The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-11
Q 1907 NEA Service. loe.

his jaw sagging. Coral sighed a
little. then opened the door of
the sedan. Thanks for taking me
this afternoon, Hoyt," she said.
He remained silent, but as she
entered the house she heard the
car roar off diwn the street.
The house was quiet. AS she
walked upstairs she heads sounds
of activity in the kitchen, the sub
dued hum of the sewing machine
| in the sewing room. There was
no sign of her father, As she
/ opened the door of her room her
mother called from the sewing
room. "IS that you, Coral?"
"Yes, Mother"
Your father is late. He called
me little while ago. We won't
have dinner for another half hour.
Did you have a nice time, DEAR
ayes yes, indeed Coral
answered. Pm going to change
my dress and powder my nose.
viii you call me when dinners
ready
"Of course. But don't be too
long. You know Daddy hates to
be kept waiting" Her mothers
voice was indulgent.
Coral laughed. 81 know. I'll be
ready on the dot" She entered
her room, and closed the door.
She did net un!",,s im.ae-
diatcly, but - on the edge of
her bed. turning over in her mind
the events of the afternoon. 1t
was clear to her now that Hoyt
was going to make a fuss when
he knew about David.
"Well. she thought to herself,
suppose he does. He can't do
any real harm. after ALL"
But for all that, the little feel
ing of forebOding which had come
over her was not easily dis
missed. and as she freshened her
self for dinner she thought uneas-
| lily more than once of Hoyt's inn
perious words. his bloodshOt eyes
and the angry, sulky twist of his
weak mouth. How wonderful 1t
would be when all this secrecy
was over; And, thank heaven, she
would be going back to Elton IN
two days: back to David with his
strong arms and reaSSuring smile.
Days away from him were ages
long.
After dinner, Coral and her
parents sat in the bOOk-filled,
comfortably shabby living room,
slipping their office. When her
father emptied his cup and set it
down on the table beside him,
Coral knew that the moment
which she had been dreading all
avening had arrived. He cleared
his throat. looked at her benevo-
lently over his blasseS. We'll,
daughter. did you and Hoyt have
good time this afternoon"
"Why. yes. Daddy" Coral re-
piled. She sought safety in the
indefinite. "There were lots of
people there | hadn't seen in a
long time; Kitty and Sue and Bob
Decring and E"
Her father interrupted her gen
tally. How about Hoyt? You
hadn't seen much of him for a
long time. had you? Not even
since you've been home" He no.
ticcd her distraught expression.
"There isn't anything wrong be-
tween you two, is there His
voice was troubled.
mo, Dad. No, of course not
Only WHAT" Her mothers
voice intruded bit sharply;
There is something wrong, Coral
i can see it in your face. Have
you and Hoyt been quarrellng
over some silly little thing?"
"Not exactly. Mother. It's just
that Hoyt and | well, we
don't seem to have much in COM
mon any more"
Nonsense" her mtoher said
brusquely. you've always gotten
! along beautifully. You can't af-
ford to be getting notions about
Hoyt now. Why, everything's all
settled"
Coral forgot herself. "lt's moth
ing of the kind"
Her father looked at her quiz
zically. We've always thought 1t
was. Coral. You know it might be
very serious matter for all Of
MS if you changed your mind"
ooh" Coral said to herself,
"my mind was never made up.
You and Hoyt and his family
made it up for mer' Then aloud.
81 know, Dad. It's just that |
want to be free and WE'LL
more sure about things"
''Fiddlesticks, Coral, you're I'M
agining things" said her mother
"Have you asked Hoyt to the
Spring Hop at Elton yes?" :,
| "No," said Coral. How could
she tell them she was going with
David, going with her husband
81 | had planned to ask some
one else
you'll do nothing of the kind,
Young lady. Do you want 10 run,
your future and your fathers and
mine. too? You telephone Hoyt
this minute and ask him. You
know he's expecting it. The very
ideal! o,
"But, Mother - CorafS eyes
were frantic. Her father noticed
| il and started to speak. Dear, II
YOU don't want to it's all right.
ITS nothing of the kind, Mrs.
lCrandall snapped. Don't humor
Iher. Arthur. She's got to get over
this foohshness now, before 1T
too late. Goodness, Coral, you're
acting like a child" Her voice
softened. "You know this is moth