Evening star., 1934-06-12
SHANGHAI ROSE
By ANNE FORESTER
Author of Spite WIe."

all her hot, young heart, that she had
not asked Connie Bates and those
others to tea this afternoon. The IN
vitation had been extended before that
unhappy moment last night when she
had turned on them all in the dress
ing room of the club and given free
rein to her sorely tried temper. Being
accustomed to her outbursts, however,
she did not doubt that they would all
show up today, if for no other reason
than to inquire after the headache she
had pleaded as an excuse for her early
departure from the party.
Annie entered with her tray, intent
on removing the tea-things her
mother had used. Ursula, Barbara
reflected, probably had been right:
Annie's air of social detachment but
thinly yelled her interest in Miss Bar
baras stormy mood. The kitchen
probably was seething with gossip
right now-just as the club had been
seething with it last night. ..
When, Barbara reflected moodily.
had it all started, anyway? The ces-
Sation Of voices as she entered the
CluD VII tiAC
too-Sprightly conversation about the
dressing tables as she approached
sure signs all of them that it was
Barbara Therrold who had been the
subject of discussion but the moment
before. All of it adding fuel to a
fame already famed to fever heat
within her She, Barbara Therrold,
being talked over and laughed at!
Sympathized with-even pitied-and
all because no one in the family had
the backbone to do something about
this usurper-this Shanghai Rose
We'll, I'll do it! I'll show them"
Barbara said aloud, spasm twisting
her face. Il won't stand it-I won't
jeff will be sorry-I'll show them
all"
Laughter and the sound of brakes
being sharply applied fioated in at
the open window. They had arrived,
then, and she would have to go down
and face them. She could hear them
all now in the lower hall. =. Il say
you're not kidding me. are you? How
do you do, Mrs. Therrold-is Miss
Barbara at home?" Irene's high. af-
fected voice, Connie Bates Strident
laughter. the tiresome chatter OF the
l&tle Corwain girls. the deeper voices
of the men. That would be Comics
new man, that strange, deep voice
among the others.
Barbara felt suddenly that she
hated them all-all these people who
had been her friends. Felt that she
had to get away. anywhere-just SO
it was out of range of Connie brit
tie, cynical voice, making. she knew
not what, disparaging remark in that
undertone she cultivated on occasion:
out of sight of Irene's avidly listening
face. bent above a whispering group
about a card table.
Impulsively she snatched open the
door of her clothes closet and took
from its hook her white polo coat and
soft white hat.
She wouldn't go down. Shed &C
out-she could slip out the back way
Let them wait for her down there
let them have a good time wait
ing
There was a knock on the door, and
Mrs. Therrold stood smiling on the
threshold.
"Babsy dear. your friends have
come-hurry down. II don't think
I'm feeling so well. Will you senc
Annie up to me? No. don't come
with me. dear; just go down to youl
friends-"
Yes, mother
Slowly Barbara replaced the coal
on its hook; slowly she crossed the
hall to the top of the shallow steps
She stood hesitating moment out