New Britain herald., 1927-06-04
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felt himself growing red behind tn ears as he thought of it.
 Philip" said his mother, as sh
 heard him passing the door. "com
 in minute-I want you to help us
 Mrs. Hilliard is delighted that sh,
 has come In time for your party ant she hopes that you will not neglec to ask her to dance because she 1. so much older than your young friends"
 Y only hope that she will dance with me as many times as l shall ask her." The boys eyes shyly met those of the woman who was sitting in a wing chair across the room drinking tea and smoking a cigaret.
 "1'll hold you to that promise, Phillip" she commented. And now, Anne. think I'll go to my room- it is almost time to dress for din- nor"
 "Oh. Lyra, we've quite gotten out of the habit of dressing for dinner unless we are going out afterward. Usually wear something loose and comfy. I had intended wearing the house dress l have on."
 "All right Anne, that suits me I'll just get into something loose and comfy myself. What time do you dine?"
 About seven."
 Phillip arose and opened the door for Mrs. Hilliard. As he was follow ing her his mother said: Perhaps. Son. you had better stay and tele- phone your friends. think we had better have the party the first of next week."
 "All right. Num-" he answered. coming back into the room. "I have already invited Rod and told the fellows at lunch today that they were invited. only have to tell them the date. Perhaps you yourself had better invite the girls"
 Between them, every one was called within the next hour on the telephone, and fl either a young man did not happen to be at home a message was left saying. "Mrs. Anne Huntington Tracy wished them to be present at a dinner next Tues day night at the Plaza at o'clock. Afterward the party would go on to the Biltmore Cascades to dance."
 Gee, Mum, that sounds great" exclaimed Phil the first time he heard his mother say it over the phone. T wish Mrs. Hilliard could hear it. She would not think then that it was a kid party. did not know you could be so for1nal.' Tt really makes no difference what Lyra thinks about 1t. Son. It is a dinner dance given for you and your friends"
 His mother hesitated a moment and then said. T am truly sorry, Phillip. that I cannot invite Natlee- she is probably the oldest friend among the girls that you have. You knew her before you went to school But you see, don't you. that it would put me in a position to be refused by Mir. Jones and that would be unthinkable."
 "Yes, I see," said Phil, and his voice sounded so weak that he was surprised that she heard It. | Maybe she will not comc." he said to himself, and then he knew ] that If there was one thing that Nat lee Jones would do she would come to that party if only to see whether he had sent her lying message about the invitation or not. Nat might be some things. but she cer- tainly is not coward"
 However the voice of Mrs. Elil- Hard talking to his mother as he came into the dining room brushed , every other thought from his mind.
 For him 1t really did not matter <, what Natlee might let herself Into by coming. and as for him-he could stand any kind of ragging from her, his mother. or any one else. if Lyra We're not displeased with him.
 His eyes sought her face. She was standing beside the mantel talk ing with his mother. He knew that she was especially pleased with him and it seemed to him that he had never seen anyone who was so love- ly. She had changed her dress for something all soft and goldy. It was such an elaborate negligee that that he was not sure it was not an evening dress. Vaguely he wished that he had worn his dinner coat.
 He pulled out her chair which she realized was across the table from him and she spoke up impulsively: | "Oh. please don't put me way over , there across the table as though I were a stranger. Let me sit beside Phillip, Anne, and We three will be much more chummy"
 | It seemed to him that his mother was not quite pleased with this ar engagement, but nevertheless she or dered the maid to place Mrs HiI- liards service and chair next to that of Mir. Phillip.
 1 The three were hardly seated when in some most unaccountahle way he found her warm hand in his under the cover of the lace em- broidered dinner cloth. Reluctantly he let her pull her long slender fingers away from his. ] He raised his eyes to find out if his mother had seen their contact.
 It was all right she was busy eating her fruit cocktail.
 Tt is lucky" he said to himself, that when 9 woman gets as old as Mother she Is very particular about her food"