The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-17
MAID JOAN
Her Dinner Party Role and
the Sequel.
BY ETHEL HARRINGTON.


symphony died away Joan leaned back,
with sigh. Her enjoyment of music
was so acute at times it touched the
borderland of pain. Her eyes wan
dered to the other occupant of the box,
who had entered late, and she was sur
prised TO find his gaze fixed on her in
meath her olive skin: then she bowed
distantly and with a sort of inality
returned TO the study of her program.
1t was one of the small boxes tucked
far back In the wide balcony of the
academy: but, as Joan assured her
mother. music was quite as enjoyable
there as in The more conspicuous seats
When the solo ended she could not
resist glancing toward her companion
or smiling in recognition of their mn
tual enjoyment. Besides. had he not
saved her at his own risk from n
scorching motorcar only the week he
fore? At the time she had been so
startled that she barely thanked him.
her one desire being to avoid the disa-
greeable attention caused by her es-
cape. 1t would be only ordinary good
manners to thank him now.
You were very prompt and coura-
geous the other day" she began gra-
ciously. "My thanks were slight. hut
don't judge my gratitude by that"
II trnst you suffered no III effects
from the adventure?"
"No-that is. nothing material" Joan
laughed at her own wit. having con
fided to her sister that her rescuer's
fine eyes and rich deep voice had
haunted her ever since. Her laugh
loosened the strain OF reserve so that
they exchanged criticisms on the or
chestra. The girl was delighted to
find some one as music mad as herself.
She rose regretfully when II was over.
but he detained her. asking diffidently:
"Will you permit me TO introduce
myselfg'
Accepting the preferred card. Joan
recognized a name given by her sister
as that Of a fellow guest at their aunt's
recent reception. Her hero. then.
proved all q maid could desire. though
his very prominence left little chance
of further acquaintance.
III ! knew your name" he suggest
ed hopefully, perhaps a mutual friend
Il do want TO know you better"
haaItotnl h,.s 10. ha
so evidently in earnest was tempted
! to admit I'm called Joan. and there
Is at least one person who knows us
both. II sincere you will find out the
rest for yourself" Then she hurried
home.
A tale OF tribulation greeted her.
Bridget has gone. without moments
notice." her sister complained. Moth
er and | have worked all the after
noon. Joan, TN Observation-Disclosures
you'll help me-"
I'm not much good at cooking" pro
tested Joan. land for a dinner party
Alice. you'll be a fright II you cry ore
rub your nose any redder. What do
you want me to do"
Mother will finish the cooking" de
clared Alice. "win you serve it? oh.
please" as Joan negatived the sugges-
ton II should be so Inundated II
compelled to wait on ourselves. There
will be no one that you know-only two
men,"
"Mr. Oliver inquired Joan. And on
her sister nodding assent she yielded.
with a grimace.
Before going TO her mothers assist
ance. however she could not resist re-
lating the afternoons meeting. wind
ing up triumphantly. $50 that my hero
proves to be the exclusive Laurence
Hale"
While dressing Alice thought uneas-
lily Of this revelation Having told
Joan that the proposed guests were
strangers. IL she now confessed Hale
to be one of them would her sister not
refuse the part assigned her? Yet much
depended on the success OF the evening
The girls aunt. Mrs. Drew. moved I'm
the circle Of Philadelphia's elite. priv
ilege forfeited by their mother on her
marriage to a struggling musician. OF
late Mrs. Drew. perhaps because Of
Alice's resemblance to herself. had TAX
en- an interest in her. niece and had
given her a winters gayety. an advan-
tage Alice now planned TO follow up
with an Informal dinner In order that
her mother might meet Give. who had
shown her considerable attention. Be
fore Bridget's detection everything had
promised well: even now there need be
no failure IL Joan fulfilled her promise
"will do?" demanded Joan. rushing
in arrayed in regulation black with a
white apron. her naturally wavy hair
drawn severely back and pinned closely
around her head.
Alice felt treasured Joan looked 50
demurely prim.
she received the guests. so Joan did
not see them until she announced soft
~. Dinner is served. when. meeting
the astonished gaze OF Laurence Hale.
she fed precipitately back to the dining
room. Enraged that such a trick should
have been played her. her first thought
was OF throwing up the task and leav-
ing the little party to shift for itself
The harm. however was done. Alice's