The Bismarck tribune., 1929-04-03
RUTH
EWEY GROVES


son Grin to dance.
wouldn't NAE think Of something
like that, But I wouldn't go IL I
was dressed IN gold Mildred decided
angyly. To Stephen she said She'd
promised her mother to come home
directly after the show.
Pamela overheard her. Does your
mother doubt her success in teaching
you morality. Miss Lawreuce?" she
asked. smiling superioriy.
She leaves such worries to STEP
mothers Mildred retcrted, stun2 10
recklessness.
Pamela turned her back. Lets 60,
Huck." she said. and Gid not speak
to Mildred again even when she said
good night to Stephen.
Stephen v'as silent as he and Mil
dred fought through the pushing,
milling crowd TO the subway.
He knew. as everyone knew who
read the New York newspapers, that
Amos Judson had given his children
one Stepmother after another. and he
did not blame Mildred for resenting
Pamela's remark, but her pointed re-
joinder worried him.
He believed she had placed her job
in jeopardy, and somehow he felt re-
spcnsihlc. OF course, he should have
known that Miss Jud5on would not
want to be entertained with one Of
her fathers employees. No doubt her
displeasure had inspired what she had
said to Mildred. but Mildred's fiery
comeback had surprised him. He had
no idea she had so much fight In her
makeup.
And even less did he know that she
had been growing more and more re-
sentful all evening. and that he was
mostly to blame for 1t. He'd have
laughed outright of the notion Of his
being jealous Of Huck Cornor.
But he would not have denied that
1t upset him to see Pamela alone with
the man. He'd heard the story OF
how she'd met Huck, but he hadn't
supposed 1t would 60 any further
Pamela herself had told him she
thought Huck had been mixed up In
something queer.
Suddenly It occurred to him that
Mildred may have resented his at
tempt to include Pamela in the party
Perhaps she knew that Pamela would
not like 1t.
Il certainly was dumb" he tol6
himself. and wished that he could
explain his reason. He hated tc have
Mildred thinking he was tactless and
inconsiderate. but how was he 70 tel!
her that he'd only been trying to see
that Pamela went home? That he was
afraid Huck would induce her to go
to some night club?
The noise of the train made init
mate conversation difficult. Mildred
was thankful that it did Stephens
manner convinced her that he wa
certainly not having a good time
Surely this would be the end Of Their
friendship; he'd never want to take
her out again.
On the walk from the subway ia
her home Mildred scarcely uttered q
word. She was angry with herself
because she felt she'd been badly
treated. And she didn't want to feel
sorry for herself! There was no rea-
son for crying just because a mar
she hardly knew liked another gir
better than her!
Chilled by her silence, Stephen had
as little to say.
She did not ask him in to share
the pot Of hot chocolate and the nul
cake her mother had promised Il
provide, though he climbed the stair.
with her and said good night at thu
door. It was q good night the cold.
ness Of which would have been appro.
pirate for parting enemies. for bott
were locked in the stiffness Of trifl.
ing misunderstanding, and were q!
distant as though hatred motivatee
| them.
In her room after making sure thai
Connie was asleep. Mildred permittet
the tears that had been smarting hel
eyes to roll down her cheeks.
She jerked her new dress over hel
head and threw 1t on q chair. Stepher
hadn't so much as noticed It.!
And Stephen, hurrying back to thl
subway, was telling himself that he'e
made q nice mess Of things. "And JUS
when I was beginning to like tina
girl, too. Well, I guess she won't b
hanging out any flags II I ever com,
back"
He was still in a mood Of self-de'
probation when he reached his hote
and found message in his room. HI
was asked to call the Judson Hotel.
Ito He Continued)