Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-08-22
London Nishfs entertainment Z "'@ss Sharp

thought Miss Croy. lending a polite
ear to the glories of the Dawlish trous-
seau. The catalogue of nightgowns
and panties flowed steadily on, the
whole table was genuinely and profess
sionally interested. and Miss Croy was
able to spare a moment for the dis
passionate consideration OF her own
prospects.
They struck her as poor. She was
IS, and looked 10 years younger. but
with heart that fluttered and paused
at any physical exertion. The inces-
SAINT work that had gone to build up
her business had been possible only
on certain condition: rest every aft
ernoon, for example. frequent taxis,
constant outstanding of strength:
the obvious forms Of war work in mu-
milton factory. or hospital. or govern
ment office, were simply out of the
question.
She was an excellent woman of bus
mess and a brilliant designer. but
these now seemed to be peace-time as
sets only. She was essentially an ex-
ecutive, and the thronging new organi-
cations wanted not executives of As,
but husky young 20-year-olds ready
to run about and obey orders
You look tired. Madame" said kind
Miss Pointer.
Il am little" admitted Nils Croy.
She would have given much to be able
to order champagne, but the work
room girls were too young. When do
you start your training?" she asked
"On Monday? You will find 1t a great
change"
el,
ter cheerfully But we've got to do
our bit. And I'm looking forward TO
1t: therell be lots Of other girls start
ing, and I've always been one to make
friends"
Whereas l." thought Miss Croy,
have not" Acquaintance, yes-hun-
dreds of them: in business, in the
theater. among the gay elegant party
Yivers who wore her designs and relied
on her taste: but for friendship she
had always been too fastidious. too
aloof and above all too busy Ger
tainly too busy for love. The building
up. and then successful running. Of
Maison Masque, had fully occupied
her. Maison Masque had been her
lover and her friend and her family
and her life.
Il am widowed" thought Miss Croy
but left comfortably off"
1t was true; she had a modest in
come, the fruit of the last 10 years
soaring profits. She wouldn't starve
But Maison Masque was dead and she
felt as though the table should have
been spread with funereal baked meats
1t was spread in actually. with the
empty dishes of IL peach melbas. now
giving place to IL cups of coffee. Miss
Pointer caught the eyes of Miss Daw-
lish and Mrs. James. and suddenly
raped on the table with her spoon.
Madame, and ladies'" began Miss
Pointer.
cShe,s going to make a speech This
is dreadful" thought Miss Croy)
Before We all part-before We all
tread our new and different paths"
CShe's enjoying IT'D"
I'm sure you'd all wish me to say
how much We regret leaving Madame
and how we've all appreciated the priv
iege of working for her. It's dreadful
to see a house like Maion Masque go
under"
But a wars a war, and when we've
won it I hope We may all some day
be working for her again. In the
meantime, I'll just say, Thank you.
Madame, and au revoir and good luck
to everybody"
Eleven coffee-spoons hammered as
one. Speech" cried Mrs. James.
Speech" echoed the autobiography
daring. They all cried out for speech
Miss Croy's heart fluttered: then she