The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-08-01

exact shade Of the coral aZalea
against her shoulder. She didn't
look like anybody's mother. 1t was
difficult to realize, in spite of GER
tain points of resemblance, that she
bore so close relationship to Gay.
She turned to him as the house
boy slid noiselessly out of the room.
I'VE must get acquainted tomor-
row." she said, laying a small jew
eled hand on his arm. "But no-l
You and Gay will be leaving for
Dunedin fairly early. Christmas
dinner, there, is always at two." She
glanced up at her husband, smiling
through narrowed eyes.
"If we're to see any of the first
act at all" her husband said a
trifle hastily.
eyes, darling" She turned again
to John. Perhaps we'll see you
later. If not, goodnight. Suki will
take care of you. You are very
welcome here. We want you to feel
at home"
He would like to feel at home.
But how could he, how could any,
body feel at home in this room? 1t
was as artificial as the silvered
wreaths which hung in the windows,
as the Christmas tree, silvered too,
rejecting its fantastic dazzle of blue
lights and twisted glass icicles in a
wall formed by mirrors, cut into
sections by strips of chromium.
well, what do you make of it?"
He turned guiltily, conscious of
some possible rudeness, then re-
laxed. Gay was walking toward
him, so lovely in the dress of deep
blue velvet she'd worn at dinner
that his breath caught in his throat
She came up to where he stood and
slipped her hand through his arm.
What were you thinking?" she
asked, smiling up at him with
amusement in her eyes. "You
looked startled when I spoke to
you."
Il was afraid someone had caught
me being critical of the decora-
TONS" He turned again to the panel
above the fire. What is it?" he
asked. Flowers? Fruit?"
''It's a color note.' Her smile
deepened.
Then it doesn't mean anything?"
mot to me. Don't puzzle your
head over it, my sweet. If you do,
you'll go quietly mad" She led him
to the davenport which stood facing
the fire. He sank down beside her
into soft leather upholstery. moth
er had all this done to occupy her
mind when she found she hadn't a
wedding to arrange. Besides Ced-
ric needed the money"
"Cedric?"
"The earnest young man who had
the brainstorm. It has made him.
He has more commissions than he
can handle. He regards Kitty as a
cross between Lady Bountiful and a
fairy with wand, which is very fat
tering, of course. How did you get
on with her?" She asked the ques-
ton lightly, but he felt her waiting a
little apprehensively for his reply.
"She's lovely to look at" he said
guardedly, and very kind"
Gay looked up at him.
"But-? / want you to tell me
what you think of everything. No
reservations. They lead to misun-
derstandings. Her face was grave.
"Be frank with me, john"
''Tll try to be frank. 1t sounds
ridiculous, / know, but I think I'd
feel more comfortable if she hadn't
received me SO courteously."
why" Gay asked in surprise.
''Well, after bracing myself to face
the opposition expected, it's a lit
tie disconcerting to have your moth
er, figuratively, at least receive me
with open arms"
She laughed in genuine amuse-
ment. did you want to fight drag
ons, darling?"
II suppose did," He laughed
with her.
well, cheer up. There's Aunt
Flora in the offing."
"Who is Aunt Flora? Is she a
dragon?"
'She's my fathers sister, a wild
ow. She's lived with him since
Mothers detection. No, she isn't a
dragon. She's pathetic, really. She
persists in observing the conven-
| tions of a polite world of society
which is past and gone. And she
expects other people to observe
them. She won't receive you with
open arms. Not that she blames you
for the recent catastrophe, though.
She tells me that I am my mother S
| daughter"
"You aren't like your mother, ex-
cept in certain superficial points OF
physical resemblance"
| She looked at him, considering
looked away.
"Have I offended your" he asked,
realizing that he had spoken with
more warmth than the comment re.
quired. 'I didn't mean-Your moth.
er is charming. L"
II wasn't offended" She took his
hand in hers. II was wondering
how could explain Mother to you
No, I'm not like her. l wish
were. Mother is really very logi
cal. When places or people bore
her she sees no reason why sht
should pretend that they mean any
thing to her. She was bored witt
Dad and so she divorced him ant
married Major Summerfeld."
.'You mean-Mr. Cameron is he
third husband? l heard her speak 0
a Major Summerfield at dinner, bu
had no idea"
sfShe's on friendly terms with botl
Dad and the Major" Gay said bu
her smile wavered little. Ssh