Evening star., 1941-02-16

that - bang! And there person was, waver-
ing around in dream.
She had actually wavered as Waly had
turned her quickly away from the dark eyes
staring into hers. But she could still hear the
melody. And softly she had begun to sing its
words, as well as she could remember them,
and to marvel how true they were
Love is - da-dee-da-da
The Oldest and yet the latest thing!'
The music came to an end with high note
from the piano. But by now she had danced
so far away and there were so many people
that she could see only the top of his head as
he disappeared into the room behind the or
chestra's dais
The intermission was interminable Eons
passed before he returned and she was dancing
again; dancing for so short a while, with his
music and his eyes talking to her, before it was
again intermission time
So the evening Jagged and hurried to it's
end, and she was leaving the Pavilion, tensely
searching for him behind a mask of demure
animation. She lost her friends in the crowds
pouring out of the ballroom. When she reached
lIS loJSi was otdlluulB NY Wlldl Sic Ildu,
until this instant considered one of the mangi-
est potted palms she had ever seen. He was
talking to young Smokey Dalton, who was no
stranger to her, working as he did in his fathers
garage where she often drove the family car
for its repairs.
Ill SMOKEY" she said, and tried to look
Is ho had into Df ,rbt
on out of the Pavilion. But she didn't. AS she
expected, in no time at all Smokey, never COM
pretending how he was being prompted, had
brought about an introduction all garbled up
with the cylinders and brake lining of Clement
Alexanders roadster, reposing at the moment
in Dalton's Garage.
Clement Alexander. So that was his name
Il believe" he said, we've already met"
II believe we have" she said family
And didn't we make date for tomorrow
afternoon at four" he asked her, Ito 60 rid
ing after Smokey gets my bus okay?"
Il live just two blocks from Dalton's," she
said, her glance going to his sinewy musicians
hand caressing leaf of the once NANCY, now
beautiful, palm. Smokey can tell you how to
find my house." she added. Slipping into the
stream of people. she caught up with her
friends before they'd missed her.
When she reached home she was sure she
would never go to sleep. She was too happy.
But she slept - and did not dream The dream
ing began when she awakened.
Isabelle was glad that her mother was sit
ting on the front porch that afternoon when
Clement Alexander arrived. Somebody had to
talk to him. and Isabelle couldn't until her
heart stopped jumping up into her throat She
took deep steadying breaths while she listened
to her mother trying to make Clement feel
welcome and at ease by asking him questions
about himself
Hazily she heard Clement saying that his
booking agent had rushed him down 'FRONT.'
Chicago to take the place of the Pavilion's 81
regular pianist, who had been called home byl
an illness in his family; and that, not knowingl
when the pianist would return, he couldn't sayi
how long hed be in town. He'd spent most of
the last two years, ever since he was eighteen,
knocking around the country with small
bands. So - the dark intensity of his glance
brushed over Isabelle and she felt her cheeks
turn warm with color - he'd rather enjoy set
tlmg down for the summer.