The times-news., 1937-05-04
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women don't have to be told
those things. Miles husband
and Bob have been good friends
for years, and the four of them
Sybil and Bob and the Sanders
have gone about a great deal"
1t was incredible, yet it was the
only answer to SybiPs purposeful
dislike, Joan thought.
WAS Millie Sanders at Sybils
last Wednesday," she asked.
"No. She's not like the rest of
SybiPs friends"
That afternoon, when Joan met
her, she remembered her as one
of the pleasant matrons to whom
Bob had presented her at the
spring party. She liked her i'm
mediately. AS a matter of fact
Joan felt much more at home at
Dorothy's party than at Sybips.
Perhaps it was the room itself,
Joan thought. here was none of
the chilling smartnesS in it that
Sybips home reflected, though it
was equally luxurious. A cheer
full fire roared in the great fire
place, and its flames were reflect
ed in dazzling splendor by the
diamond on her left hand. The
ring, too, she realized, gave her
the self-confidence which she had
lacked before. 1t cleaned as the
emblem of Bob's devotion, for all
the world to sea symbol of his
presence at her side.
Instead of cocktails and
canapes, served by a formidable
Jennings, Dorothy had tea and
tiny sandwiches and delectable
cakes, and Mrs. Macdonald, the
Downs housekeepre, passed them
around with the friendly fussi-
ness of an old mother hen.
After they had tea. Dorothy
led the way upstairs to her aunt'S
sitting room, and there, in the
center of the room, stood an
enormous old chest, elaborately
bedecked with crepe paper bows
and paper hearts, and bulging
with daintily wrapped gifts.
"Surprisew A dozen voices
echoed the word.
Joan, too stunned to speak,
looked at Dorothy, and her eyes
flashed appreciation. There was
lump in her throat, and her heart
was filled with sweet bewilder-
ment. This was shower for her
for Joan Barrett, the outcast,
who had never known single
friendship in all her life. Here
were gifts from friendly neigh
bors who asked nothing further
than the fact that she was their
neighbor's fiancee and Dorothy
Starke's friend!
One by one she unwrapped
them-lovely linen bridge sets,
enriched with dainty hand en-
broidery; bath towels, enormous
affairs that Bob could hide away
in; bright kitchen accessories
pot holders and hot-platc mats
and aprons.
Her eyes fingered over each one
hungrily. and she thought that
she had never, never dreamed Of
such abundant happiness.
The time was passing all to
quickly. :.
Perhaps it was an hour or so
later, when Nellie, the little Irish
kitchen-maid, came upstairs and
whispered something to Mrs. Nc
Donald, who lowered in the door
way.
| Mrs. Mcdonald frowned. "Be
| off with you, Nellie, and don't
talk such nonsense she scolded.
"What is it, Mrs. McDonald?"
Dorothy asked.
There's some fakir of a wo-
man down at the back door who
tells fortunes with the cards, and
this superstitious little baggage
thinks the young lady should hear
her foolishneSs."
Dorothy laughed. Don't be
silly, Nellie"
The others, however, looked up
with sudden interest.
ga fortune-teller?" they Choir
used. "Bring her in, of course.
Joan, don't you want your for
tune told?"
"She does notm Dorothy snap
ped, little fearful of Joan's re-
action.
But Millie Sanders, however,
careless, guileless Millie-settled
the matter.
"Of course Joan wants her for
tune told" she insisted. "Send
the woman up, Nellie. Don't you
want to know what the future
holds, Joan?"
And Joan, too happy at this
moment to dream of any misfor-
tune, nodded her head eagerly.
'Td love it," she agreed.
A moment later, Nellie brought
her upstairs-a bedraggled, dirty,
stupid-looking old woman. The
girls found place for her in their
midst, and she drew forth soiled
pack of cards from pocket in
her coat. Dorothy watched with
misgivings. She's too fair for a
gypsy, she thought, and too stupid
for clairvoyant. ! wonder if this