Evening star., 1936-12-27

"A tall, definitely handsome man of about
thirty stepped directly in front of her.
Il wasn't talking about you. sorry" Gracia
said. cupping her voice in parenthesis is
the terrace"
The early thirtyish face broke into sur
prised. warm grin. Mark looked family dis
pleased and Gracia. laughing at her own i'm
pertinence, moved on with him on the tour of
inspection of one of the show pieces among
New York Shower pent houses.
Two days later the white telephone beside
Gracia's white bed buzzed laziy A voice she
didn't know greeted her.
Mrs. jacquard, please" the voice said. 1t
was British voice, little imperious. This
is Mrs. Jacquard. Who
The imperious quality vanished. You owe
me an apology, and I've phoned to ask for it"
1t was good voice, pleasing voice.
''Oh, do apologize" Gracia assured it in
stantly, what did do and who are you?"
"You said you said in public, that
wasn't as handsome as terrace"
Gracia laughed, suddenly and delightedly.
How dull of me. apologize again, abjectly.
was wrong. You are as handsome as terrace.
And who are you?"
That's not the point at ALL"
''How did you find out who was?"
Again the deep, amused chuckle. THAT was
simple" he announced II went up to Jackson
Gaul and said, Who would be the most beauti-
full and rudest woman at this party?' and he
said at once. That would be Gracia Jacquard.
Gracia was delighted. Something inside her
felt lift of quick interest, the sense that
something was about to happen, was happen
ing. which was attractive and alive.
VERY well, I'll beg your pardon once more
for my rudeness. That's three times and now
we're quits"
But not at ALL" he said calmly. Surely
deserve personal apology? do think you
ought to let me give you the opportunity to
offer it to me. Cocktails at the Waldorf, say,
Saturday."
mo. I'm sailing at three. Saturday"
Sailing at three? I've sailed on everything
aaoat and nothing sails at three
You're quite wrong. Bermuda boats sail at
three, Saturday, and I'm sailing on one of
them. So you see l can't"
May suggest we make it today instead?"
Gracia hesitated only moment longer.
Why be stufed-shirt about having people
properly presented to her? She'd been correct
and formal all her life She'd been married to
man who was the soul of good form, good
family and lofty tradition. When he had got
over the ecstacy period of marriage, he had
without warning left her for new ecstacies with
lofty brutality.
We'll. I'm going to say yes. This is all very
amusing of you"
Good. In the Palm Bar. I'm delighted"
"And now will you tell me with whom I'm
having cocktails?"
mot now" he said. "And you be sporting
and don't 60 sending out questionnaires.
But how'll T."
You'll 60 to the Palm Bar at ive," he
said. very deliberately. "and look about for
a man that's handsomer than any terrace you
ever saw - and that Il be me-
Gracia lay back in her white bed and smiled.
This was most engaging. This creature with
the voice and the laugh - she suddenly re-
membered Mark Wharton, illogically enough.
Marks voice was light -timbered. But obviously
you didn't hesitate about marrying man
because of voice. Mark was solid enough,
whatever his voice And year ago she had
said that if ever she married again, it would
be someone who had staying power and sta
bility for the pnches that would come in mar
rage - who WOlildn't CIT and nm