Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-08-27
MRUSTLE0F SILKSka|
ppxnVrur Press 4sou ASngJ
CHAPTER 80


SLIPPIrTG the key to her Jewel
case-loaned for the occasion
into her bag Mari Barat pulled
ON soft doeskin gloves. Her eyes
travelled swiftly from the bare top
of her dressing table to her re-
Election in the mirror.
She saw, with approval, the
perfect lines of her beige tailleur,
the fiattering arrangement of the
six sable skins thrown about
her shoulders, the sophisticated
droop of the brim of her felt hat.
A diamond fob cleaned on her
breast pocket. 49, :.
'The dressmaker becomes a
mannequin," she said.
"Clarisse, you may take the
small case and the jewel box 20
the car" Larry Holk, the pub
1icitv man, said to the maid, walt
ing in her dark blue travelng
Mari's rented motor. the long
cream colored and chromium
town car. was at the door. The
time for her departure Tor q week
in London had arrived. Her trunk,
filled with a hastily accumulated
hut nonetheless dramatic ward
robe. had gone on before. a.
"All I have to remember is that
nv frs md jewels are borrowed,
that l am woman of some mys-
terv and what else?" Mari de-
manded.
"That YOU have certain obliga-
lions to keep the appointments I
have made for you to be photo
Ieraphed and not to talk too much.
1T will be enough for others
merely to see you and talk about
you" 49, ;.
"Cood or bad, I suppose It
doesn't make much difference"
Larry laughed. mot q bit!
IRut. nv dear, If it treasures you,
YOU look the part. I'm counting
on YOU to remember that you are
not really playing a part. You
ARE what I am trying to make
Won. You have already become
an interesting, important figure.
You will continue to be one"
Mari was beginning to realize
the Importance and truth Of what
he had said. The miracle had
come about in less than two
months. Already the shop was
beginning to assume important
proportions. Gargantuan orders
-gargantuan for Mari who had
heretofore bought fabrics by the
yard and not by the bolt-had
been filed. Already a score Of
seamstresses in hastily rented
quarters were at work on the
sketches of models that Mari had
prepared for her opening.
1t was not to be a formal open
ing in the sense Of the larger
showings, but distinguished list
Of guests from the. social and
press worlds of Paris had, been
invited. A staff had been selected,
mannequins had been engaged.
And Mari, allowing herself only a
few hours Of sleep each night, had
worked tirelessly with a hand In
every move. Between the duties
Of organization, she had submitted
herself to preparing for her Lon
don excursion.
The shop Of Maribarat-the
name was fused-was to be ready
to open on June Is. An ideal
time to catch the incoming trade
from other countries! Mari could
not have worked another day at
the feverish pace that she had set
for herself. Shadows beneath her
eyes made their gray depths
greater, Some Of the roundness
had faded from the contours Of
her face, stretching the skin over
her cheekbones and lending her g
new kind of sharper beauty.
Sutherland Is meeting you al
the airport. There'll be a few re.
porters but later :"
IT know" Mari answered, cut
ting in on him, II have the list
I only hope that my first air triE
won't make me Ill. It would be
too terrible for a femme fatale tt