The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-06-06

He needs a hostess, neeo Tie
money, we've each been turned
down by the other fellow, selah!'
said Janet struggling her should
i ers.
Anne's cheeks were fiery red.
"You aren't in love with each
other?"
"Love!" cred Janet in jeering
,, voice. ''It hasn't been mentioned.
II don't believe it's ever going to
be-"
Anne was on her feet, the skin
over her knuckles white where
she was holding onto the back OF
a straight kitchen chair.
$50 I've failed" she said in a
voice neither of them had heard
from her before.
Jim wriggled to his feet. Gee
Nuns, I'm sorry"
Anne looked him up and down
disdainfully. my son is going to
be rich woman's kept husband!
He loathes society. He owes it to
Judge Hetchcote to make good.
But now he's turning his back on
everything he ever stood for to
be lap dog"
''Mother!" cried Janet, shocked
at the look on Jim's face.
Anne turned and this time it
was Janet who was slowly and
disdainfully looked up and down.
''My daughter hasn't the courage
to live life as a gay and gallant
adventure as it's meant to be
lived" said Anne. "She prefers
to take the easy way out and be-
come a wisecracking little gold
digger"
ooh, Mother!" whispered Janet.
Heavens knows where, except
for Bill, my other daughter would
have landed" said Anne.
Janet felt stricken, but she was
glad she had not told about Bill.
Mr.. Give Sanders elected to en-
terrain his party for dinner that
night in the main dining room of
the hotel. There were elaborate
dollhouse flowers for a centerpiece
and every variety of costly de-
licacy. Jim could not bear to look
at the check, but every one saw
the ten-dollar tip which the null
timillionaire left beside his plate.
There was only one awkward
moment, percipitated by Helen.
"It's so funny to think of my
mother-in-law clerking in a
store" she observed.
Anne saw Jim stiffen as if he
had been shot in the back. Il
mean," Helen explained, zone
knows saleswomen must have
private lives like everyone else,
only one never realizes it, does
One?"
It was Tony Ryan who leaned
a little forward and lazily put a
period to Helen's remark. "One
wonders" he drawled, initiating
perfectly the cool and condos
cending tones of her honeyed
voice, show one ever manages
to breathe the common air when
ones so la-di-da."
Helen knitted her brows and
stared at him. care you by any
chance taking crack at me, Mr..
Ex-Prizefighter?"
'What do you think?" murmur-
ed Tony
Mr.. Sanders, aware of the signs
of a tempest beginning to form
about his daughters exquisite
brow, interposed with haste.
"What shall We do with the rest
of the evening?" he asked awk-
wardly.
''I want to go somewhere and
Dance" said Helen in a fretful
manner. II think mixed parties
are a frightful bore" She reach
ed over and pulled Jim closer.
Darling, take me where we can
waltz and waltz in each others
arms and forget other people.
They seem so unnecessary"
They went in the end to The
Golden Pheasant because it was
the only reputable night club in
town. There were cheap road
houses, but nothing to compare
to the rocco blue and gilt of The
Golden Pheasant.
Jim's arms felt peculiarly laden
when he took Helen into them.
He could never remember day
which had left him so exhausted,
both physically and mentally. He
was as tired as if he had been
dragged forcibly through one
1.