The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-02
CONTRACT WIFE:
on LOUISE o NeA S.-t..
o 1917. NeA Service. lae.

looking but rather clever" said
the women. "She dances like an
angel. Must have something-old
Don seems content" added the
men.
And through it all Pats stuck
TO her resolution. She so thor
oughly effaced herself, so salts
factorily protected Don from the
pushing, crowding, curious world
that when he thought of her as
all it was with wave of graft
tude. As one is grateful for a
perfect timepiece and pineapple
Juice chilled exactly to the taste
so Don was grateful for Pats.
Rarely she spoke to him unless he
started the conversation. Never
did she impose her personality up
on him!
But as time went on the situa-
ton gradually became intolcrablc
to Pats. After all she was only
81 and madly in love with her
husband. To sacrifice her love
illness, her longing for beautiful
clothes, her perfectly normal JOY
is being admired-it was asking
bit too much. Sometimes she
went early to her room, jel ked off
the offending disguise, creamed
and masSaged her weary face UNI
til it glowed with renewed fresh
ness, shampooed her hair and
gloried in its spun gold softness.
At these times she donned a lacy
negligee and frivolous slippers
and sat before her mirror. 1t
wasn't that Pats was particularly
vain; she was soul weary of play
ing this game of drabness, spirit
ual as well as physical.
Sometimes she looked longingly
at the closed door. Suppose she
should open that door, suppose
she should walk out, push Don
back from his typewriter and
throw herself into his arms. Sup
pose she should say, I'm your
real wife. Love me as | love
you" What then? The tempta-
ton was almost unbearable.
"He would kick you out she
would tell her radiant reflection.
ale hates beautiful girls. He's
your husband and he's satisfied.
What more do you WANT
But the idea grew and blossom
ed. Other girls had the right to
win the men they loved. This
thing couldn't go on indefinitely.
She might get sick, there might
be a night fire in the hotel,
dozen things might happen: She
thought of discarding the disguise
gradually, first the complexion,
then the glasses, the hip pads and
the horrible shoes. She was about
to start on this rather doubtful
program when an invitation gave
her an idea. The daring poSsloil-
tiles of the idea almost took her
breath away. For the week pre-
ceding the masquerade ball at the
fashionable Crayton club her
mind was utterly taken up with
plans and hopes and fears. Care
fully she worked out the crafty
details. -,
At breakfast, on the day of the
party, Pats asked favor Of Don;
It was the first since she had
known him.
"Don," she said quite Innocent
w. INV cousin, the one who lives
in Oregon, has written that she
and her husband will be in New
York for a few hours tonight. l
feel that | must see them. Could
YOU possibly do without me at the
party tonight?' -,
"Why, of course" Pats held
her breath. Suppose Don should
suggest meeting her cousin.
al NAV be able to come late, IN
time for the unmasking.' She
FASTENED to forestall any sucn
suggestion. "I'll make it if | can
Don nodded agreeably. I'll be
fairly safe in domino and mask.
Pats never ceased to marvel at
Don's innate bashfulness. Fate
had played a queer trick when 1t
made him deminine idol.
She was in a culver of excite
ment all day. If Don had been
even partially aware of her ne
could not but have noticed her
restless activities. Time and again
she shut herself in her bedroom,
opened boxes and fairly gloated
over the contents. With chilly,
trembling fingers she lifted shlm-
mering garments to gaze at them
with worshipful eyes. Don thought
she was to come to the ball, if at
all, royalty unlovely as Queen
| Elizabeth. The plan was fitting
together like well-arranged puz-