Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-11-24

things, and restoring Uluwehi to its
former glory OF course it ap-
pealed to her!
But is your career here, Paul."
He shook his head tragically. mo.
That's just it."
THE instant this book is finished"
Lorie said crisply, well go back to
Elleryton." She had a sudden
glimpse of the twin chimneys of the
Fenwick Body Plant and of the So
cial life-Mrs. Folsome, Mrs. Nc
Gonigle, Aunt Hannah. "Now let's
stop all this silly argument"
He came around to her chair and
kissed her on the cheek
Thank you, Zorie," he said SOL
EMMY. THAT was what I wanted
you to say Would you like to
be married here?"
| Zorie hesitated. Her heart was
beating in slow, cold thumps. eyes,
Paul. Of counsel"
1T would be lot of fun" Paul
said. WED have a luau-an old
fashioned Hawaiian luau. Would you
like that?"
Eyes, dear"
| 1--WE been thinking" Paul said,
that we might be married Sum-
day."
A knifelike pain went through Zor-
les heart. Trying to control her
voice, she said, DAY after tomor-
row."
Eyes," said Paul. "Why wait?
We've been putting it off long
enough"
1t was true. They had. Rather,
Paul had. For more than a year
they had been on this vaguely en-
gagged basis. And there hadn't been
a day when she hadn't hoped that
Paul would decide not to wait.
But that had been in Elleryton
:. His announcement left her with
a feeling of panic. She realized that
she hadn't the slightest desire to
marry Paul day after tomorrow.
He was fondling her shoulder.
"Then," he said, well fly over to
Kona for a few days. Well come
! back here and stay until the adj
miral's book is finished. I'll find
plenty to do. l want to do some
more work on my dissertation"
He was trying to be gay and reck-
less. But he wasn't convincing Zorie
and he wasn't convincing himself.
He sensed that something was
wrong, but he didn't know what it
was.
would you like it that way, hon.
ey?"
Zorie was gazing at the garden.
"This would be lovely place to be
married." she said. She would not
try to escape it. She would go
through with it. She could not let
Paul down.
She wanted to cry. All the time
Paul was talking, she'd been seeing
Steve at her wedding-Steve watch
ing her with brother-in-law de-
tached pride and fondness.
well, then, that's settled" Paul
said vigorously. We'll be married
Sunday. III attend 10 everything"
She was about to leave her room
when one of the maids brought her
a lei of white ginger flowers. When
she put it on, it fell almost to her
waist. If she had needed a COM
plotting touch, the chain of glowing
fragrant white flowers supplied it.
She asked the maid who had sent
it.
'Mr. Duncan"
"Mr. Steve or Mr. Paul?"
"Mr. Steve"
1t almost went without saying.
oil HI IL
please her. Paul would never think
of sending her a lei-especially a
white ginger lei.
She went out onto the lanai with
its blackout curtains of heavy blue
velvet. The admiral, Paul and Steve
were already there, but none of the
guests had come. The three men
were drinking d-Fashioneds.
They stared at her as she crossed
the lanai. AS one man they raised
their glasses to her 1t was almost
Involuntary. The expression in their
eyes was toast.
She murmured, THANK you, SIR"
/ demurely.
Steve made her an Old-F fashioned.
She noticed dry little lines abou,
his mouth and eyes. He looked tired
and worried and tense.
She was aware that Paul, in spite
of his resolves, disapproved of the
frankness of her star sapphire
dress. He had betrayed it in his
eyes after the admiral had compi-
mented her. 1t was, she thought,
disheartening. Paul did not want
her to be radiant. He wanted her to
be dull. He had always wanted her
to be dull. And when, to please
him, she had dressed DULY, he had
frankly admired women who were
colorfully dressed. She wondered
why. She wondered what the solu-
ton was.
She was slipping her cocktail when
Amber and her uncle came out Of
the house, followed by Pierre. Am
Der wore the midnight-blue dress
the most effective dress she had.
Mr.. Lanning was all in white. Pierre
Savoyard had crowded his power