Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-05-30
CHAPTER Nv
A Party at Pastano's

uAAs AOOAC was udtAuS q party LUZ
Ernestine and Will, and, according to
prearrangement, Ernestine slipped
downstairs ahead of time to show her
self to Mrs. Bennett. She could not
help but be proud of the evening
dress mamma had given her for Christ
mas, and which she had not worn be-
fore. The yellow chiffon lay about her
slender limbs delicately, subtly. She
appreciated the Elusive cobwebby hose
that had come with the dress and the
gold cloth slippers. The string OF
small real pearls which had come to
her from her Grandmother Langley's
estate, the pearl ring which daddy had
given her to match her necklace, were
the last touches Of perfect toilet.
VIII had appreciated her, this eve
ming. his fine eyes glowing with adj
miration.
"You are lovely" he protested, as
though she had denied 1t, and she
swung herself about in the narrow
room and gave him a languishing,
hooking look. But she went down the
carpeted stairs in glow, her squirrel
coat over her arm.
Mrs. Bennett got up with an ad-
mirlng exclamation when Ernestine
closed the door behind her. The latter
advanced to the center Of the room
and pirouetted on her toes. A little,
round, weary body, with tired eyes
beneath fringe of gray hair, Mrs.
Bennett had long outworn personal
egotism and was generous with praise
and sympathy.
Youth is the time to live, darling"
she said to Ernestine. "My life Is an
old story, but you are young and glow
ing, and things are happening to you.
1t is better for you to have your hard
times now, and grow old rich and
strong. than to have the hardships in
old age, as I have had them. But tell
me, aren't you excited to be having
a birthday party given in your honor
by great cartoonist?"
Ernestine laughed.
He only wants to be nice to VIII.
He thinks it will please VIII, and OF
course 1t does"
Mrs. Bennett maintained a discreet
silence, and Ernestiue turned to the
mirror over chest Of drawers and
looked at her reflection, running her
hands over her sleek soft hair. She
was a little thinner than she had
been when she was married. and her
eyes were big and dark in the delicate
whiteness of her face. She was lovely
with a breath-taking quality. her face
shining with an inner spiritual excite
ment. 1t seemed to her as she stared
that she looked too happy, too thrilled
for everyday use. She must learn to
dissemble.
Sometimes, darling" Mrs. Bennett
chlded Ernestine gently, Il think you
faif to realize what an effect you have
on the people here-on the men. You
are so different from the other girls
these boys know. You bloom. You
wear the face of love. It's hard on
them. l want you to be very wise
with Mr.. Poole. 1t would be an easy
thing for you to disrupt his friendship
with Will. Will admires him. and his
patronage means so much, just now"
xviii won't be Jealous of any atten-
ton pay to Mr. Poole, or that he
pays to me-" Ernestine said indiffer.
entity, "lf that's what you mean. 1t
won't hurt Mr.. Poole tc admire me.
He's a nice old man, and he loves to
admire women, and men, too, as far
as that goes. It's part of his big
heart, viii says. Anyhow, VIII
wouldn't be jealous of me-now." Her
small face was so shining that Mrs.
Bennett threw her advising instinct
away with a gesture and came and
kissed her young friend.
Have a lovely time, darling. Pas
tano's has the distinction of being the
very toughest place in all Chicago.
1t is beautiful. and not so dangerous
as Mr.. Pastano likes people to think.
He is really very careful about the
police. And then, too, you will be
with Mr.. Poole, who is close friend
of Ruby"
CTo BE coNTINUED)