Evening star., 1934-01-14

| ma1oS.
Charity squirmed. It was embarras-
sing, not knowing what plans had been
made-having Doug take everything on
CAPABLE Of planning for his friends.
Mrs. M,,RRins noticed Charity's en-
barrassment and got up brisk1y. MY.
I'd forgotten all about your supper
You're probably hungry"
"WeIl, ate before I left" Charity
admitted, "but this air does give me
bit of an appetite"
"IIl have q bite for you in no time"
"Have you eaten?"
mot yet"
Lets eat together"
Mrs. Muggins' blue eyes twinkled
I'm deed we viii child. You're invited
to have supper with me In my cottage.
But-dont tell SOUL"
"I'n tell the world" Charity smiled
gaily, I'm honored"
They walked around the house to the
white house with green shutters, almost
entirely hidden by trees. Charity q
eyes filed when they walked inside.
Tits like home" she choked with
homesickness. "You-you've even got
blue birds on your wall paper. IL love
w-wall paper"
Mrs. Muggins busted herself getting
supper and pretended not to notice that
Charity wanted very much to cry. Her
sympathetic old heart ached that one
so young and so rich could be so un-
happy; 49,, 80. .orv,, y, . ,ou roc..r .nd
closed her eyes, listening to the singing
of the kettle. She was almost asleep
when Mrs. Muggins said gently. Come
dear. There isn't much. But I guess
we can get along"
There were Boston baked means from
an old earthenware pot, brown bread.
apple pie with rich yellow cheese, milk
in tall green glasses. Charity sighed
luxuriously. II wouldn't have missed
this for the world"
Mrs. Muggins did not try to make
conversation. Charity seemed to be
reveling in the peace and quietness and
nominees of the place. When they I'm
ished the last crumb was gone.
II hate to 60 back to that big house
alone after this" Charity said wist-
fully.
You don't need to. child" Mrs
feather bed that hasn't had visitor
| in-I don't know when"
Charity made no attempt to hide the
tears that came to her eyes then.
"You-youre so good to me-" she
choked childishly. IL don't know
how to thank you"
Charity slept as peacefully that night
as though she had never had a care
in the world. She awaken in the morn
| ing feeling entirely refreshed, then re.
membered that in few hours Temple
haven would be overrun with Doug's
friA f11k h. nlI IA
content. However, Charity was deter
mined not to NOPE or feel sorry fol
herself.
She spent the day wandering abou,
the place and lying on the beach. II
was late in the afternoon when she saw
car coming down the road and recog-
nized Rafferty, with the staff of serv-
ants from the penthouse.
Charity went up to her room tc
change clothes. It was early for ar
evening gown, but she didn't care
enough for clothes to want to spend
much time dressing. So she got into
the inevitable blue gown, combed hel
hair back in the inevitable bun at the
back OF her neck, busted rice powder
over her face and neck, and went down
to the library to read and wait
She had just sat down when a cal
honked out front and she got up and
crossed the library to pull back the
| curtain. She started when she saw
Doug. For beside him, resplendent in
, q green sports suit with orange beret
against her red, red hair was Chickie
Belle. Evidently Doug had driven hi.
model out.
Before Charity decided quite what tt
do two more cars came racing down
the drive. In q panic, Charity's first
impulse was to run and hide when, sud-
denly the whole place seemed to b<
overrun with lovely ladies and theil
male escorts. The girls all seemed tc
rush for Doug at once, throwing their
arms around his neck and kissing him
With q mighty effort Charity walked
stifly through the hall and appeared
at the door. For moment Doug did
not see her. When he did, he turned
to her with the most natural smile he
could muster.
Charity was paralyzed going through
the introductions In daze she recog-
nized names of some of Broadway's
best known lights. One girl seemed
she realized that she was a dub among
them. That her blue evening gown
was miserably unattractive. Doug must
| see it, too, she was certain.
Charity could feel the surprise Of
Doug's friends. It seemed impossible to
them that he could have married q
girl like Charity Jones. If the earth
had opened up and swallowed her up
she would have been grateful Then
suddenly the porch seemed to be va
cant; the servants we're taking up the
baggage and assigning the guests tc
their rooms.
Charitys face burned hotly. She sat
| down on a divan more confused than
she had ever been in her life. She was
certain she'd have to escape. She
simply could not 60 through with 1t
ITO be continued.)