Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-10-09
EIGHTH INSTALMENT

EIGHTH INSTALMENT
"Of course you'll make good,
Maris. Don't start acting silly
now" Patsy spoke firmly, for
Maris was verging on a hysterical
state, after all her excitement.
"Come, let me fix this" and keep
ing her interested in what she was
doing, Patsy managed to get her
calm again.
"There, you look swell!" ex-
claimed Patsy. II can't think why
Jimmy's so long in coming tonight.
I did think he'd be here to see you
before you left. It's too bad that
Rods still in the West"
But even as she spoke, the bell
rang and a moment later Jimmy
was standing awestruck, looking at
Maris. Going to beat us to it are
you?" he questioned looking a.
round. II must sav Rod didn't lose
any time. just saw Charley Goroon
and he said Rods gadget's going
over Big"
"Oh, Jimmy" laughed Maris
Historically, 'I'm not a real bride
tonight. I'm just going to wear this
gown at the exposition-to adver-
tise Fayson's crepe"
He turned with incredulous eyes
to Pat. "What's the girls saying?
She means she's not going to marry
Rod?"
"Oh, sure she'll marry Rod when
the time comes, honey, and be glad
to-" answered Pat. "Only it won't
be tonight, for she's just a pretense
bride tonight"
Nov I see a light, Patsy. Well,
say, she should make a hit all
right. Better not let anyone run
away with you, Maris. Think Patsy
and I had better come along?"
"Ch, no, there's no need for
that. I know you'd rather stay at
home. Gee, I bet that's my taxi!
Where are the flowers?"
They're in the ice-box, Jimmy.
Get them, and wrap them up in
the paper that's lying on the table,
so they won't drip on this magni-
ficent cloak" Then Pat caught up
the evening wrap Of ~glistening
white and silver lame and draped
it about Maris' shoulders.
But when she reached the side
ws4k, it was not a taxi driver, but
a liveried chauffeur who opened the
door of the luxurious sedan which
old Fayson usually rode in to his
office. When he raised his eyes to
hers, for a moment he looked as
though he had seen a ghost. But,
remembering his place, the look Of
surprise was quickly followed by
the impersonal glance that is the
mark of the we'll trained servant.
AS Maris leaned back against the
softly upholstered cushions and
glanced about hers he felt as
though she was at last in her proper
setting. All sorts Of luxuries were
revealed in the fittings Of the car
and in the vases were delectable
dollhouse blooms whose delicate
fragrance suggested exotic. lowell
ness.
The car drew up to the curb. A
man in livery fastened to open the
door, and escort Maris within the
hall. As she crossed the threshold,
Stan stepped forward and eagerly
c1asped her hands.
"I'm so glad you've come.
wanted to call for you myself, but
I've been in a frightful rush ever
since you left"
"Well, it will soon be over" an
severed Maris.
"Oh, yes, and I hope we put it
across. You see the old nan ha,
been rather skeptical about nv
ideas, but I think he's beginning to
see the light" Then as Mrs. Bryce
approached, he added, 1.-THE other
girls are in the dressing room Mrs
Bryce will introduce you" Then
with a whispered, "You look lovlier
than ever" Stan hurried into the
hall.
Counds of music drifted to he,
through the half-opened doorway.
and as the visitors hurried back and
~ r--lS