The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-02
eY LOUISE HOLMES

Yesterday: Don proposes a con-
tract marriage and Pats accepts.
She spends the first night of her
honeymoon alone in her room
while Don worked at his play.
CHAPTER vi
A week followed. long hazy
days, hushed starlit nights. Don
was absorbed in his work and
Pats, for the moment, bliSsfully
content. She was Don's wife and
that was enough. She slept and
walked and dreamed. Mostly she
dreamed of the day when she
could cast aside her hideous dis
guiSe and Don would love her be-
cause she was herself. Often she
marveled at his blindness. He was,
il seemed, almost unaware OF her,
absolutely without curiosity con-
corning the woman he had mar
ried. Behind Pats bedroom her
mirror told q story of fragrant,
beautiful youth but the mirror
had no way of telling secrets and
the makeup box lied convinc-
ingly.
After 10 days OF luxurious
peace and quiet they went back to
the Avalon. Driving down, Don
said. "You must dress a little bet
ter, Patricia" And at her startled
upward glance, he added Heaven
knows you're a relief 90 my eyes
Just as you are. I'm so fed up
with women who trade on their
beauty" And Pats made a men,
tai vow. Never once would she
bring herself to Don's attention.
GlOrified secretary or convenient
wife. her job was clear.
Don added another room to his
suite. 1t was a front room open
ing from the living room and also
into a narrow hall which connect
ed with the main hotel corridor.
Pats sighed over the accumulation
of man mail and engaged a quiet
young man as secretary. rats
dreaded the first meeting with
Rosie but when she appeared her
reactions were tempered by cry
ing need for cash. She complete
IN ignored the sudden marriage,
after a Scornful look at Pats, beg
ged Don for a loan. When he had
generously responded she proved
conclusively that Pats as his wife
was to be considered lightly, if at
all.
take me to dinner, Dom" she
pleaded. 81 haven't had any
fun"
"Not a chance" he broke in
firmly, I'm dining with my wife.
Run along now and don't bother
us" Pats, Snubbed and ignored,
thrilled to his careless words.
After bewildered moment
Rosie went. As the door closed
behind her Don laughed. Worked
like a charm" he said. al had
the right idea" Going to the tele-
phone he ordered dinner TO be
sent us. Several times he chuck
led. You're as good as girl in
surance," he added.
The next day Pats took up the
matter of clothes. II was extreme
ly difficult, but when the new
wardrobe was assembled she had
10 admit that it more than answer
ed the very special requirements;
The materials were elegant and
rich. the colors chosen for their
unbecomingness, the styles dellb-
erately ruinous. Green was dis
mally unsuited TO her sallow COM
plexion. so green was the domi-
nant note.
The gowns were severe, they
were middle-aged, the waisthnes
wrong. the necklines too high, the
skirts too long. Footwear was a
problem since her feet were slen-
der and arched, but by adhering
TO the so-called health shoe she
acquired as wretched an array OF
slippers as she could possibly
wear. Evening frocks were mod
est in the extreme for she dared
not display the smooth loneliness
or her back and shoulders.
The hats were not so bad IN
themselves, but she wore them
with an absolute disregard for
STYLES. Small flat models, designed
to be worn over one eye, Pats sat
flat on the top of her head. 1t
became a game. a despicable
game. of seeing how impossible
she could appear without seeming
TO do so.
1t was a strange life. She went
everywhere with Don and was In
troduced as his wife. Out of his
hearing she allowed her quaint
cleverneSS to rise to the surface
and gained a certain popularity
despite her appearance. Terrible