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Show Society Item By JANET B. STONE McClure Syndicate WNU Features. J R. AND MRS. SAMUEL BAR-TON BAR-TON KITTRIDGE announce the engagement of thefr daughter Sarah Chilton Kittridge to Craig Harrison III of West Branch Road. The wedding date has been set for" Kit's hands crashed on the typewriter type-writer keys. Never in the three years since she had taken over the society desk of the Clarion Courier had a story been more difficult. Sarah Chilton Kittridge and Craig Harrison III! Clarion's glamour boy number one, the papers called him. A series of eastern schools, travel, vice president of the Harrison factories. fac-tories. The desire of every mother with an eligible daughter, the hope of each of those daughters. Yet Craig was well-liked. Easy-going, good-natured, a bit on the spectacular spectacu-lar side. Kit ripped the paper from the machine, ma-chine, viciously squeezing it into a hard ball. She aimed at the basket and hit Barry Bradley as he came through the door. "Ye gods, Kit, won't you ever learn to throw straight? See, you hold a ball this way." His fingers gripped an imaginary missile. "The pride and joy of the sports department plays he's another Bobby Bob-by Feller, does he? If a girl could throw straight she might be anything any-thing else, but with you she'd be O.K." "Do I detect a trace of sarcasm j from our Kit? It doesn't become you, darling. What's cooking with society today?" "Nothing. Go 'way, will you? I've a deadline in an hour and no lead." "You can always dig up the Harrisons, Harri-sons, you know. They're good for a line or a column any day. Always reliable Harrisons, I calls 'em." "That's just what I was doing when you came in." "Um, and what has Mamma Harrison Har-rison joined this time, or is it our white-haired boy who is in the news again? Well, you keep him on your page, sister. My pugs are particular particu-lar about the company they keep." "I'm announcing Craig's engagement." engage-ment." "No foolin'! So somebody hit the jackpot. Who?" Kit hesitated! a moment and her voice was low. "Sarah Chilton Kittridge." Kit-tridge." Barry stared at her. His voice, usually so strong, was uncertain. "You're kiddin'." "Am I? Look at the paper in your hand." Barry unfolded the crumpled sheet. "Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bar-' ton Kittridge announce the engagement engage-ment of their daughter, Sarah " he read aloud, easing himself to the corner of Kit's desk. The pain in his eyes made Kit wince. "So Sarah Kittridge is marrying our glamour boy! I suppose I should offer congratulations. con-gratulations. I thought I knew the Kittridge gal pretty well. Seems I'm wrong. What a laugh! It doesn't make sense, Sarah Kittridge and Craig Harrison. What's she really like, Kit? You ought to know." The girl raised her dark eyes to look deep into Barry's stormy gray ones. Her voice was weary. "I don't know. Barry. She's twenty-four, twenty-four, has had a good education, traveled trav-eled a bit. Rides well, plays rotten golf, dances divinely I've been told Not much to look at" "I thought her very pretty." "Did you? Well, if you care for that type." "I do. Very much." "Oh!" "And this guy, Harrison," Barry probed, "what about him, Kit, is he a stuffed shirt?" "Not at all. He's all right when you know him. Too much money, perhaps, but he's worked hard for honors at school, tennis titles . . ." "Well, he can give a girl whatever she wants." "Maybe." "What d'ya mean, maybe? Position, Posi-tion, houses, furs, jewels, cars. What more could a girl ask?" "What more is there?" Kit walked over to the dirty window looking out on a brick wall. "Think she's in love with him?" Barry's voice continued. "I suppose so. Sarah Kittridge has never missed much. Perhaps she's old-fashioned enough to think she owes her family a good marriage. mar-riage. Perhaps she wants to have a home and children. Perhaps she " Kit's head dropped. Her small hands covered her face. The slim shoulders shook .with sobs. Barry was on his feet in an instant. in-stant. He swung her around to face him. "Kit, don't cry. Look at me, darling." Slowly he tilted her head back until their eyes met "You crazy little fool. You darling idiot. And I'm the world's prize dope." His lips met hers in a kiss. Sometime Some-time later Barry held her away from him. "Say, gal, you've a deadline to meet. Come on, let's write the story and get out." "But I haven't a lead," wailed Kit. "Oh, haven't you? I'll draft it for you. You type it. Ready?" "Yes." Kit's voice quavered. "Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Barton Kittridge Kit-tridge announce the engagement of their lovely daughter Sarah to Bar-rison Bar-rison Bradley. The wedding date has been set for " "For when, Barry?" "Just write 'darned soon,' darling." |