Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-09-14

whatever man offered the highest
price. She said, Let's not finish
this dance. have a headache"
$50 sorry" Wayne sympathized.
It'll take YOU back to the table.
And may 1 get you an aspiring"
Later, driving home with Christ
ian, Gay recovered her composure.
Christian was so kind, so gentle.
She leaned back in his arms, CRATE
full for his protective tenderness.
He was full of contrition, be-
cause he had spoken sharply to her,
earlier in the evening. II am so
anxious for you to make a good
impression" he explained, lovingly.
"And you were perfect, tonight. I
have never been SO proud of you,
so completely satisfied with my
choice" His hands caressed the
velvety skin of her throat and
shoulders. That black dress gives
you a very dignified appearance,
my dear. 1 should like you to wear
it Thursday night, when you meet
the children"
Gay stared blankly, before she
remembered.
"The children" were Christians
son, Clarence, and his elder daugh-
ter, Serena Mr.. Scott had arranged
for family dinner on Thursday at
his home near Ann Arbor. On that
evening, Gay would see Scott
Farms for the first time, and be
formally introduced to her future
step children.
Gay dreaded that meeting. She
had an inner conviction that
neither Serena nor Clarence Scott
would welcome her into the family
circle. Why should they, she
thought? What man or woman
would be pleased to greet a STEP
mother, almost twenty years
younger
The experience proved even
worse than her anticipation.
Mr.. Scott had sent his car and
chauffeur for her, and Gay shivered
nervously during the long drive to
Ann Arbor. If only Christian had
come after her, himself. He would
have treasured her-laughed away
her fears.
From the first moment, just at
sunset, when she approached the
great, dark house, her heart COM
menced sinking. It was all so
gloomy, so forbidding in it's digni-
fed grandeur. From the name,
"Scott Farms" Gay had pictured a
charming, sunny home surrounded
by bright flower gardens. But this
place was more like huge public
institution, she thought, with its
high walls, and formal landscaping.
The house itself was worst of all;
a narrow stone mansion, with
grotesque cupolas and ornamental
ton in the depressing architectural
style of the eighteen-seventies.
Everything was so old-even the
butler who announced her arrival
to the sedate group in the drawing
room.
AS Gay entered, Christian came
forward and greeted her with
ponderous formality, introducing
her first to his elder daughter,
Serena, and her husband; then to
his son Clarence, and his wife.
They were all very polite, but the
atmosphere was icy with disap-
proval. Serena's eyes were red
trimmed, as though she had been
weeping.
Dinner, Christian said, would be
served at eight o'clock. Perhaps
the children would not mind wait
ing here, while he took Gay around
the farm? He'd been looking for
ward, he added, to showing her his
prize-winning Holstein cattle, and
the model dairies and stables.
For the next half hour, he led
Gay from building to building, exc
hibiting the pedigreed cattle, and
the improved methods of sanitation
which had made Scott Farms IA
nous throughout Michigan. Chris
tan was so proud of his property
that Gay tried hard to echo his en-
thusiasm. But she was grateful
when the approach of the dinner
hour took them back to the house.
ITO BE COntinuedl