The Washington times., 1935-09-17

nounced.
"The guests were the Misses
Beatrice Hinkle, Edna and Alice
Failey-"
The printed words ran to-
gether.
Mary Shannon handed the
scrap Of newspaper back to her
aunt.
She passed her tea cup to her
mother. Ma stopped a little in
the saucer, as she poured.
They were all looking at her,
all staring.
IT really didn't know what to
make of it," Aunt Willie was
saying. IT really didn't. You
could have knocked me over
with a feather. It seemed so
strange, James Todd, jr., is such
an unusual name. At first I
thought I wouldn't speak Of 1t,
but then thought"
Ma said: 81 don't understand,
dear. Did you know this Vesta
what's her name? I don't see
how"
How could I know her? I
never knew any of his family
friends! The only time I got in
vited up there you wouldn't let
me go!"
This wasn't strictly true. The
only time Jamie Todd ever in
vited her to come to Sacramento
was last January, for ski party
up beyond Auburn in the snow.
And then it wasn't to meet his
family, but to join some other
young people at Sacramento, at
the hotel, and motor up to the
ski club.
Ma wouldn't let her go BE-
CAUSE he hadn't asked her to
meet the family, and there was
no chaperon. and even Jamie
admitted that it might be rather
wild party. But Mary forgot
that now. She just remembered
that it YVES Mas fault she'd
never gone to Sacramento.
Pa said: "If he's that kind Of
q feller, I'll talk turkey to him.
I'll"
"sh.h-Ieave it to me, Henry
"1'll ask him what he means
by"
"Oh, I wish I'd never men
toned it," Aunt Willie walled,
because who knows but what
it's different Todd? Todd's a
very common name-that is,
quite common-and I'm sure our
James Todd always seemed
very interested in Mary. I al
ways thought"
Mary stood up. "Let me out
of here!" she cried, pushing
frantically at Aunt Willie's
chair, that blocked her in.
They made way for her, ST.
lently.
Their worried, pitying faces
said: Nov she's going to her
room to cry!"
She couldn't stand that.
She stopped at the doorway.
whats all the FUSS about?
Suppose he IS engaged to Aunt
Willie's Vesta Zilch-"
"Vesta Granger. But I GER
tainly haven't anything to do
with it! I merely found the
paper wrapped around some
pie plates that came back
"Is there any law against it?
AS far as I'm concerned Jamie
Todd can get engaged to ALL
the girls in Sacramento. Why
shouldn't he? He certainly
wasn't engaged to ME!"
Aunt Willie's mouth was wide
open. Pa held his tobacco
pouch suspended in midair, but
Ma cried into her teacup.
"It's none Of my business
what he does. It just strikes
me funny that he never told me
about her, that's all. Do you
have any girls? A fellow that
I only saw once a week or So"
Anyway, every two .Weeks!"
from Aunt Willie.
What would he be doing up
there? Sitting home! You all
make me laugh. What do you
take me for?"
No need ever to tell now that
she'd been the fool she said she
wasn't. That she'd gone on,
hoping and dreaming, and ex.
pecting The nights she'd
lain awake, planning The
days she'd gazed at her type
writer, doing nothing. Last
night she even rode past her
station, thinking about ways of
breaking the news to the family
when they eloped to Reno, and
had to hike back seven blocks
in the rain.
And tonight the nightie in the
envelope, hidden under her
hat and coat on the bed-oh,
thank goodness they hadn't seen
THAN Now they'd never see it