Evening star., 1940-03-21
CHAPTER 1,

I'D love to-" Gail had replied, "if
4 mother is feeling better. She has a
terrible cold'
Don't worry about me-" Anna
Meadows had interrupted from the
davenport. Aunt Belle will stay
with me if I need any one"
So Gail had accepted, hurrying to
~catch the $50 bus. Bill had called
before she left the house that morn
Ing which was in itself unusual.
He had been taking her out for
several months now and Gail liked
him. All the way downtown she was
remembering the day they met. Bill
had come into j. B. Woods office to
pay an account for his firm.
He had been greeted by Calls en-
ployer with affection; introduced to
the sedate young secretary as the
son of j. BIS old friend.
Brown-Eyed Man.
"One of the finest kids know"
the lawyer said when the brown
eyed, brown-haired young man had
gone
Gail had smiled and continued
with her tipping. Her surprise when
Bill dropped in the following day
had been concealed.
She had been amused by his care
fully trumped-up excuse. He must
have known Mr.. Wood would be in
court at this hour.
ut wasn't important" Bill had as
sured her with a smile which Gail
admitted was attractive.
The third time, abandoning pre-
tense, he asked her quite frankly If
she liked to dance.
She did? Then would she go with
him to hear Benny Martins band?
Gail accepted and their friendship
had become an accomplished fact.
They dined together once. some
times twice week Yet from the
moment of his invitation Gail had
known that for some reason tonight
was going to be different.
Hurrying home so that she would
have plenty of time to dress she
she found her mothers sister in the
kitchen preparing dinner. Aunt
Belle was So.
Puckered Face.
Beneath the bands of iron gray
hair her round. puckered face
looked like withered apple. Her
small bead-like eyes stared at her
niece, with disapproval
ut isn't that I mind staying with
ch tot D,,%
what she's thinking about letting
you run around with strange men
to public dances :"
Gail had heard this too many
times to be disturbed. Poor Aunt
Belle had never had either husband
or sweetheart. One must not be
impatient with the prejudices of
woman whose life had been so pitt
fully empty.
Bill isn't strange man" Gail
explained good aturedly. I'VE were
properly introduced. And the best
hotel in Detroit is not exactly
public dance hall"
Aunt Belle shifted and opened
another can.
Its a long ways for the grand
daughter of Josiah Meadows to de-
scend," she sighed. But then your
mother and I have never agreed
about these things"
Aunt's Objection.
Her aunt's objection having been
registered Gail knew she was free
to continue with her dressing. But
first she must look in upon her
mother, who was lying upon the
old-fashioned cherry bed which had
been part of her wedding furniture.
Anna Meadows bedroom had
never changed no matter what the
vlclssltudes of fortune. The big
double bed with its blue and white
quilt. the dresser Immediately neat
with its twin china vases and "hair
receiver" the yellow plush jewel
box lined with satin, which con-
tanned no jeWelry but the cameo
brooch which had belonged to
Anna's mother and simple bar pin
OF pearls, the gift of Robert Tren-
ton to his bride.
Calls mother, two years younger
than Aunt Belle, looked 10 years
older. Her hair, unlike her sisters,
was entirely white.
Her brown eyes were deeply
shadowed. Her mouth once as
sweet as Calls, was cynical and
bitter.
But Gail knowing why, felt moth
Ing but tenderness for this woman
whose whole expression softened
when she looked at her daughter.
wouldn't you rather I didn't go?"
Gail asked, STOPPING to kiss her.
Certainly not!" Anna declared.
II didn't want to go to bed but Belle
insisted" She raised herself on one
elbow and her dark eyes narrowed
as she said significantly, THAT
woman from the employment
agency called"
Instantly Gail became alert.
miss Dunbar?"
Anna nodded.
An Opening.
"She said to tell you there will
be an opening next week. One OF
the stenographers is getting mar
ried."
"An opening at Reids?" Gail re-
peated thoughtfully. After all this
time"
"Mr. Reid won't keep them after
they're married." her mother said
bitterly. HE wouldn't"
Gail said. TITS strange, isn't it?
uhppV DrIICC