The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-25
CHAPTER FORTY
"IrN Fo4 AND IZ1zLsED BY
0THAI PRES ASSOCIATION

a44A
Darling. this is Jacques DArvllle
who wrote the amusing lyrics to1
magic in Mirrors" Jacques, TINS
is Vance Healey, our leading radlo
announcer"
Strangely, Kit knew swift anger
as her sharpened eyes and ears
noticed the changes in MINIS
glances and the tones of her voice
that were warm for jacques ana
Indifferent to Vance.
She was saying, Vance, you
won't mind if I run along with
jacques, will you? I've got to be IN
town for-for an early dinner
There isn't any reason why you
should go. Ovens got some sort OF
fireworks show going on later. You
see. jacques has to drive in at
once and he can drop me off. You
can call me tomorrow. Good;
by, Miss O'Reilly. So nice to see
you again."
She was gone as abruptly as she
had come.
Kit didn't look at Vance then.
She felt his humiliation as much
as if it we're her own.
He said lightly, Pm glad Mimi
doesn't insist on my driving her
back. She knows how much I'm en-
loving this. I don't often get a
chance to enjoy an outdoor party"
"Of course you DON'T she said.
tVance, I'D like to have your
advice about a little matter. WIZ
YOU lunch with me tomorrow at
my placer
He said he'd be delighted.
Kit got up from the table and
moved over to the lounge when
Anna came in with the tray OF COT
fee things and put it on a table be-
side her. -.
Vance said. This is like old
times"
Kit felt a nerve witch in her
face and caught her lip between
her teeth to steady it.
She dropped a lump of sugar in
a u and filled it with coffee.
''It's nice to have you here" she
said pleasantly, handing him the
cup. I'm glad I had you to advise
me about the New Orleans engage
ment. You're quite right, I think.
I'm working so hard for this Gersh-
win Memorial program"
Vance, stirring his coffee, said.
.'Of course I'm right. If this were
a year ago and you needed to build
up your personality with the pub
lie. I'd advise you to do it. But to-
day you've got the biggest name IN
radio. Also, that stadium concert
will set you"
That's what Fran says. The fan
mail is up in the thousands. It's
becoming almost a problem"
you're looking kind of peaked,
youngster. Is it too much work?
Or is it all work and no play?"
TOO much work, I guess. Let's
talk about you. Tell me all about
yourself. I don't see very much OF
you any more and all I know is
what I read in the papers," she
said as casually as if she had not
been leading up to this moment
since the day before. Il never know
whether to believe what I read.
What's tn status of the famous
Healey-Purcell situation? MOI
that it's any of my business. ]
thought you might want to talk te
an old friend about it."
She saw Immediately, with E
queer tightening in her throat, thai
he did.
His eyes were eager and happy
ana assured, meeting hers with the
question: What do you think o.
her, Kit?"
She answered gently, ''She's
very attractive"
1T isn't her looks I meant. AL
though when you look at her vol
see hoW-hoW patrician she is
you can see her whole background
can't you? And the real herr"
YES" she said in a level voice
81 can"
Mimi stands for something tt
me. Something I've never had"
What would that be?" She
asked, remembering the way Min:
had dismissed him.
When he answered he was not a.
sentimental as, for a brief moment
she feared he would be.
Il don't know how to put it into
words. Remember how you used Il
talk to me about new worlds open,
ing to your"
She nodded. Her new world rap
idly was turning to dust and ashes
minis opened a new world tx
me-" he said simply.
II know" Kit said evenly. Il
world of country homes and poll
fields and yacht clubs. Founded
fortunes and ia m o banking
names. Clubs that are hard to ge
into and the best schools. A worl'
full of people who had their teetl
Strengthened in braces when the.
were kids-a world of people VIII
resent being called snobs, but VIII
consider our kind-show people an
show business-beneath their nc
tice unless we amuse Them"
She was trying to tell him tina
he, too, knew it was a world tina
granted only a temporary position
to them. A world that found then
amusing but unimportant.
s'That's RIGHT" he said eagerly