The Wilmington morning star., 1942-03-12

|
her head negatively. But Vera
zano refused to accept that for ar
answer. Having discovered tha-
her eyelids were slightly puffy, he
prodded deliberately, cru e lily,
Come on, tell me. Speak up!
Have you been struck dumb?" He
iabbed a slim salted wafer into
the sauce on the seafood. Il cant
understand why you were not al
the theater with Larry. That s
where you belong
Larry doesn't think so-he
didn't want me there" The girl
managed to get the words said
without faltering. But now the
enormity of having been spurned
seemed far more insulting when
spoken aloud. Her eyes widened
with a shamed horror and she
glanced quickly about the table to
see the effect of her statement on
| the three men.
They made no answers. They
had stopped eating, however, and
were sitting quietly. Waiting
Watching. And then it. happened.
She dropped her eyelids as shields
against the tears rolling over her
lower lashes. then as they sWooped
down her cheeks, wiped them
away with the backs of both hands,
simultaneously, in gestures pathe-
tic and childish.
Down came the tears again. 10
Anette, the three men, watching
her SO painstakingly, seemed not
to exist. Neither-did other late din
ers, nor the curiously lowering
waiter. Her grief seemed inviol-
able Something belonging solely
to her and rot to be disturbed, not
to be consoled. She found hand
kerchief and stemmed the flowing
eyes. but her face remained wet,
shining and scrubbed looking.
Framed above the excessively
plain white collar, it was young,
innocent, and gripping in its sad
ness.
In a voice, utterly bereft of hope
and joy, she suddenly said,
please excuse me fer few min
utes," and left the table.
Poor kid" Bradford stared aft.
er her, an unhappy expression
creasing his face, then turned to
Verrazano. You are a dog, my
friend. to goad her into that-but
what an actress!" he exulted.
The dramatic teacher was cut
ting into rare steak. Sure. But
you wouldn't have known it if I
hadn't beat it out of her. You d
still have been calling her a gig
Cling Clown
Bradford turned to his partner.
who was wearing a dreamy look
as he picked at a Spanish ONE
lette. 'Well?" demanded Bradford.
Seymour said, YEAH" and con-
tinued eating happily.
She has as many facets to her
personality as rose-cut dia-
mond," Verrazano praised.
yes" seconded Bradford. And
vigorously expressive hands"
Il like the way she lets go, just
not giving a cuss about anybody, "
Seymour said. You can't help
looking even if it does hurt you. -
After IS or 20 minutes the men
paused between bites and compli-
mentary sentences to wonder why
Anette had not returned.
IN try to find her Verrazano
volunteered. He located her after
a short search in a corner lobby
chair, reading a comic magazine.
When he stopped beside her and
coughed loudly, she lifted her clear
topaz eyes to his now suspicious
face and asked, with laugh,
We'll, how did I 60 over"
You little devil" But he had
to answer her contagious smile
He pulled her by the hand from
the chair and led her back toward
the dining room. There l thought
you were eating out your heart
over something"
She admitted, Il was unhappy
over the way Larry and Augus,
treated me at the theatre. But
had gotten over that when all three
OF you were SO Mortified over that
fool escapade at the State-Lake
that it stood to reason I was sup
posed to do the opposite. Anyway,
why shouldn't I get the cue? You
were all but sticking pins in me. -
Back at the table, she met the
producers solicitous faces with the
necessary gravity. They lost nc
time in coming to the point. 1--WE
have come to the conclusion that
Verrazano was right about you
Seymour hastened to say.
Bradford spoke up. I'VE know
you are right for Ninetta."
Anette knew she could let de.
lighted thrills soar through her
voice now. She caroled, But. Mr.
Bradford, I thought you produced
IN New York" SWirling immedi