Smyrna times., 1930-01-15
Building a Home
for Greta
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

eyes ana DfOWn ndlf ana john, WHO
was dark himself, had vowed to
marry only a blonde.
But propinquity-they had grown
up together in the small vii
lage of Berryton-and a certain
amount of pursuit on Brenda's part
had brought John one evening to
an impulsive proposal.
After the first few months each
proved the accuracy of the old
adage about true love not running
smooth.
John, on the whole, milder-tem-
pered, was frequently astonished at
the importance some issue could
assume for Brenda once it became
apparent they did not think alike
about it.
There was, for example, the
trifling matter of the pronunciation
of the first name of the well-known
author, Greta Anderson, who, ac-
cording to rumor, was presently
coming to make her home in Ber-
ryton.
Il wonder when this Greeta
Anderson" gan John one eve
ming, ''is coming"
You mean 'Gretta,'" said
Brenda sweetly. Don't you dear?'
"I said 'Greeta.'" said John stiff
ly, annoyed at Brenda's Interrupt
tiOn.
I'm sure it's Gretta," insisted
Brenda.
"Weli, Greeta or Gretta," de-
clared John GROSSLY, 81 hope l get
the job of drawing her plans. It's
to be some little house"
"And if you do" cried Brenda
triumphantly, you'll see l was
right about her name!"
The rest of the evening passed
with some constraint on both
sides and John went home early.
"When you meet Miss Gretta And
erson." was Brenda's parting shot.
''be sure you don't call her
Greeta y
Three days later the person in
question walked into Johns office.
Rising, he found himself looking
into the loveliest pair of brown
eyes he had ever seen. They be-
longed to a slender person ex-
quisitely gowned and furred, be-
meath whose small smart hat es-
capped curly tendrils Of tawny gold
hair.
Il am told" she began, that
you're the best man in town to
help me realize just what ] have
in mind for my new home. May |
sit down and explain just what that
is?'
The next month passed quickly
for John. So engrOssed was he in
his latest commission that he act
ually neglected Brenda, making of
his work an excuse TO spend many
hours in his office that once he
had spent with her.
If Brenda felt badly over this de-
fection, she at first gave no sign.
The site for Miss AnderSOn's home
| had been chosen and it was but
natural that John should wish to
study the peculiarities of location
the better to adapt his building to
its surroundings.
Brenda. driving past one after
noon in her runabOut, saw the two
of them seated on n flat-tOpped
rock on the crest of q gentle rise,
but so engrossed were they in the
stack of blueprints that they did
not see Brenda.
That evening Brenda took cOun-
sci with herself. Was there any
chance that she might lose John
to the undoubtedly fascinating
Greta?
She telephOned him early the fol-
lowing morning. Il have been won
dering, John, whether you are
planning, as usual, to go to the
Claverfords' garden party?"
1t seemed to Brenda that Johns
"yes" was somewhat hesitant. 1t
was probable. she reflected (and
with truth), that John would have
had considerable pleasure out Of
escOrting Miss Anderson and act
ing as her guide through the
Claverfords' wonderful estate.
Each year this garden party. held
when the Claverford roses were Mt
their magnificent best. marked the
high spot of BerrytOn's social sea-
son. Brenda, who had annually
gone with John. scanned his face
when he called for her to detect
any signs Of waning affection. He
seemed quieter than usual, she
thought, but otherwise she could
find no difference in his manner.
She could not know that Johns
one hope was that he would find
Greta at the party. In spite of
loyalty to Brenda each moment
spent with the maturer woman
so appreciative of his ideas, so
deferential to his judgment, found
him yielding more and more to an
admiration, that. given opportu-
nifty, could rapidly become some
thing deeper.
He and Brenda were standing
on the outskirts of group watch
ing the dancers imported for the
occasion when John felt soft
touch on his arm and turned to see
his client and tall, middle-aged
man beside him.
81 want Mr.. Lunberg, who came
on from New York yesterday, to
meet you, because-well, he and /
are to be married some day and
live in the house you are so beau
tifully designing for me-"
Later. when Brenda, too, had
been introduced and they had chat
ted together for few minutes she