The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-11-27
CHAPTER III

Judge Marshbanks' visitor, twist.
ing a little to look at Cherry, &C
knowledged the introduction only
with nod and with level, curious
half-smile, and went on talking in
a low tone.
you're not going to this jam.
boree tonight, JUDI" he said.
Good heavens, mol But may
pick the girls up there if we play
late enough. I'm going to the club
ought to look in at the Randall
party, I suppose. You dressing
later?"
ooh, don't think I'll go at all!
think I'll 60 home" the visitor OBJ.
served. 'But, of course, I had to
see what our deb looked like to-
night. Isn't this the first big affair
for herr"
''She was down here a few min
utes ago, sure that she was going to
look awful and that something was
growing on the tip of her nose," the
older man said in tolerant amuse-
ment. "She's dining at the Rogerses'
in Burlingame, going down with
Fran, and will come back to the
party"
"Dining?" said Kelly Coates, fling
ing up his wrists to see the time.
3'What time do these budlets dine?
It's eight now
'The dinner is supposed to be al
eight seventeen miles away"
Judge Marshbanks said. "But they
have to kill time until midnight, SO
they're not worrying!"
They talked on of places and per.
sonalities unknown to Cherry, and
Cherry had a chance, over a foamy
souffle of chocolate and creamy
stripes, to study the newcomer. The
judge was tall and lean; Kelly
Coates was rather more squarely
built, with big, hard, nervous hands,
fair hair combed back from his
square, fine face, keen eyes and
mouth that Cherry found certain
fascination, in watching.
To her he seemed old, but not as
old, certainly, as the judge. Thirty,
perhaps. She learned from what
she could not help overhearing that
he was an artist, that he lived in
some place across the bay called
Sausalito.
Two women came downstairs. One
was girl of Cherry's age, as fresh
as a spray of acacia bloom in a
fluffy frock of palest yellow, with
spidery yellow orchids pinned at her
shoulder. An innocent-eyed girl,
with lovely heart-shaped little face
framed in soft curls, a delicately
poised little body and discontinued
blue eyes.
The other woman was dark too,
but Of an entirely different type.
Cherry's first impression was that
she was ugly. She was tall and thin,
with long face, deep-set dark eyes,
and silky straight black hair that
was cut in a deep bang. Her skin
was clear and pale, her lips star
ting in contrast, for her mouth
wide, soft and full-was colored the
flame red of poppy.
"Skunks," she said simply.
Her voice, hoarse and deep,
thrilled suddenly i'm the silence.
Both men were on their feet as
she came languidly to the table. "Ot
course you both know you're pole
cats!" she said.
The girl, after having said,
"Sam's here, he won't come in
had vanished back in the direction
of the hall again. Judson Marsh
banks introduced Cherry to his wife,
who acknowledged the little ceremo.
ny with an absent glance in Cher.
RVS direction.
"You let me do all the dirty
work." said Fran Marshbanks, in 9
lazily annoyed tone. And again her
voice shocked Cherry with its very
beauty; it was a rich, low voice
that seemed always about to be
broken with laughter or tears OF
both, shattering, trembling voice
that yet clearly indicated its own.
er's boredom and Indifference and
pride.
"Jud, you are running out on this
party" his wife accused him.
''Well, my dear, debutante par.
ty--" he pleaded.
IT know. But you owe it to Amy
But she did not care very much
either way. GAS for Mr.. Coates, q
she went on, carelessly reproachful
che is apparently entirely without
soul; he ought to be cultivating rich
homely girls who want their por.
traits painted, and here is an occa,
sion when he could meet, not one Of
them, but all Of thernl Not ever
dressedI"
my dress clothes are circa Presi
dent Harrison, Mrs. Marshbanks, .
the painter said. IF painted any