The Washington times., 1936-07-11

She followed the portly form of
Mr.. Quackenbush through the
crowded maze of little tables in
the ballroom. Congratulations
were showered on her right and
left as she carried the Golden Ap-
pie that was the symbol of her
success. She acknowledged them
with shy, sweet bow.
Directly in front of them, she
saw the beautiful red-haired wo-
man who had given her her initial
opportunity in the contest. A
wave of real gratitude surged up
in her. From the bottom OF her
heart she would thank her!
But before she could address the
beneficent unknown, Mr.. Quacken-
bush was before her. He presented
her with a flourish to the lady.
Her name was Mrs. Joel Wanda
veer and the dark-eyed Ramon was
beside her.
Mrs. Vandaveer was in a gra-
ciouS mood, as she usually was
when she got her own way. 1t was
evident that she regarded Luana
as her own creation. Without her
patronage, her influence on the
Judges $50 she thought there was
no stamp on beauty, so it could
we'll remain indefinite until
marked by her all-seeing eye.
She felt possesSive now. Ramon,
pour her a cocktail. Sit down, my
dear. I've just been telling Mr..
Quackenbush that I simply forced
the committee of artists to select
YOU, I said to Russell Patterson
and Howard Chandler ChrlSty: NO
favorites now. Luana Waters is
the only possible choice They pre-
tended not to be influenced-but
you know-a word to the wiSe!"
1.-THE power behind the throne"
murmured Mr.. QuackenbuSh, play
ing up to her, but little confused,
in that he should have put the lady
on the throne and not the artists
he hoped his very best customer
would not notice this Slip-up in
tact!
''You shall always model gowns
for me when I come to the shop,
my dear" condescended Mrs. Van
daveer, because our figures are
practically identical. Aren't they,
Ramona"
Ramon rolled his expressive eyes
that were like twin Vesuviuses, but
like a wise young man did not COM
nit himself, beyond an ecstat1c
gurgle.
Luana was snapped with Mrs.
Joel Vandaveer by the news pho
tographers. They had taken the
picture before she knew it. In the
midst of her triumph she was as
sailed by terror. A fear that,
though her name was changed,
there would be sufficient SINH
larity between the photographs at
San Diego and those of today!
"Please don't put it in the pa
pers," she besought the reporters.
Adolphe Quackenbush frowned
at her, but Mrs. Vandaveer fortu-
nately miStook it for an attack OF
shyness which was really laudable
in the young girls of today. She
said so.
The couturier, however, would
have none of it. The more pub
licity his new mannequin had, the
better for his business. He would
encourage no nonsense. When she
had drunk her cocktail Che was
glad that she took only one. . that
was a good Sign) he took her
firmly by the arm and led her to
the table reserved for the judges,
where a whole flock of camera men
were awaiting her. She was placed
among the famous artists, and
photographed and Photographed
with them.
She comforted herself that it
was a long way from New York to
San Diego or San Francisco. All
of 5000 miles, was it not? Who
would connect Elizabeth Harmon
with the present Luana Waters?
Beyond Aunt Minnie, who had
failed to recognize her at the sta
ton, there was not a soul who
knew her in New York.
X x X
The establishment of Adolphe
Quackenbush on Fifth Avenue was
imposing, but in impeccably good
taste. One glided upwards in ST.
lent elevators of wrought chro.
MUM, into salons so elegant they
might have been set by the dec.
orators in some millionaire's pri.
vate house.
Signs of anything so vulgar as
trade were banished from the sa.
Ions. Ones feet sank into soft,
thick rugs the color of the plum.
age of a dove. One relaxed on
gray and gold touches that were
tr1umphS Of Comfort-cum-be beauty.