Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-08-27
Door Mat :.
By Margaret Widdemer

Of you in the seventh heaven of de-
light or swapping each other out of
it with some dumb insult. You'd culver
at the telephone like a rabbit when
Bill called you, then throw him for fear
he'd think you loved him too abjectly.
Bill would refuse engagement for a
week SO he wouldn't miss one of your
few free evenings-and they we're darn
feW-and then rush home early so you
wouldn't think he was too chained up
to you. You both of you ought to set
tie down with steady going people"
Rosalie said, II didn't say any of
that wasn't SO. What I said was /
wished / was dead. And Arthur must
be wondering why you don't come to
bed"
Nov, darling, I know it was a
wrench. But you've been sensible.
Come on to bed yourself. There's the
yacht club dance tomorrow, and you
don't want to be frazzled." Kit kissed
her sister and steered her determinedly
up the stairs.
What Rosalie really wanted was to
have somebody put her under chloro-
form for six months. What she did
was to trail negligently into the yacht
club in a new blue and gold frock
that made her look like an annoyed
Renaissance angel.
She had a lot of gifts, Rosalie. She
danced wonderfully and continuously.
She could say automatically any
amount of amusing, understanding
little things. And, while some of the
rest we're prettier, Rosalie stood out.
AS if she had a black line drawn
around her, or invisible drums beat
ing near her. The thing was, some
body was always wanting to marry
the girl. And SO more always tried.
Shed liked the thrill of 1t, the feel
ing of juggling On the edge of emotion.
Maybe she'd jiggled too long as to
Bill, for tonight she wanted any
o emotion till she died. Shed gone,
mostly, to show Bill. She hated the
look in Casey Vere's eyes. and Johnny
Millward's, and the hopeful hunters
expression of the others.
They were cutting In on her like a
game of tag. Two steps with n man,
five PAGES with another-it was breath
less, but not enough to keep her from
knowing when Bill came in at the far
end of the room. With another girl,
of course, that loppy blond of Casey
Vere's, the one who tried to talk like
Helen Morgan.
They met in the middle of the room.
They we're both dancing, but the place
was SO crowded it vas slow.
IT see you are still amusing your
SELF" said Bill in a hideously polite
voice.
From O on" said Rosalie, in spite
of her interested man and Bills in
terested girl, both with ears stretched
out a foot, my amusements aren't
under your supervision"
IA major INTEREST,"" said Bill,
though he got very white. There was
nothing for Rosalie to do but lie, of
course.
Il thought you'd guessed that yes
terday," said she to Bill, not to speak
of their audience.
II did," said Bill blackly, and swept
away the blond, who would have been
glad to learn more.
Resale, her bridges burned, swept
in the opposite direction.
whats all this, Rosy?" demanded
Casey. But Rosalie was cut in on
again, fortunately.
She ran and hid. She and the Trun-
mons had parked their car close to
the water and she curled inside.
She did not know that Bill was fol-
lowing her, as he had followed her
to make up a hundred times. She was
only intent on getting off by herself.
She crawled into the front seat, only
to find that somebody else was there
before her. One man, only, somebody
she didn't know.
Waiting for somebody" she asked,
for he looked all right. Neutral.
Rather a. nice, tanned, indeterminate
face, good shoulders. Not as big as
Bill, but who wanted to be? He was
perfectly calm. "Oh, no. Mr.. Trun-
Mon said he'd drop me after the dance,
/ was tired, so / came out here to
wait. Won't you sit down? My names
Mulliner.' He spoke with a calm cer-