The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-01-13
lADYwM e PAST
 BY HARRIET HENRY

pIlOlle fVOliO dilu Stt II we COulO
 put it off to another night"
 Would you, dear? That would
 be splendid"
 "I'll call you up in an hour if I
 can arrange it."
 Do, Venice"
 Goodbye, Mrs. Goadby, and
 thank you ever so much"
 She lifted the receiver again to
 telephone Rollo. No, MT. Roland
 was out.
 This is Miss Muir. Tell him, please, that I will be unable to go } on Tuesday. I'm very sorroy." On Tuesday, Yes, Miss Muir"
 Venice hummed gaily as she took off her hat and coat. Nolly's
 wedding seemed thing of the past compared to the portentous quality
 of Tuesday.
 Venice took so long to prepare for the Goadby's dinner that she
 arrived a trifle fate. She had put
 on three different dresses before she decided on the hyacinth-color
 crepe. It was a frock that Patou
 had made last summer, clinging
 and simple but darfngly low in the
 back. It clung to her supple young
 form and accentuated the copper 'of her hair and the pallor of her
 skin. She wore jades at ears and
 throat, and moire slippers to
 match them.
 Very French, she thought, turn ing before her dressing table mir
 TOT. Drake ought to notice it. He appreciates color Violet and green No other girl will have exactly that combination. No matter how busy he's been or what he's made of the rumors he'll have to regret not having phoned me. And I'll be par ticularly charming with whenever . talks to me and he'll think, .Venice 9 Muir is really lovely" She smiled
 wryly here A eonceited wench
 I'm turning out to be- Then she 2 sighed. Roland Wainwrights ap-
 probation had been so easily ob- tained. And the very thing that
 had ensnared him had turned Drake from her.
 Old William was already serving r cocktails in the living room when Venice arrived. She handed a maid ) her wrap and stood just inside the doorway to note the guests and their various positions. She must casually maneuvre to be near Drake when it came to sitting ) down to her cocktail. He stood by the fireplace with MT. Goadby and Alice Schuyler. Slim, neither tall nor short, he still looked a vagabond in his we'll
 cut dinner jacket. Against the fire l light his hair seemed extraordin- r arily black and stiffly carven. Lola 2 was on the sofa beside Jim Severn e and Donny Reese. Jerry was in the
 center of group, Mrs. Goadby, the e Mannings, Betty Paine. Venice d forgot her scrutiny of individuals y in appreciation of the scene as an t ensemble. Charming frocks; line
 green, orange, apricot, shirt-fronts e like white enamel between ebony a lapels. Brocaded slippers, gold, d silver, colored; patent feathers, o shiny and stiff.
 Why. there's Venice" exclaimed
 Mrs. Goadby. suddenly looking to- a wards the doorway. T was getting r. worried about you. dear" VI Venice came quickly into the d room. She was conscious of her a strategic entrance and did not dare l. to look in Drake's direction. r, Good evening. everybody. I dc ;- apologize, Mrs. Goadby. I have nc 1T excuse except that left home toe d late"
 le T like honesty" laughed Jin .- Severn. He rose to come toward.
 Venice.
 IT She took cocktail from the tra, n old William offreed. She had al n ways been one of the faithful ole s. servants fayorites and they ex Id changed a smile Venice was con It scious of everything she did a l. viewed through Drake Farrelly'
 eyes. She sensed they were upol l. her. He must appreciate her de r, sirability.
 1t Hoy are you, Jim?" They shoo
 hands. He was tall hard youn d man, hard of muscle as well a
 hard of viewpoint. e, "Imprinting yourself on our wis
 ions with late entrance, Venic to Muir" he accused her cynically. ,e T hope I've succeeded" sh
 countered.
 Its a lovely dress" said Jim
 Makes you think of Paris in tn 'e spring"
 That's exactly where and whel nj 1t was born"
 T. Dinner is served" old William
 pompous and grave, as though h IS announced a rite. et Venice slipped her arm througl
 Jim's.
 Nj T hope you1l sit next to me. s-j she murmured. This was for Draks