The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-18
S0Much for Eve
BEGIN HERE TODAY

tween Helena and Peter. Almost
immediately he asks her to marry
him. Helena hesitates, finally
agrees.
Peter and Helena confide IN
Sandra and it is decided that the
marriage shall take place at the
Lodge.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER III
1t was Sandra Leigh herself
who went for the minister, using
the broken down roustabout car
owned by the caretaker of the
lodge. She was to return with
him well before noon, and in the
meantime Crest Mountain Lodge
was a beehive of activity. San
dra's friends delightedly decorat-
ed the big main room OF the
lodge with fir boughs and strips
of colored paper which the lodge
keepers wife resurrected.
"These are from a New Year 5
party that was held here once,
she told them. "And when 1T was
over, | saved all the decorations.
/ had a feeling they might come
in useful some time. And, sure
enough, they have" She sighed
Economically. 81 declare, / never
thought the place would see
wedding - although III confess
I've seen a heap OF love attalrs
begin here that l bet turned into
weddings before very long.
More excited than any were
Peter Henderson and Helena. For
the most part they kept close to
their respective rooms, trembling
against the time when Sandra
would return with the minister.
Several times Helena, stricken by
sudden panic, debated whether 10
escape to the station. Suppose II
was all a horrible mistake? There
were a hundred things that could
happen. She might discover that
Peter was improvident and given
to drink; for Helena had heard
that these evils often went with
charm. And she might learn-too
late-that Peter was one Of those
men who found all women attrac-
tive, and was in turn admired by
them. There came back to Helena
a casual remark of Sandra
Leigh's: mo woman can resist
that charm of his. =" What
had she meant by that? Perhaps
it was a calculated statement, a
remark designed to warn friend,
to make her think. .
"But if Sandra had known OF
any reason why shouldn't marry
Peter she'd have told me-" Helena
reminded herself stoutly.
AS the morning wore on, she
began to dress herself for the
wedding. Sandra had told her
that she might wear simple sport
clothes for the ceremony, and
Helena had been mildly amused
at the suggestion. In her week
end bag she had packed only three
outfits: one for swimming, one for
hiking through the woods, and a
sports outfit adaptable to what
ever informal affair might take
place. But she had never dreamed
that any informal affair might
turn out to be her own wedding!
Just as she completed dressing
she heard Sandra's familiar voice
on the veranda.
'I couldn't find a minister -
hut found a Justice of the peace,
and he insists he can marry peo-
pie legally"
A moment later came Sandra's
excited rap on Helena's door. AT
the latter's invitation she burst
inside the room. you've no idea
what a perfectly CHASTITY time |
had finding someone who could
really marry you and Peterp
Helena laughed shakily. "May-
be that's a bad omen"
Nonsense! l didn't mean that,
you goose. But this is a wild
country up here. They don't ex-
pect marriages, you know. Tho
I did find a justice of the peace.
He can't see very well, and he has
whiskers, but Pm sure you'll
adore him. He was little sus-
picious at first. Said he wouldn't
have anything to do with what ne
called a gin wedding But finally
! managed to assure him that no
body had taken a drink at Crest
Mountain Lodge for at least 10
hours"
"Maybe you shouldn't have
done that" Helena faltered. Il
feel as if l might do we'll with a
cocktail.
-. Sandra put her arm about
Helena's shoulder. "Buck up,
baby. Girls get married every
minute-and live. It's the bride
groom who really needs a drink;
He takes all the responsibility.
Sandra grinned mischievouSly,
And I'd be willing to bet that
Peter has had one or two.
When Helena accompanied San
dra out into the giant living room
with it's roaring fire she dlsc0V-
cred that the Leigh girl was right
Peter had taken drink or two,
although he did not show 1t;
Helena would never have realized
II had she not detected the sweet
iish odor of liquor. She didnt
blame him. The fact was that sne
she rather envied the false assur-
ance the alcohol had given Peter,
How, did a man feel when ne was
about to agree, before God ana
the world, to take unto himself a
woman and support her for the
rest of their natural lives? go,
She would never, as long as she
lived, forget the next few mo-
ments in that tall-ceilinged room