The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-27

f light step on the threshold of the | morning room where they sat with | the accounts. A vibrant voice with an undercurrent of mirth in It in- terrupted:
 "Tnteresting to hear two women talking of love in the early hours Liane, startled, looked full Into | the deep-set eyes of Van Robard. | She gave one startled movement, tumbling the check book and the sheaf of bills. Almost they fell into the fire from which the screen stood a little aside. Van stopped, still smiling. to retrieve them as Mrs Cleespaugh. not altogether pleased at the interruption, greeted him.
 "Well, I must say" she began rather grossly. This Is great surprise for all of us."
 Van, handsome in hls travelling tweeds, leaned over and kissed her | audaciously on the cheek.
 Not very gracious, Eva. are you?" he inquired.
 T'm delighted to see you, nat urally," protested Mrs Cleespaugh h not too convincingiy. "But why l must you walk In unannounced? :? Why not use the telephone? You young people are so casual. so im- | perative."
 Van appealed to Liane. who | crimson and pale by turns, had re- sumed her place at the desk. "She calls me & young person. he mocked. And I'll never see 90 again. I'm deeply hattered." But Liane refused to smile at him. She gathered up her papers to leave. "rll get back to all this after luncheon" Mrs Cleespaugh said more affably. Van stood at the door, holding 1t wide for Liane to pass. As she departed he said, so | low no one else could hear:
 Sweet thing. had to come back to see you"
 Liane dressed for dinner that evening in fever of excite ment. She had only two dinner dresses. One was a limp pink one | (it had been Eisie's) and the other was a demure white chiffon which, now denuded of the sleeves the good sisters had deemed modest. had been her "class day" dress. Ar ter surveying the two distasteful- | Iy Liane chose the white. She had u string of artlcficial pearls and since Nora had left cluster of red roses in a crystal vase on the old l fashiened dressing table she de- l cided to wear knot or these on her shoulder.
 She bathed in haste. Everything she picked up she clumsiiy dropped that night. Fingers all thumbs" l Ia i,. dtuUtlnt Sha terrifically nervous. Her hair didn't suit her. She let down the
 bronze gold cloud three times. and twisted 1t up again before 1t was done to her satisfaction. | Maybe he won't even appear at dinner" she told herself. And ,"if mother knew, she would want me to go away ,,l | TO her amazement she had dis 1 covered at luncheon that Robard was to be q house guest of Mrs 1 Cieespaughs, He's a distant rel alive of mine," her hostess had ex-
 piained. His mother was my sec-
 ond cousin, We had the same great grandmother. A charming rascal he Is. So good-looklng and
 so unreliable"
 Liane had burned to ask in what
 Robard's unreliability had consisted but had not dared to evince 50
 much interest in the visitor.
 Maybe he won't be here for din-
 ner at aIl," she reminded herself.
 "Probably he's invited to the
 Ladds'." She thought of what
 Elsie had said about Van Robard
 being Adele Ladd's admirer and
 winced at the remembrance.
 When she went down stairs the
 great dining room was lovely in
 the csndieiight with the table
 brave in lace and crystal. Liane | having satisfied herself that the
 floral arrangement was correct
 stole into the study. where she dis.