The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-03-05

came to 'Meadowbrook," had
passed it once or twice riding about
the country on his free afternoons.
Now as they approached the low
stone playhouse, he diminished the
speed of the car. The theater had
a significance for him aside from
its history, it's location, its distinc-
tive reputation. Cecily's friend, Jer-
envy Clyde, was connected in some
way with the company here. Per-
haps Cecily was here tonight. Per-
haps that was where she'd been
going when she sped past him
through the village.
A performance was obviously in
progress. The windows were rec
tangles of light. A number of cars
were parked at the side of the play
house. But the fawn-colored road
ster was not there
"Going in?" Dolly asked, anna
bly,.
Jim realized, then, that the Mac
Phersons' coupe had been advanc-
ing at a snails pace, that in the
moment Dolly spoke he had stalled
the engine.
Sorry" he said, little discon-
certed, "It's interesting, isn't it?"
The car, its motor purring again,
picked up speed on the open road.
Dolly told Jim of a "show" she'd
seen once when she went to visit
her aunt in New York. She re-
called the comedians jokes and
sang the hit number of the must
cal score in her engaging voice.
The rhythm was perfect. She re-
membered all of the words. BY the
time they had reached 'Dutch's,"
Jim had lost the feeling of being a
little out of sorts. They drew up
before the roadhouse, singing in a
iovial and discordant duet
"Sing hallelujah, hallelujahl
Sing hallelujah, all the day!" I.
Jim parked the car and opened
the door for Dolly.
The orchestra wore Bavarian cos
tunes. The drummer looked like
Old King Cole in suspenders and
bare pink knees. The dance floor
in the garden was dimly lighted
and moonlight sifted down through
the branches of lofty trees. Dolly
danced with spirit and faultless
rhythm, the white beret pressed
against Jim's shoulder, the red SAN
dals twinkling across the floor.
Her cheek pressed his shoulder.
Her slim rounded body felt firm,
buoyant, held lightly in his arms.
There was something about Dolly,
something piquant, something NOV
ing.
They sat in a stall, separated
from other stalls by sapling screens
covered with vines. A bulb in a
swinging lantern made rosy pleas
ant light.
"Skoal!" Jim lifted his mug
and smiled at Dolly across the ia
blecloth checkered in blocks of red
and white.
Dolly glanced about the garden,
her eyes shining, her cheeks natur-
ally pink under the film of rasp-
berry rouge. People were coming
in crowds, smart looking people,
Jim observed, his eyes following
Dolly's; dowagers and debutantes,
men with ruddy country look and
perfectly tailored clothes, college
boys and boys of Tommy's age.
There's the Patton girl who's
to be married soon," she informed
Jim, indicating a party just enter
ing the garden.
'The redhead?" Jim asked, not
particularly interested.
mo, the dark one. And that's
the man she's going to marry.
They're friends of &c - of Miss
Vaughn's. She's to be bridesmaid
at the wedding"
"Yes?" Jim was still apparently
Indifferent. But the small vivacious
brunette held his attention now. She
had, or was to have, a homespun
counterpart for a shower gift. Cecil
ly had seen Mrs. Macpherson I'M
packing his trunk. Cecily! Where
was she now? He brought his
straying attention back to Dolly.
"You know" he said looking at
her intently, "you don't look like the
sort of woman who drives young
men to the ends of the earth"
The flax blue eyes, rayed with
mascaraed lashes, widened in sur
prise.
"I?" she asked. ''The ends of
the earth?"
Jim nodded.
''But who?" she asked. "You're
kidding. You've got me mixed up
with Greta Carlo. I'm laughing"
cts no laughing matter, young
lady" Jim maintained grave ex-
preston. "a young man confded
in me tonight" He took crumpled
envelope from his pocket. 'Here's
his farewell message. hope it will
teach you lesson"
She took the envelope from Jim,
glanced at the inscription.
'Oh, Tommy!" Amusement CLINT
ed in her eyes. Whats it all
about. thought he'd Tilted me-"
'sHe wants the letters he's writ