Evening star., 1952-09-09

dress with a narrow gray belt. Sht
sat, all in confusion. trying no
to laugh at Willie.
"You have a figure" said Willie
taking his seat in slow motion.
Bitter experience" said Ma,
Wynn. II don't like to get job.
or make friends on the strength
of my figure. Things are expected
of me that I can't deliver"
May Wynn" said Willie
thoughtfully. II like the name"
That's good. It took me a long
time to think of it,"
isn't that your name?"
The girl shrugged. "Of course
not. It's too good"
whats your name?"
"Sorry-"
"I don't mind telling you
though I usually don't blab it. MY
name is Marie Minotti."
oh" Willie looked at a waiter
carrying a tray heaped with spa
ghetti. "Then you're at home ir
here"
VERY much"
Willie's reaction to the discovery
that May Wynn had an Italian
name was complicated. and quite
important: q mixture of relief
pleasure, and disappointment. A
Inight-club singer who could caro-
Mozart aria with understanding
was a wonder. for in Willie's
world familiarity with opera was
a mark of high breeding-unless
you were an Italian. Then it be-
came a mere racial quirk and lost
its cachet. Marie Minotti was
some one Willie could cope with
She regarded him with mar
rowed eyes. What are you think
Iing?"
1.-The incest possible things about
you"
your name, no doubt, is really
Willis Seward Keith?"
"Oh. yes"
"Well, Princeton" said the girl
with a light laugh. obviously we
can never hit it off. My folks came
over in 1920. My father runs
fruit store in the Bronx. My
mother hardly speaks English"
Feels He's Falling In Love.
The pizzas arrived on two large
round tin platters: smoking hot
fiat cakes of dough covered with
cheese and tomato sauce-and, in
Willie's dish, sprinkled on one side
with chunks of anchovy. May
Wynn picked up a triangular slice
folded it expertly with a flip OF
her fingers, and took a bite. my
mothers pizza is better than this
AS a matter of fact, I make about
the best pizza in the world"
will you marry me?"
mo, you mother wouldn't like
it,"
Great" said Willie, 1--WE under
stand each other. Allow me to tell
you. then, that I'm falling in love
with you"
The girls face suddenly clouded
over. Keep the blows above the
belt, chum. Let's talk about books
You're a Princeton man."
They did talk about books, be-
tween mouthfuls Of wine and
pizza. Willie started on current
best sellers. with which May had
a passable acquaintance, and
worked back toward his 18th and
18th century fayorites, whereupon
the gifps answers grew lamer.
Dickens" said Willie fervidly
riding high on a crest of compare
tive literature. "if I had any
strength of character I'd spend my
life doing research and commen-
tary on Dickens. He and Shake
speare will be left when English
is dead as Latin. Do you know his
workS?"
"All I've read is the Christmas
Carol"
ooh"
Look, chum, I never got beyond
high school. Things were tough al
the fruit store when I graduated
There was little matter of keep.
ing myself in dresses and stocking.
and the family in food, every
now and then. I've worked in dime
stores and nge-drink stands.
tackled Dickens a couple of times
He's hard going after a day OF
your feet"
you'll love Dickens some day
II hope so. I think appreciatins
Dickens goes with $4,000 in tn,
bank"
II haven't a dime in the bank.
"Your mama has. Same thing.
"Shall we go? I want to worl
over my numbers tonight, as Ions
as I've got a job"
Refuses Cab Ride.
It was raining hard outside
Fluorescent signs, blue, green. red
cast blurry pools of color on the
wet black street. May extended
her gloved hand. "Good-by
Thanks for the pizza."
"Good-by? I'll take you home
in a cab"
"My boy. a cab to Honeywell
avenue in the Bronx would cost
you S."
II have S."
mo. thanks. Subway for the
likes Of me-"
well, let's take q cab to the
station"
"Cabs. cabs! Why did God give
you feet? Walk me to Fiftieth.' >
Willie recalled some rhapsodies
by George Meredith on walks in
the rain and fell in beside the
singer. She took his arm. They
Strolled in silence, droplets hittine
their faces and rolling off their
clothes. The hand resting on hi.
arm sent a soft glow through the
rest of him. There's really some.
thing rather delicious about walk.
ing in the rain" he remarked.
May glanced at him sidelong
l"YOlI wOlldn't thjpk en- ~ x,o,, ~