The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-11-04
coVr;ohs. 1907, NEA Service, lne

She could picture it all: She
would be speaking her lines po-
Iitely as a well-bred young host
css should, saying things mechan-
ically. 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 an aloof manner (Which you
knew by experience was only a
mask that could be dropped in a
moment of vigorous action.
Hello" he would say, chow
are YOU"
And she would answer in n tone
so low her Stepmother couldn' t
hear: Fine, now!
He would press her hand very
little 10 show he had forgiven her
for loving him so much that she
had made him miserable.
This was as far as Jill could
90 with her mental pictures.
Each day she waited for one
accepts with pleasure" She
would not allow the negative word
regrets" to enter her mind.
But The evening of the party
arrived and no word had come
from Alan.
He 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 busting
her face and shoulders with fra
grant powder when she was
slipping into Scant, silken things.
And finally. when the white and
silver gown went slitherinE down
over her head. aided by her maids
practiced hands. to mold her slim
body and sweep out in smart,
flaring lines.
"Oh. Miss Jill, you're beauti-
full Louisa exclaimed.
Thank you. Louisa" Jill mur-
INJURED. absently.
She was thinking: HE hasn't
phoned. But he'll come. OF course
he'll come
Mrs. Wentworth had come into
the room and was surveying jill
critically.
You look very nice" she con
coded. after a moment. Il must
say that is the SmarteSt evening
dress you've had in long time,
even if did select it. 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 or
chids that Milo sent. They would
be perfect with your gown."
"i'll wear them. with Bills,
Jill said. Unexpectedly tractablc.
Troubled waters were ahead. 1t
was just as well TO begin pouring
oil.
Mrs. Wentworth smiled, pleas
ed.
"Ill have both bouquets
brought up. | hope when you
marry, Jill, that you'll train your
husband to be more thoughtful
than your father. If | hadn't or
dered orchids for myself, | would
not have had any"
Jill was thinking: when Alan
and | 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 20 a woman who would be
happier wearing a petunia he had
sent than a cape of orchids sent
by any other man.
Jill smiled. How shocked her
stepmother would be if she knew
a common idea like wearing pc
tunias had entered her mind.
Mrs. Wentworth noted the
smile curving the corners of JiltS
mouth.
"She's thinking of Alan Jeffry,
and how she outwitted me- she
thought.
Well, Jill would soon find out
he wasn't coming. She would
doubtless put his unexplained abb
scnce down to deliberate rude
ness. Then. no doubt, she would
ScnSibly start putting him out OF
her mind. As she should have
done long ago.
A sccretivc smile was playing
over Mrs. Wentworth's face as
she went out and closed the door
behind her.
The telephone rang a few min
utes later and Jill picked up her
own phone. 1t must be Alan!
1t was Patty.
Jill, something has come up.
An important meeting with a
publisher. So | can't come to your
party. I'll go plutocratic another
time, if you'll ask me. | wish |
could be there so | could relay
the swank details to Ardath. Did
YOU know she's moved? / must
say the town is a pleasanter place
now. But she calls me sometimes
when she's full of surplus con
versation. =.
"Tm sorry you won't be here,
Jill said. Patty, invited Alan.
Swell. | hope he comes. But
don't be disappointed if he does
not. You know how proud the
English are"
Patty said goodby, and Jill sat
for moment thoughtfully. Don't
feel disappointed.
81 simply couldn't bear it," Jill