The Washington times., 1936-01-28

DE1U6-LO-DS Sd1u WISH u11ys
''Never mind. I'm glad, darling!"
The thought of that sustained
her the whole nerve.wracking day
Of the wedding, and well she
needed something to sustain her,
for Adele collapsed from nervous
excitement about noon, and a doc
tor (not Donald, as of Odd had to
be sent for.
Without saying so in so man.
words, Aunt Nettie managed to
convey the idea that 1t was all
Christie'S fault, and when Adele
had been given Sedatives, and was
finally resting quietly, with the
doctors assurance that she would
be quite herself by evening, in
plenty Of time for the ceremony,
Nettie, too. took to her bed, COM
planning Of weakness and head
ache.
AL day long Christie answered
the telephone. Photographers and
newspapers and strange people
offering congratulations. And she
tried not to be hurt that no one
asked about the wedding of Mrs.
Cooper's niece, but Mrs. Cooper's
ward"
Even that is Just putting it
nicely" she thought, with that
feeling Of desertion that she had
never grown quite used to, "for
I'm really nothing to any Of them.
I haven't really the right to the
name Cooper that I signed on the
book for the marriage license. No
wonder Donald's mother doesn't
like it. She couldn't be expected
to"
Then she thought about Gene.
Wondered where he was, and
what he'd think if he read of her
marriage.
If Donald's mother knew about
THAT, she'd be even less pleased.
There wasn't any use trying to
put it out Of her head It kept
bobbing up. The more she tried
not to think Of it, the more she
did.
Toward evening a girl from
Aunt Nettis1's favorite beauty shop
came to set her hair and put fresh
polish on her already perfectly
manicured nails. In the girls
frank envy and excitement she
lost some Of the dull apprehension
that had hung over her all day,
and when good-natured Rose
brought up a tray and a complete
little dinner for Christie and the
girl from the beauty shop, her
spirits began to soar.
They ate creamed chicken and
fruit salad, laughing and chatter
ing like two school girls at party.
1t was so pice to have a girl to
talk to. It had been so long, she
had been so lonely.
But OF course everything would
be different now!
CHAPTER XXI
Well" Aunt Nettie said, bus
Ting in, all dove-gray and dia-
monds, and complete to the very
last detail of corsage of purple
orchids.
Haven't you finished supper
yet? I thought you'd be READY!
Let me see the back of your hair
UNI, very nice.
II think that's all now, Miss
Parker, though you might stop in
at Miss Adele's room on your way
out and see if she's satisfied with
that braid arrangement. It looked
a little stiff to me.
Come, Rose, you can help me
with the wedding gown Christine!
I know that Miss Parker wants
to wish you happiness, but some
other time, dear. She can help
us more by running along-GOOD
night, Miss Parker. Christine, how
can you be so helpless when
there's so much to do"
Isabelle, in a new black evening
gown, a red velvet wrap slipping
from her shoulders, trailed in and
sat on the bed, smoking, saying
nothing.
Cigaret ashes dropped on the
white lace veil; she blew them
away, smiling her twisted smile.
Nov the DRESS" Aunt Net
tie said, painting. Hold your
head perfectly still, Christine,
PLEASE!"
. Rose dropped the heavy satin
folds over her shoulders, knelt to
adjust the train.
Christie found herself breath
ing hard, as if she had been rum
ming a long way.
"The veil, Mis- Cooper" Rose
asked.
Isabelle lifted it with fingers on
which the nails had been lac
quered the color of blood. Rose