The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-12-04

'ses carrying man and woman
paths. Z
on that committed" Mrs. Porter
adjured her vigorously.
II will. I've not been going to
the meetings, more shame to me"
said Fran, ''but I'm going tomor-
row and I'll do what can.'
"And you tell 'em Cherry'll send
them my check for two hundred.
"I'n tell them" Fran did not say
anything about the generous size OF
the donation. And Cherry fancied
that her employer looked just lit
tie dashed and disappointed as the
riders cantered away on the bride
path again.
'.We none of us understood" Mrs.
Porter said then, in her sweet, visit
full voice, "why Judson Marshbanks
married Frances Unger-she's a
very brilliant girl, but don't think
she's pretty, and she's twenty-five
years younger than he is. Seems
so strangel"
This was as near as Cherry ever
had heard her come to criticism or
unkindness, and she smiled at her
interrogatively.
THAT doesn't sound like you, Mrs.
Porter" she said, with the simple
daring that she knew well the old
woman liked. ''You always say
such nice things about everyone"
"Well, / hope I always do, my
dear, but somehow that girl always
does seem to me outlandish. And
loved his first wife, Mary Lee
Carey. She died-oh, ten years ago.
Her mother was Sophy Laquelle,
French family here-lovely people. !"
Mrs. Porter's proposed dinner
party for a chosen dozen of the
debutantes took on an increasing
importance as the days went by,
and, by the debutantes' mothers and
families, was by degrees developed
into a much larger affair. It was
a long time-perhaps twenty or
twenty-five yearsAsince entertain
ing on a large scale had taken place
in the old Glashell mansion, and
the newspapers made much of it,
and many were the friendly offers
of assistance to Cherry's employer
as the plan got daily under way.
The original twelve girls swelled
to score, to thirty, for there were
many who must not be forgotten,
and at least forty eligible young
men were asked to join them. Then
certain favored and intimate elders
were included to save the hostess
the least effort, and in no time at
all caterers had come in to set ta-
bles and decorate them and prepare
sumptuous meal for one hundred
guests; florists arrived with palms
and ropes of chrysanthemums;
newspaper men and photographers
gave the house no rest FIVE piece
orchestra was engaged, and Mrs.
Porter remained in bed all day,
getting herself completely rested
and ready.
To Cherry's eagerness and mex
perience and hunger for excitement
all this was satisfying beyond
words. She was everywhere; she
helped with everything.
In the midst of the furry the
guest Of honor, Dorothy Page-Smith,
arrived with a formidable mother
as escort, and took possession Of
one of the big rooms on the second
| floor. This alone would have sup
piled Cherry with pleasurable in-
terest, for Dorothy was harmless.
indeed a seemingly half-witted lit
tie creature who turned to Cherry
at once as being the only other per-
son of anything like her age in the
house, and in a babyish lisp con-
suited her about her gowns, her
hair arrangement, her beaux and
the possibility Of her having any,
thing but ''wotten" time in place
where she just didn't know one
"thingle thole."
The day Of the party was overcast
with cold rain scattering down.
At seven o'clock, trim and de-
| mure in her blue dress with the
silver buttons, Cherry went into
Mrs. Porter's bedroom to find En-
| ma and Ferny busily. getting the old
lady into a magnificent robe Of sill
yer and blue brocade, decorating
the beautiful curls Of her rich white
hair with diamond butterflies and
preparing her with preliminary
cup Of tea and chicken sandwich
for the evenings frivolities.
She had at first planned to 60
downstairs tonight, to be installed
majestically in some great chair, to
welcome her guests herself. But
this seemed at the last moment too
great an effort
| RIO BE CONTINUED) III