The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-05-11
az ADELAIDE HUMPHREYS
CAST OF CHARACTERS

widow; she wanted Roger.
EVELYN LA FARGE--Jaek'e
mother; she wanted a son-in-ia~'
Yesterday: For the first time
Jackie realizes that Beryl Mel
rose in the picture hs. taken a
lot of the Joy out of her hopes
and pl. for Rogers flight.
CHAPTER TX
Jackie was glad now that she
had a lovely new dress, purchas-
ed so reluctantly among ner
"trousseau-clotheS," for the ulh-
ner-dance. $780,. ,...
1t was u dream of dress,
reilly; sky-blue tulle, yards ana
yards of it, glinting with silver.
She wore silver sandals on her
feet and coronet of tiny, glitter
ing silver stars held her hair back
from her eager, flushed young
face. For once she looked as
feminine and alluring as even
Evelyn could have wished. For
once Jackie was willing to look
that way.
Of course the fact that Beryl
Melrose would be there had moth
ing to do with it!
Evelyn had seen to it that the
setting for this evening should be
as romantic as possible. Gay
Japanese lanterns had been hung
around the velvety lawns and ter
races, near the outdoor swim
ming pool Il platform for dancing
had been erected and just in case
there would not be any moon, an
artificial one had been supplied.
There were floodlightS, as well,
that would shine first gold, then
rose. then lavender, thick back
drops Of shrubs and masses of
fragrant roses. As though the
night itself had wanted to lend
enchantment the air was as tender
us Il Serenade.
Dear me-" Evelyn whispered
in an aside to Jackie, as they re-
ceivcd the long line Of guests,
what do you suppose is keeping
Roger? He should have been here
ages ago. I can't understand it."
Jackie, the golden flecks in her
eyes too bright, her lovely face
flushed, her fair head held high,
coul dnot understand it, either.
Surely Roger would not let her
down on this important night. He
/ had promised to come. He had
promised to help her carry this
crazy tl'ial-flight engagement
through, no matter what hap
pened.
She had scarcely seen anything
at all of ROGER since that day at
the field. That new silver ship
had been the one in which he
would make his flight. He had
been taking it up every day, ex-
perimenting with what it would
DO. And Jackie knew that Beryl
MChoSe had been. staying at \
small hotel near the field so that
she could watch his progress.
Perhaps he had to go after
Mrs. NelrOSe." Jackie. answered
her mother. "lIe will want to see
that she gets here" ~
II still can not understand why
you felt YOU must invite her to
your party" Evelyn reproved.
Remember what told you! IT.
we're you / would keep Roger
away from such 4 fascinating
creature, rather than deliberately
throwing them together, my
dear" ..'
"I'm not throwing them to-
gether" Jackie flared. Oh. why
didn't Roger come? There was
simply no excuse. 80 o.. ,.' ,
"Ah, there he is now--and
with Mrs. Melrose, just as you
thought"
Not only Jackie, but everyone
in the room, watched the entrance
that Beryl Melrose made them.
She was the sort of woman whose
coming into room would be
termed an entrance.
She was easily the most beauti-
full woman present. She was all
in white tonight, even to the long
string OF pearls about her beauti-
full throat. Her big eyes looked
larger and darker than ever, her
skin more gardenia-like.
"It's all my fault that Roger Is
late" she said in her self-assured,
gracious manner, that made
Jackie feel so gauche. 1--WE were
making some very important tests
today and go so Interested. | do
hope you'll forgive him" .
at doesn't matter in the least"
Jackie murmured cody. She felt
that Roger should do his own
apologizing. She knew instructive
" that Beryl Melrose had pur-
Dosely seen to it that they should
be late. =
pm terribly sorry" Roger did
offer additional apology Of his
own, as his strong arm circled
I Jackie's slim waist for the first
dance. at wasn't Beryps fault,
Jackie. 1t was mine. But you
knew I'd manage, to get here,
didn't you, my love-"
~ have told you. before that
am not your love-" Jackie gave
him a stern look. She had had to
nretend before the world that she
and Roger were pair Of turtle
doves when the announcement of
thir engagement had been made
at the dinner table, but they could
drop all. that nonsense now.
"You look so sweet tonight,
with those stars in your hair
and in your eyes--that | almost
wish you were" he told her, with
his gamin-grin. She had no right
to look so desirable if she expect.
ed him to remember that this was
all nretenSe,