Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-10-29
0FLO!W y RS! ,! Her ,fFfEF@|
CHAPTER 81
IT'S BOILING, Allie"

Alix Carey sighed patiently anc
put down her pencil.
bill Boyd, you're a menace t.
industry. If you hadn't come by
I'd have had all the bills out 70,
the month. This is a business or.
ganization, not tea ROOM"
"And you're a human being, not
machine. It's half past five an6
time you called it a day Besides
I've brought you a special treat
tea cakes from the Goodie Shop
"All right" she said, changing
from crumbled green smock to
fresh rose smock. IF you don't
care whether 1 get to look like a
good healthy corn-fed gall
"You couldn't ever. look that
way" he said CALAMITY as he
watched her busying herself over
the small tea table beside the
blazing hearth in the shop.
Alix had introduced the rite of
afternoon tea, among other inno-
vations in Bairdsvale, to further
intimacy and conversation in the
shop. It had led surely to sales,
commissions and the growth of
Mae Alexanders business. It had
led Bill Boyd into the habit of
dropping in these late afternoons
to chat with Alix and Mae.
BILL" Alix slipped her hot tea
thoughtfully, IT wonder if it would
do any good to work on old Mr..
Holly. He wants to sell that big
place of his. 1 think he'd have a
better chance if he spent a little
money redecorating the place. I've
been going over some. :"
"Alix, darling, if you worked on
anybody it would probably mean
q sale. wonder, however, if you
would forget it for few minutes :?
I'd like to talk over some plans
with you for the club party on
Washington's birthday"
ooh, Bill, I wrote to New York
for the suggestions I wanted. I'll
get them" She put down her cup
and rose.
Bill caught her hand. "Sit down
and don't let's talk. Don't say
anything. I want to see you for
cnce when you aren't in the middle
of plans"
Alix sat down and was quiet for
q few minutes. The freight ran
over her figure in repose. It's light
marked the line with fluid bright
ness from her hair to the sheen on
her absurdly small. high-heeled
patent leather slippers. It picked
out the slender contours of her
small-boned body in neat black
frock, protected with starched
smock. 1t played on her cheeks
from which the shadows had dis
appeared but it could not mark a
light in her eyes because that
quick, bright srer,l had gone.
It had gone when the pain in
her heart had been less sharp and
the numbness she had schooled
herself to had settled deep in her.
1t was February now. Nearly a
year
1.-THE middle of plans ?" She
was speaking more to herself than
TO Bill. I'm always in the mid
die of plans" She didn't say that
that was one way of shutting out
yesterday. I'm just business
woman, Bill"
Bill had brought battered pipe
out of his pocket. Busily he
pressed tobacco into it, he in
spected it carefully. Not to me.
Allie. You'll never be anything to
me but a romantic lady. All
around this town 1 hear how clever
you are so I guess you must be.
but to me you're always the girl
3 who has to have her battles fought
for her."
She smiled, wryly, Il haven't
any battles, Bill"
"Pshaw, didn't mean that ex-
actly."
Il know what you mean, dar-
ling" She put her hand on his.
You've been wonderful to me ever
since l came back. I don't know
What I'd have done without you"
Gratitude filed her with tender
ness for Bill. He had been won
derful! He'd brought his gang"
around. He'd seen that she met
everyone. He'd called for her on
stormy nights, brought her books
and candy when she sprained her
ankle and had to stay away from
the shop for a week. She'd leaned
on Bill more than she knew. And
II she wasn't careful she'd spill
over and tell him so.
A bell tinkled at their backs, the
little bell on the outside door. OPEN