The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-03-01
Annexed
By DAISY A. BROWN
Mcclure syndicate-wNU Features.

A MN DREW stood in her tiny
studio looking critically at a
set Of dress designs thumbtacked
against the ~wall-every detail salts
factory, including the Ann-mark on
the pert little face that always
topped her work.
The hum from the busy street far
below her windows seemed to
change into a mans well-remem-
bered comment: Ann. a face isn't
necessary"
"Humph! Not unless I like a face
and I do" she had insisted.
Eyes. particularly that one: It's
your own.". the man answered.
you're conceited, Ann. Imagine!
Conceited about a funny little face
with a funny little scar that makes
the mouth look a bit one-sidedl"
But his voice had been soft and
right. Then, for the first time. Bert
Harris had kissed her.
She took the sketches down and
stacked them on her desk. Running
an envelope into her typewriter. she
addressed it to the Harris Dress
Manufacturing company and slid the
drawings inside to be mailed.
A door slammed across the hall.
Ann WINGED; the slamming of a door
had been Bert's goodbye two
months before. The Harris merry
go-round is right back where 1t
started, she mused-business. mar
riage. strictly business-plus a i've
year-old son.
Perhaps there had been too much
Ann-this-and-that. But the registered
lipmark with the Ann Drew sigma
ture meant faith in her career and
Bert's understanding had not been
broad enough to accept her refusal
to add the name Of Harris.
She decided to 60 home. Queerl
She could finish q series for any
other concern and work on. But ev-
cry Harris envelope sealed. what
ever the hour. terminated her work.
ing day.
1t always had. Eight years be-
fore the Harris contract had been
the first and only one in her file;
a year later because Bert Harris
had been her husband and she had
crowded his work in at home be-
tween busy days at the studio; this
season because she became emo
tionally fatigued each time she out
lined the unnecessary little face
every pen stroke tended toward the
hope that she might live again in
Bert's thoughts.
Slipping into her coat. Ann dialed
her apartment. Andrew answered
and finally she stopped his chat
ter long enough to tell him that she
was on her way home.
Going down in the elevator she
smiled. She knew that Andrew
was rushing for his toy telephone.
He would throw one end through the
kitchen door. Then he would scam.
per as far as the long cord would
permit to ring the bell and tell old
Hannah that Mummy Ann wanted
her dinner.
Deciding to walk home through
the park, she found herself stopping
to rest on a familiar bench. She
opened her bag for a cigarette.
Holding it between her lips, she
started to tumble through her coat
pockets for a match but pulled out
a large square Of colorful rayon
instead. Her face frightened as she
draped it at arms length from one
hand to set up the grouped tulips
plagued against their background by
pairs Of Ann.marked lips. She
tilted her head and murmured,
MY first brass ring in textile!"
A light snow began feathering the
early dusk. Deity. Ann knotted the
square about her head. She stood,
lifted her face and snugged her col
lar about her throat. Unmindful of
the admiring glance of a man who
had settled himself on the other
end Of the bench a few moments
earlier. she felt through her peck.
cts again: "Darn!"
She turned quickly when the man
struck a match. He walked over and
held it out suggestively. You didn't
find one?"
Bert! IL didn't realize that any.
one was about"
Il know" Bert parted. When ]
came along you seemed rather alb.
sorbed-shall we say-in yourself?'
why not add as usual'?" Ann
asked.
Ann, listen -"
AIMS eyes glinted queerly. An
ever-alert inner imp impelled her to
answer. Mot in this snow. l think,
instead. I'll follow the me-frst-pro.
gram you credit me with and take
myself home"
Opposite the park she glanced
back but saw only a screen Of snow,
flakes. She shrugged. signaled a taxi
and vas home in a few minutes.
A half-hour later. the buzze,
sounded and she heard Hannah ask
someone to wait. When she started
toward the living room, the GLOW