift of fifteen hundred dollars ant
we think we'll use it on some project
for the older girls. They're quite 6
problem. They're at an age whe1
children's pursuits are beneath
them, and they don't want to take
part in the programs of their par
ents. We like to keep the old ones
adjusted to their w old world lives
but the young mes want to be part
of the new world"
What do you plan to do?" Fa
bienne asked.
Find some way to keep thess
youngsters from going to dance
halls and cheap amusement places
by offering them something NOR
entertaining. We thought wee
spend the money to put a dance
floor in the gymnasium and plar
dances and competitive games
something whereby boys and girl
can get together - away from
street corners. What do you say tt
this?"
IT? Why, I think it's a grea
idea"
There's a catch to it, Fabienne
The girls don't really take to it
They think it's a form of being
watched over. But if you-whon
they adore were to back up thu
movements and be sort Of the spiri
behind it, they'd follow whatever vol
do"
Really I oh, Ellen, view
had this out BEFORE" she walled.
Ellen's face was troubled, but sh'