The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-04
CHAPTER XIV

Miss Dexter, watching Mrs. Vent worth nervously, saw her face turn c dull red. She was still staring down at the list.
 Jeffry, Jeffry, Mrs. Wentworth was thinking. Where had she heard that name? Oh, yes. Jill had told her 1t was the name of the young man who had stalked by Perkins. The young man who had rudely de- manded to see Jill.
 So this was the special reason. The rude young man with the lordly airs was the cause of Jills suddenly awakened social interest.
 She had been duped by a clever girl. If the impudent upstart came to the party, Jill would have eyes for no one else. She wouldn't know Milo was there. And she had al- ready hurt his feelings terribly. Evidently, all she thought of was this young man with bad manners who wasn't even marriageable material.
 Jill was simply a fool who must be protected against herself.
 Mrs. Wentworth scanned the boxes, which were packed in al- phabetical precision, pulling out an envelope here and there until she found the Us. She could feel Miss Dexter's eyes upon her, which made no difference at all. Some times, she felt Miss Dexter was not in sympathy with her. But you didn't need sympathy in subor- dinate. What you wanted was service.
 In Q moment, she had Alan Jeff frys invitation safely out of the box. Safely in her own hands.
 "11l speak to Jill about this in- vitation," she said, her eyes slant- ing away from Miss Dexter's direct gaze.
 If she knew which invitation had been removed, she could send an- other. But 1t would mean recheck- ing the invitations in that particular box. And how could that be done when Mrs. Wentworth still held Jlll's list and evidently had no idea of returning 1t.
 Suppose she spoke to Jill about t, and Jill gave the name of the objectionable young man. Mrs. wentworth would be sure to see him at the dance, and 1t might mean the loss of her job.
 Perhaps 1t was better to let well enough alone. Not every private secretary had an existence as pleasant as hers. Not many had @ room as pretty as her bedroom, done in French blue with dainty prints on the wall. She liked 1t much bet- ter than Mrs. Wentworth's room, which was very rich looking in dull gold and green.
 She sighed romantically, feeling Q surge of sympathy, as she did almost daily, for Jill Wentworth, who had such o cold and unscrup- Ilous stepmother.
 Jill, meanwhile, was going through the days buoyed by @ splendid hope.
 She could picture 1t all: She would be speaking her lines politely as well-bred young hostess should, say ing things mechanically. The same things over and over. And then, all at once, she would look up and see a tall, young man with cool, gray eyes, and on aloof manner (which you knew by experience was only Q mask that could be dropped in Q moment of vigorous action).
 "Hello," he would say, "how are your"
 And she would answer in . tone SO low her stepmother couldn't hear: Fine, nowl"
 He would press her hand Q very little to show he had forgiven her for loving him so much that she had made him miserable.
 This was as far as Jill could 70 with her mental pictures.
 Each day she waited for one "ac. cepts with pleasure" She would not allow the negative word regrets" to enter her mind.
 But the evening of the party ar- rived and no word had come from
 lie will phone, Jill decided. Busy young men who worked rather than played perhaps took these short, social cuts.
 All the time she was getting ready, Jill had an attentive ear open for the telephone. While she was emerging glowing from her bath while she was dusting her