The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-09-26

able thought to the dinner party.
The more deeply she considered
the matter of dress, the more i'm
portant it appeared and she went
directly from the stables to find
her mother. Here was something
that must be talked over.
Cali right" Martha's lips were
compressed a rifle. you've plen-
ty of time between now and Fri
day. You run up to the city and
get yourself a dress. have fifty
dollars here in the house. I'll give
it to you. You can manage the
rest, I should think
The second forenoon after that
found Audrey in her room with
a tumble of boxes, tissue paper,
sheer stockings and slippers lit
ter;ng her usually immaculate
bed. She had on the new dinner
gown and was revolving slowly
under the gaze of her mothers
critical brown eyes. II like it,"
verdict.
The slender little figure before
the long mirror presented an at
tractive picture in it's billowy
dotted swiss gown, white with
red dots, the little jacket bound
with grosprain, combination
that was in effective contrast
with the dark curls and the gold
en- tan of Audrey's face and slim
arms.
you'll look as nice as any girl
there" her mother conceded.
That's what I call a ladylike
dress"
In the dressing room at the Cas-
ties, Audrey gave herself a crit
ical inspection, applied power
and lpstick, pushed her curls in
to a final semblance of order.
God defend the right" she muir
INJURED, and moved sedately in
the direction of the winding stair
case. At the foot of the descent
scattered occupants of the bright
she paused and glanced at the
ly lighted drawing-room. Jeff
saw her at once and strobe for
ward with a delighted smile. He:
looked very handsome, Audrey
thought, in his white dinner coat
and black trousers, his yellow
head smooth and shining.
"Bless your heart, darling'!" he
exclaimed you're a treat to
these old eyes!" He caught at the
arm of a young man standing
near. '"Vic, old son, meet the
Pride of Parville! Miss Swan, Mr..
Quinn, if I may. Your dinner
partner. Vic, you lucky dog" He
drew Audrey's arm through his
and began the Introductory rites
in breezy style.
Audrey .dutifully centered her
attention upon each guest as pre-
scented. Now Jeff had her arm
again, was leading her forward.
Oh, Olive please?"
A slender figure in a clinging
black gown from the almost to-
tai eclipse effected by the bulky
form of Judge Castle. Audrey's
first thought was, Gust like the
pictures of the Duchess of Wind
SORT" Then she was conscious of
white teeth flashing a friendly
smile, of a slim hand outstretched
in greeting. Of Jeff, beaming.
"Miss Swan Mrs. Cooper"
For the space of a second, the
shock of that introduction blur
red the entire drawing-room
scene for Audrey Swan.
Mrs. Cooper!
It couldn't be. And yet Jeff
certainly had called her that. But
Mrs. Cooper, or whoever she was,
was saying things to Miss Swan.
Saying that she had been so an
xious to- meet her, that Jeffrey
had spoken so frequently about
her. Gradually the haze cleared
and Audrey found herself trying
valiantly to warrant the en-
thusiastic account Jeff must have
rendered.
But it was relief to find Vic
Quinn barging up alongside. Au-
drey felt better. Still more so at
the touch of a hand on her arm
and the booming voice of the
Judge.
(TO be cOntinued)