The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-05-17

/, hind her a faint, delicate scent I Everything Sandra did was well done. She was cool, competent, cor l rect. At 22, she had the boise of a matron twice her age. She loved
 this sort of thing-the whir and
 scurry of a big party. It was the very breath of life to her. Ever
 since her return from Europe the
 last time, she had complained bit
 terly to her father of the dullness lin fact the lack of social life-in
 Belvedere. Now, in mid-July, she prepared to bring little gayety | give "a smart" party, the sort of
 affair Gotham debutante might | give at the Ritz. Everything would
 be perfect-cold food, drinks,
 things in aspic, music-everything As she went out the side door | into the terraced and landscaped 1 garden with the special pool her
 father had been goaded into hav- ing built for her the year before, | her eye took in the scene ap- provingly. Sondberg, the gnarled
 handyman, was at work on the
 .fiagsed paths, trimming away the ragged grass. The roses were in | fuA burst. There was a misty blue background of delphinium. 1t might, Sandra reflected, be a true English garden, with at least 10 generations of culture behind it. At the stables she found James,
 who had slipped around the back | way as she went out the front. He was running cloth lightly over the hood, adding unnecessary polish to the already glimmering chromium goddess who sprang, in full flight, from the nose of the engine.
 She gave him a dazzling smile. ''Thanks--James. You're sure I've plenty of gas? I've got to get back
 in good order this afternoon" "Yes, ma a'am, Miss Sndra. It's
 o. K"
 She did wish American servants were more formal. Perhaps she could teach James, sometime, not to say 70. K" But he was stun ning-looking boy, no doubt about that. A dash of the Gary Cooper flavor about him. His uniform
 fitted him perfectly.
 She slid into the drivers seat, skipping her pockets, boy fashion.
 Sandra was an unconscious actress.
 When she wore riding clothes she
 adopted a gently masculine air.
 James sprang to attention.
 Match, missy"
 "Yes, thanks very much" She
 Tipped cigaret from her pigskin
 case and stuck it into a corner of
 her mouth. The young man came
 close. holding the flame for her,
 cupping 1t with infinite care with
 one brown hand. Sandra felt his
 nearness-a little jingle went down
 her spine. She inhaled deeply. This
 wouldn't do. She would have to
 show James his place. Just be-
 cause they'd picnicked together,
 quite informally, on Summit Hill,
 that day the distributor acted up,
 just because she'd been well. friendly and democratic to the boy he needn't misunderstood. That
 was the trouble with servants in
 this country. Give them an inch and they'd take a yard.
 As the engine rioted. leaping to be off, she gave the chauffeur cool glance.
 Don't forget the 6 o'clock" she
 sang. making turn.
 Yes, he must be reminded that ne was, aIter all, Only ner servant. She was the great lady. Why had she been so foolish. that day on Summit Hill? It had been spring he had reminded her, in his big ness and leanuess. of Dan Cardigan. Was that it? Anhow, for the frac- , ton of an instant she had let him
 hold her in his arms. It had been the veriest accident. She had tripped, stumbling over a tree stump. He had caught her. She had lain there for an instant longer than necessary. Oh, she had been
 mad. mad! That was all - but 1t had been encouragement enough.
 The man in olive green stared
 after her curiously as the dust hid | the car from view.
 "She's a cool one and that's the truth" he muttered to himself. A girl in maids uniform. watch ing from the pantry window,
 caught her lip within her teeth. | 'If she don't leave him alone"
 sine threatened 10 no one at rll
 'T'1i - Ill.," she did not finish her menaclng sentence.
 (To Be Continued)