The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-04

face and shoulders with fragrant powder .. when she was slipping into scant, silken things. And final ly, when the white and silver gown went slithering down over her head, aided by her maids practiced hands, to mold her slim body and sweep out in smart, fiaring lines.
 "Oh, Miss Jill, you're beautiful" Louisa exclaimed.
 Thank you, Louisa," Jill mur- mured, absently.
 She was thinking: He hasn't phoned. But he'll come. Of course he'll comeW
 Mrs. Wentworth had come into the room and was surveying Jill critically.
 "You look very nice," she con- ceded, after a moment. T must say that is the smartest evening dress you've had in a long time, even if I did select 1t. All you need now are your flowers. never saw so many. You can't wear all of them. But there's a gorgeous bouquet of white orchids that Milo sent. They would be perfect with your gown"
 "Ill wear them, with Bills" Jill said, unexpectedly tractable. Trou- bled waters were ahead. It was just as well to begin pouring oil.
 Mrs. Wentworth smiled, pleased.
 "Ill have both bouquets brought up. I hope when you marry, Jill, that you'll train your husband to be more thoughtful than your father. If I hadn't ordered orchids for myself, l wouldn't have had any"
 Jill was thinking: "When Alan and I are married, things like or- chids won't matter at all" Poor mother, who never had a thought above such things. Poor dad, who was missing being mar ried to woman who would be happier wearing @ petunia he had sent than @ cape of orchids sent by any other man.
 Jill smiled. How shocked her stepmother would be If she knew common idea like wearing pe- tunias had entered her mind.
 Mrs. Wentworth noted the smile curving the corners of Jill's mouth.
 She's thinking of Alan Jeffry, and how she outwitted me-" she thought.
 We'll, Jill would soon find out he wasn't coming. She would doubtless up this unexplained absence down to deliberate rudeness. Then, no doubt, she would sensibly start put ting him out of her mind. AS she should have done long ago.
 A secretive smile was playing over Mrs. Wentworth's face as she went out and closed the door be- hind her.
 The telephone rang few min tues later and Jill picked up her own phone. It must be Alan!
 It was Patty.
 "Jill, something has come up. An important meeting with pulp fisher. So I cant come to your party. I'll go plutocratic another time, if you'll ask me. wish l could be there so I could relay the swank details to Ardath. Did you know she's moved? I must say the town is a pleasanter place now. But she calls me sometimes when she's full of surplus conversation"
 I'm sorry wou won't be here," Jill said. Patty, I invited Alan"
 Swell. I hope he comes. But don't be disappointed if he doesn't. You know how proud the English are."
 Patty said goodby, and Jill sat for Q moment thoughtfully. Don't feel disappointed.
 1T simply couldn't bear it," Jill thought, miserably. The English were proud. How well she knew.
 "1'll call him." she decided, irn- pulsively.
 Alan was not yet in the tele- phone book, but an obliging In- formation could assist her.
 And then wonders of wonders, after five short minutes, Alan's deep voice anwsering her own.
 You're coming to my party, aren't you2 Please, Alan. I've been so unhappy"
 "Your party is tonight? I didn't know"
 "But I sent an invitation to you -ages ago."
 T didn't get It."
 Jill's mind worked quickly. Her mother, Of course, 1t was her mothers doing.
 "You must believe me, Alan. Yours was the very first name I put on my list. There's been some awful mistake. But you will come"
 There was no mistaking Jill's sim cerity-or the frantic eagerness in her voice. There was 8 muffled sound
 "Jill, you are crying"