The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-12-21

Dana had felt mildly 2XclCeu
that afternoon when Grace Rich
arGson called and invited them to
q dinner party. When Grace learn,
ed Scott was away, she insisted
that Dana must come anyway,
"Just because your husband is
out of town is no reason why you
should play lonesome lady at home
DANA
"No." Dana said finally, 81 sup
pose not. It isn't much fun.
THAT means | can count on
you to complete the party" Grace
said. 'Pn send somebody to pick
you up"
pm celebrating an anniversary
without Scott"
Goodness, have you been mar
ried whole year,"
Dana laughed. "Only seven
months, but we usually celebrate
by paytying on the 22nd. Scott
has been dear about observing the
day"
It happened that the evening
session of the one-day medical
meeting had scarcely opened when
SCOTS memory stirred. He g!anc-
ed at his watch. Seven, and to-
! dav was the 22d. Dana was at
home. Poor kid, she had sat at
home a lot of evenings lately.
Unobtrusively he left the hall,
got into his car and drove off.
With good luck and no bloW-outs'
he should walk in and surprise
Dana by $50.
Then he decided to drop by the
office, telephone and round up a
! bunch. They'd all drop in togeth-
er and make the surprise bigger
and more complete. They could
nlav bridge, or maybe go out some
place to dance. Anyway, it was
Going TO be fun surprising Dana,
who had doubtless expected to
spend a lonesome evening WafIlhg
for him. .o
covered without miShap, and Scott
! let himself into his office and got
bu.v on the phone. Several OF
those he called were out. After
the fourth call Scott was disgust
ed. almost ready to call 1t a nlght
and start for home. As a final Ell,
fort he called the Richardson's and
asked for Bill The servant who
answered hesitated, "ls it lmpor-
tant, sir?'
every Important" Scott SAID IN
tone that generally got results
1t did this time.
After a moment Bill answered,
"Why. hello, Scott. Thought you
were out of town at a medical
meeting. Don't tell me you were
abiding on your wife"
Nothing Of the sort" Scott re-
piled. Il was at the meeting, got
bored and drove in. 1t happens 70
he our anniversary, old MAXWELL,
kind Of anniversary. l thought
| would surprise Dana by getting
IN party and dropping IN on
her? May l count on you ana
Grace"
Bill was chuckling. He was,
Judging from the sounds at the
other end of the telephone, more
than ordinarily amused. "HOu say
Won wanted to surprise Dana" 49,.
"What's so funny about that?
keep your shirt on. 1t happens
that Dana's right here, at din
ner we're giving. We were sorry
Won were out of town. Can'tyou
come on over? We can always put
in an extra plate"
"No thanks, BILL
So Dana was at the Richardson's
at a dinner party. Having great
time. Not lonely at all.
"Who brought her." Scott ask
ed unexpectedly. He didn't ike
the sound of it himself. 1t had
almost the sound of checking up
on Dana. :,
Grace asked Ronnie to drop by
for her" =, ~,
"Well, thanks" Scott said. I'll
see you later =
He hung up. But the sound OF
Bills amused laugh still rang IN
his ears.
He might a swell have stayed at
The convention. If he had, he
would never have been the wiser.
He would have found Dana at
home, sleeping. Perhaps he would
never have known that in the
meantime she had been having a
great time attending a dinner par
ty.
And Ronnie had escorted her.
What was wrong with that? Mont.
ing. Nothing at all. But still
Scott didn't like it. 1t was all
right if he asked Ronnle to take
Dana home from a dance, but just
because he had done that once was
no reason everybody in town
should assume Ronnie was Dana's
official escort, if her husband
weren't around.
Scott smiled a little. perceivlng
the trend Of his mood, 1t was silly
to be jealous. He had never felt
the slightest trace of jealousy be-
fore, and here he was, sore as hell
because Ronnie was with Dana.
The house was warm, but
strangely lonely. Scott found him
self whistling, but it was rather
melancholy kind of whistling.
Some of Dana'sthings, bits of
satin and lace were lying across
2 chair in the drnssino room show