The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-13
EIGHT

S1OWlIlS IlOlIldIy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Romany waited impatiently While
Brent went down to the program
board room to find out if his judy
ment of her addition had been vim
dicated. He came back beamlng.
They're so charmed with your
dulcet tones, they want me to BRING
you down to see if you look as Sood
as you sound" he told Romany'
grinning expansively.
Nine men rose as one When
Romany entered the board room.
She was first presented to the presl-
dent Of Interstate, Tyrone Moore,
then to the head of the artists pu-
reau, Marvin Yanning.
Distributing charming smiles as
impartially as possible, Romany,
Nelson observed with pride, was
poised as a veteran in the face OF
the compliments heaped upon her
If she hadn't possessed one whit OF
talent, Brent knew, her looks alone
would have sufficiently impressed
the board that they would have
passed her for a trial at Interstate.
Loring Hickox was most lavish in
his compliments.
'You must come in and see me
as soon as possible, Miss Halle" he
told her heartily. I'm sure we can
do a lot for you. You're a natural
for television."
Don't pay any attention to him.
Brent grinned. Hes just looking
for his ten per cent. He talks that
way to all the girls"
After a few moments the crowd
broke up, and Romany leaned
against the fireplace to catch her
breath.
"Whew..' She famed her flushed
face with her hand. This is so sud
den! I hope it really means some
thing"
We'll see," Brent smiled. "And
now how about coming downstairs
for a cocktail? I've just an hour
before I go on the air."
"And I've just an hour before ]
have a dinner date Romany told
him.
81 thought you were going to din
ner with me!' Brent looked disap-
pointed.
II didn't say So" Romany smiled.
tBut ask me again some time. I'm
meeting Baxter Tree at $50"
"He's not the steady, by any
chance" Nelson inquired. "Or isn't
It any of my business?"
NO." Romany shook her head,
"just one Of the boys I knew at In
diana U. Bax is grand! He wrote
the material I used for my audi
ton, and coached me for hours to-
day. I'm afraid I'd have been sunk
without him."
'"That was darn good stuff" Brent
said generously. THE guy knows
his radio. But I particularly like
his taste in women"
Romany felt it vas a good OPP
%portunity to mention Myra Noyes.
So she said as they stepped off the
eva In the LOBBY:
81 understand you're engaged to
Myra Noyes.
Brent hesitated. and she saw his
face flush.
Cor" she added quickly, isn't it
any of my business?"
Turn about is fair play" Brent
said uncomfortably. You're emit
tied to an answer, of course. Lets
wait until we get a seat in the cock
tail lounge"
When they had both ordered a
dry Martini, Brent leaned his. ell
bows on the table.
"Now, I suppose I'll have to an
swer hat question of yours
mot if it is embarrassing to you.
Wen just forget it,"
"It-wouldn't be embarrassing it
didn't feel myself falling so hard
for you / don't like to think of any
one else." Brent took a sip of Ice
WATER"
Nov, now" Romany chided. eve
won't go into that
Brent sighed.
"All right, we won't. Not so soon,
anyway. Yes, I am engaged to Myra
Noyes. / have been for four
months. It's - just n of those
things a man gets into when he
comes to the place where he feels
fits time to marry"
Brent stopped. Romany could
khink Of nothing appropriate to
say. Then he continued:
I've never felt I'd ever fall
really in love. Not the kind of love
my father had for my mother.
Maybe I was mistaken. Myra is
clever, attractive. I thought she
was a good sport who would more
or less go her own way and let me
do the same. And so-well, there
You have it."
Romany shook her head.
1T doesn't make sense to me. But
I don't pretend to understand You
men. If you don't mind, I'm going
to tell you I think it's unfair of a
man to become engaged to a girl
when he doesn't really love her.
Women are too easily hurt"
Are they?" Brent smiled crook.
edly. I'm afraid you couldn't quite
put Myra in the class of girls who
go in for the sentimental stuff mar
rage was associated with back in
grandma's day."
"Hou, do vo,, Enoxuon Do~a-.