The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-01-02

ing easily, being careless and pro vocative. Uncertainty about her. self lifted. The lid of my box is mislaid, she thought happily, and any one can look now and see the amusing things inside.
 At the dock there were several who shook her hand in sincere re- gret at parting and asked for her address.
 Mrs. Spalding met her and they went to the Park Avenue apart ments together. Nora opened the door and took her bags. Inside the familiar rooms something suddenly snapped inside of Venice She could see her mother in the big chair over there, visualize her standing by the window. She un- expectedly sank down on the sofa and burst into tears.
 There, there, honey" mur- mured Mrs. Spalding, sitting down beside her and putting an arm across her shoulders. Of course it's hard at first. You musnt let it hurt"
 "N-no," sobbed Venice. Will you stay to lunch, Aunt Beth?"
 No, thank you. dear. But won't you come to dinner? Nolly's dyin' to see you and Ernest will be there."
 Venice dried her eyes.
 "I'd love to-" she said. The shock Of that first impression had fadeei and she knew sudden interest ir the lives of the friends to whom she was returning.
 Flowers came from Lola and Jerry, fruit from Mrs. Goady and a letter of welcome from Uncle Livingston in Richmond. There was something warm and pleasant about her come coming.
 Riding across the park to the Spaldings' for dinner she felt hap oily excited at seeing Molly again and meeting Ernest Price. What sort of young man had been able to forget Nolly's infirmity and ap- preciate the real sweetness within? She hoped that Molly would be un- changed, still naive and eager.
 Molly opened the door to her ring. She wore the beige velvet that Venice had given her and looked exactly the same as ever, her small puckish face bright with smiles, the little tendrills of hair jutting out on either cheek.
 "Venice! This is too heavenly" They kissed warmly.
 For the bride" cried Venice, handing her a package.
 "O-o, how lovely"
 Venice followed Molly down the long bowling alley hall and into her little bedroom
 "You look gorgeous, Venice. And that smart little black hat perched way back on your hair. I suppose they're wearing them that way now. And what a sumptuous dress. You look like a picture from Vogue" She was untying Ven ices present and at the sight of hte French nightgowns elaborate with ecru lace she gave little cry. "Oh, how simply marvellous. Thank you ever so much" That's all right. Tell me about Ernest. It is too wonderful, Nol- ly."
 And he doesn't even mind Pon- go. He gave me new stick as a wedding present for him the oth- ler day"
 Venice felt that she was going to like Ernest immensely. And my ring. Isn't it beauti- ful?" Molly held out small thin hand bearing an inconspicuous sol itAire diamond in a meagre set- ting. W
 .sImagine!' said Venice. There she thought, that's typical of my social failure. I never say the in- sincere things when I should. It didn't matter in this instance Molly was much too happy to mo- tice.
 But tell me about yourself That Marquis. It must have been l dreadf,1lp HX
 "Yes," said Venice. And he had been lovely to me"
 Do go on. I knew you'd be spectacular one day, Venice"
 Somehow Venice could not spir this yarn to it's fullest for Nolly's benefit. He had debts" she found
 herself saying. "That was reall,
 why he killed himself"
 I Don't go modest on me now
 Venice. You can't fool me. Ane
 what about that American, Guy
 some one? Lola's been press-agent'
 ing you all over town" . Venice knew a vast secret satis- faction. l, "He was even nicer to me thar Rene de Thenardier. He took mS to Ciro's and started me off witi