Show I Saint 9 Sinner Faith dressed for the dinner party raised her bare arms to clasp a choker of gleaming cut crystals the exact shade of her ruby red trans trans- transparent transparent parent velvet elvet dress about her lovely eyes yes velvety nl black at night studied her reflection critically In the full- full length mirror of the closet door wrong with me Why cant can't he ho love me she asked her her- herself herself self despairingly the tho glow of pride In n the picture of aristocratic smart mart smartness smartness martness I ness that she sise made fading slowly Bob Dob was In the bathroom now shaving after aUer his cold shower His dinner clothes cloth s fresh from the cleaners cleaner's lay spread on his bed bed He had not yet et seen her in In the new dress did not even know kno she lad had made herself one No one knew but Aunt Hattie Hattle Mis Ails the flowers done done come the soft sort voice olce of the color color- colored ed ad waitress she had gotten from froman an ass employment agency for lor the eve eve- evening evening evening ning Interrupted her anxious scrutiny and reverie She had cooked the dinner her her- herself self with Aunt Hattie's HatHo's help help help-a a clear chicken consomme filet of sole Marguery to to- tobe be served with tiny made home-made Parker House rolls creamed chicken in pate shells tiny circles of glazed beets like flattened out rubles rubies crisp sticks of egg plant Julienne bright green chopped spin spin- spinach ach acts dusted over with golden bits of hard boiled yolk egg long brittle fresh cs leases of Romaine lettuce Its delicate green to be contrasted with wilh the reddened paprika-reddened French sal sal- salad salad salad ad dressing cheese sticks which she had made herself to be served with the salad a a. poem of a des des- dessert sert a sort a big ice icebox cake ruby- ruby red covered with whipped cream ea dotted d with chopped d. d toast toast- toasted fe ed cd almonds im and a encircled e with golden yellow lady lady fingers She would cut the cake at table so that her guests could see It first In all its glory As she arranged the red dark velvety roses In a a. sliver silver basket bask t as asa asa a a. centerpiece for the dinner table she smiled a little at her selfish selfish- selfishness selfishness selfishness ness In ire choosing flowers that would emphasize her own quiet beauty match the rich color of her new gown How angry Cherry would be for she had imperiously suggested pink roses to harmonize with the delicate pastel tint list of the pale-green pale chiffon she was plan- plan planning nine ning to wear But for once Faith thought of herself first for the evening could not possibly be as Important to Cherry as it was to her Cherry had Isad always had every every- everythIng everything thing had always come corne first first first- even with Bob- Bob Faith was placing stemmed long red dahlias In a tall vase on the piano when Cherry came flutter flutter- flutterIng fluttering ing Into the living room like lile a sea- sea sprite sprite- In misty pale-green pale chiffon her short gold copper curls tumbling in irs studied disorder over her small head her golden eyes ees wide and ablaze with happy excite excite- ment But at sight of Faith as as- as astonishingly smart In a a. dress whose hose 1 existence Cherry had Isad not dreamed of she site stopped short while an ex ex- ex expression of ludicrous surprise and consternation wiped out the radi radi- radiance ance of her Joy Welli she ejaculated little flags of wrath hoisted suddenly on onh her cheeks Is that nice Where in the h world did you get that dress Faith I thought this was my party party and then you jou OU go and doll up like a fashIon parade I I thought she ehe added nodding her liar head with malicious significance there was something darned fishy about your our lUng inviting Bruce Druce Patton to Who'd have havo believed Cd It 11 or Faith of all people NEXT 1 The dinner Copyright 1927 NEA Cervice Inc Ine |