The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-13
CHAPTER XIX

When Ann walked into the living room even Florabelle was speeches.. These girls, cheap in their wants, tawdry in their ideas, for just moment sensed something beyond themselves, something made up of breeding and culture.
 Gee" said Neddy.
 "Gee--" came Teddy's echo.
 Clara boasted, "It's all written up on the society page" She got the paper. "See Athens Club spring ball. Oh, Ann I'd be scared to death-I wouldn't know how to act" It was her admission of inferiority.
 Neddy scoffed, Swell folks act just like we do at the taverns." It was another admission.
 Teddy opened her mouth to re- iterate, but Florabelle broke in lazily.
 "These fraternity dances are all right" she granted. Personally I prefer a smaller party"
 Myrtle came timidly from the background. Gan touch 1t, Ann?" she asked.
 Ann held up the skirt for her inspection. T got it cheap be- cause the pattern goes hay-wire," " she explained, pointing out the discrepancy with difficulty.
 "It's swell" Myrtle sighed. T wish Bill could see you. He likes pretty things"
 Paul arrived and was greeted by the audience. He had eyes only for Ann. He wore nicely tailored tux, not double breasted and mid- night blue, but most presentable. He held the evening wrap and Ann slid her arms into he wide sleeves. She smiled her thanks to Florabelle.
 The girls jlung over the rail as they descended. Myrtle had rushed on ahead to dust the stairs. They found her at the foot rubbing away industriously. She scampered to the back of the house, not answering when Ann called, Good night Myrtle"
 Driving down town in cab with the radio humming softly Ann said, "I suppose it's because I'm unsophisticated that I feel SC thrilled. But love 1t. I love the feel of my dress, love for you tc look like that. It makes me fee precious, somehow"
 He laughed underStandingly "Even people like us have mo- ments, Ann. Because they are SC few we must make the most o them"
 She looked out at the myriae lights. "I'm going to make ever! single minute count. Tonigh must be more than tonight, i must be a lovely memory. Wht knows, it may be my incest mem ory."
 Paul reached for her hand ant thought better of t. i"You're { funny youngster," he said.
 T guess we're two funny young sters," she returned, "over-steppint our budgets, pretending to be wha we are not, but it's fun, Paul-sucl a lot of fun"
 If Ann wanted memories, sh, made them that night. She stoot out, a bewitching individual, amoni 8 hundred girls. Her white and golt :. slimness, the glory of her hair, he expression of naive delight, drev eyes to her. She knew the eyes fol lowed her as she went through tn lounge to the dressing room. Sh overheard murmurs. "Who is she who is that girl-whom did sh come with?" Ann would not hav been human If the admiring eye and the murmurs had not added t. her heady elation.
 Girls in the dressing room eyet her gown approvingly. At tn powder bar they talked to her a. if she were one of them. Whel she returned to Paul he wa laughing with a group of younl men. Ann had never seen him s' alive. For that little hour he wa not 6 stock man in the 10-cen store, he was a college man, fra ternizing with his own kind. See ing Ann, he held out his hand t. her.
 "This is Ann Brown" he said naming the men in turn. Sh stood in the center of the grour like a white and gold lily agains the dark tuxedos. She made tn right answers and the masculin circle grew. At last she and Pau drifted toward the dance floor.
 T wish I'd sent you an orchic