Evening star., 1929-09-06
A Guest in Error.

Milly jenkins was sure she had given
Mrs. Boyd Just what she had asked Tor.
But within an hour of having bought
the figured crepe Mrs. Boyd was back
, with q complaint. She had asked for
five yards. Milly had cut OF four.
Four yards wouldn't do.
| It was q bad mess for Milly. Mrs.
Boyd had charge account at Water
mans; she was valued customer.
calling down she had not meriteo.
She was nearly exhausted and dis
couraged as one can be who is healthy
has something more in store for one
than the many complications one has
thus far encountered. Milly never
knew how she would find things when
she got home. Anything might have
happened in her absence. For In
stance, she had come home not so long
ago and found that her mother had
just married Mr.. Swan.
Now when she opened the door and
was not greeted by the familiar odor
Of boiling potatoes and frying meat she
ner. Loud voices came from the dining
room. Mother and stepfather were
quarreling again. They hadn't done
anything but quarrel since they gos
married For while Mr.. Swan had been
an amiable boarder he was very poor
sort Of husband. And he had made it
so unpleasant for the other boarders
that they had all gone elsewhere.
Milly's mother, stout, red-faced and
worried, came to meet Milly.
Lend me some money" Mrs. Swan
demanded, holding out her hand. ED
hasn't got any job yet. And the meter
man says they're going to shut off the
lights If don't pay up. didn't have
cent to buy meat with"
All this was an old story to Milly
since Mr.. Swans entrance into the
household. She took a neatly folded
bill from her purse. Her shoe money,
and her soles were almost through.
Her mother snatched the money. She
was unfair to her daughter, but it
seemed to her Milly had a very easy
few hours each day in beautiful
store and earn a nice salary.
Milly was mounting the steep stairs
when the telephone bell rang. The
| telephone was on the wall Of the hall,
easily accessible to everybody in the
house except the lady In the kitchen.
Milly went back to answer the call.
Miss Jenkins?" 1t was a mans
voice, well bred, with the resonance Of
am speaking for Mrs. Austin Boyd.
She wants you to dine with us tonight.
At Z. Please don't say no."
yves, I will! Th-thank you,"
stammered Milly.
That was ali. She stood, stunned.
staring into the receiver. Mrs. Boyd
had asked her to dinner! After what
had happened that morning! It was
unbelievable. And yet 1t was true.
And she had promised to go!
Suddenly a wave Of Joy poured over
her. She stopped just long enough to
shout into the dining room, I'm asked
out to dinner" before she dashed up
stairs. Fatigue had vanished. In It's
stead was radiant expectation.
There was plenty Of hot water-for
once. She emerged from her bath
drenched and shining like rain
washed rose. Her dress was just a
little russell crepe picked up at bar
balm sale, but clothes don't matter
much when one has a graceful body
cleaning hair and the color Of excite
ment in ones cheeks. When Milly
rang Mrs. Boyds bell she was too happy
to tremble-very much.
The same young man who had tele-
phoned to her opened the door for her.
She had never seen him before, but he
impressed her as looking very healthy
and vigorous with his tanned skin, SUM-
burned blond hair and clear, gray eyes.
He was the kind Of man she didn't get
chance to meet often and liked
Lawrence Boyd, son Of Mrs. Austin
Boyd, saw a tall girl with lustrous, un-
bobbed hair and dark eyes that met
his with self-unconscious directneSs.
Come into the library. Mother isn't
down yet" he said.
The library was room Of ones
dreams. Milly pounced upon a book
of travel.
dad knew the man that wrote this"
she said eagerly. i've been reading
criticisms about 1t in the papers. It's
a beautiful book, isn't it? Mr.. Cum
mings always illustrates his travel
books with pictures he takes himself.
He wanted dad to go with him to Yuca-
tam
THAT was a great opportunity,
think"
II thought so, too. But dad-died."
Milly turned abruptly from the book,
remembering her manners. just as Mrs.
Boyd, halfway down the stairs, paused
AnyEDrVSrNwUNT