Newspapers / Zebulon Record (Zebulon, N.C.) / Aug. 27, 1937, edition 1 / Page 17
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will!” * And back shj went, Indeed, leaving a bewildered and uphappy man- who begged her to forget all the conventional "poppycock about Summer friendships" and listen to her own heart. But Jan ice was adamant. She returned when the fortnight was over to the seething city, to Mr. Trent and his interminable figures, to Mr. Castleby and his impos sible proposals. She returned to days haunted by the brightness of Jerry’s sudden smile, to nights tortured by remembrances of his sincere admiration, his complete enjoy ment of her companionship, his grow ing and shy tenderness, his fervent avowals that months or years could not possibly serve to do more than teach him to love her more deeply. rnHEN. when life seemed well-nigh unendurable without him, the in evitable call came from Mr. Castleby. “You remember we discussed the firm of Walton & Nephew," the unctu ous voice of Mr. Castleby over the office phone, with a suavity she knew arose from the fact that he was speaking be fore a visitor. "Well, the nephew is in my office now, Miss Wood, and I would like to have you meet him to explain certain style trends of our Spring stock ” Janice steeled herself. “I'll be right in,” she said shortly, into the phone. Then, when she entered, she saw him —saw the dear brown head of Jerry, saw the square set of his shoulders, as he stood talking to Mr. Castleby, evidently protesting in no uncertain terms against a proffered attention. • “I haven’t time to do more than look at the stock,” he was saying as Janice slipped in. "I’m not at all Interested in seeing this town. I want to get out of this part of the country as fast as ” Then he turned and his eyes met the happy, hungry eyes of Janice, brim ming' with love and tenderness. But Janice swung her eyes away and faced Mr. Castleby, who, looking slightly flustered and taken back at the definite turn-down of his friendly proposition, was saying: "Never mind Miss Wood just forget what I suggested " "But Mr. Castleby,’ said Miss Wood very sweetly, “I don’t want to forget it. I’m perfectly willing to go out with Mr Walton’s nephew, tonight and every other night. As a matter of fact, Mr. Castleby, every night forever and ever .for I’m going to marry Mr. Walton’s nephew . . just as soon . . as soon as I can get my hat ” “God bless my soul!” exclaimed Mr Castleby, sinking onto his swivel chair and mopping his oily brow. "Janice, you angel!” exclaimed Mr Walton’s nephew. And Janice, between smiles and happy tears, -aid over her shoulder, tremu lously: "And Mr. Castleby . never mind the 2 per cent ." She„ learned, he had come up with friends to spend the week-en?l but thought he "would Just around* a few dSys longer and let them go back’ without him. THEN, when they decided to swim, he learned what a strong, graceful swim mer she was, how surely she cut the water, how perfectly stunning she looked with her make-up washed off and the water trickling down her nose. She learned what a grand companion he was, getting every word she flung at him over her shoulder as they made for the shoreline again, chiming in with her laughter, sharing the merriment and light-heartedness and careless camara derie of the moment in the same spirit that motivated her. It wasn’t until it was tea time and the little island was growing shadowy that she exclaimed in sudden consternation. “Heavens above . I forgot all about the canoe Where do you suppose it is by now?” “Come on,” he said, snatching her hand, "we’ll go look for it.” And that was how it happened that the second day of her vacation Janice Wood found herself drifting across a calm lake at twilight while one of the most delightful and personable young men she had ever met in her whole life paddled rythmically, whistling Santa Lucia very softly between his teeth. For the rest, life moved on like a dream. There were nights of soft Summer wind when she danced on the terrace in Jerry’s arms, sure that noth ing this side of heaven could surpass the moment. There were mornings of tennis In the hot sun and refreshing headlong dives later into the cool bright waters of the lake. There were moments when she drifted across the water in the light of the moon, the soft splash of the paddles telling her that Jerry was guiding them life was sweet and filled with music. It seemed to Janice that just as these few days represented for her the satis faction of all the concentrated hungers and needs for beauty and quiet and cessation of the eternal struggle for board and lodging and trolley fare, s a they came to represent life, life con centrated into happiness so acute and overwhelming that she felt she could never return to the noise and drabness and deadly monotony and deprivation of her existence Yet return she must, and she steeled herself to consider as well the fact that she must face, with return, the necessity for searching again for another job. She knew, of course, that Jerry be longed in this world wherein she was holidaying . . belonged there by right oi birth and breeding and money. She belonged by the first two rights . only the third, life had not vouchsafed her She felt bitter sometimes when she con sidered that this remission was respon sible for separating her from happiness. She knew that as truly as she be- acroes the ruffly waters of Lake Penel op*. She , loved tl>e quiet breakfasts under the arbors, the tranquil tea hour the freedom and ease of life. . , As if to give her full measure of Joy in this interlude of escape from the harsh realities of her existence, fate sent Jerry Frost. Janice had been at Willoughly Manor only two days when she met Jerry. She had taken a canoe and paddled across the lake to a small island, where a springboard was set up and where there was a fine, sunny beach. The island, to all appearances, was deserted, as she pulled up on the beach, although another canoe, pulled high up the bank, was one indication that some one else might be further inshore Curiously enough, she found no one about when she finally explored the little island, and would probably never have met Jerry at all if the waves had not played &. trick on her and gone blithely off with the canoe she had pulled carelessly into a cove. Janice watched it bound merrily off. and shrugged. Should she swim for it or should she start out after it in this other canoe that was flung, bottom up, on the sand? The owner, she con cluded. had probably swum off some where and it would be fun to have him return and find his canoe gone. A TWINKLE in her eye, Janice de cided to borrow the canoe and rescue her own. But when she upturned it. there lay Jerry! He was outstretched in a vivid red bathing suit, his folded hands back of his neck, and he lay blinking up at her in the most aggrieved fashion, dazzled by the abrupt ru’th of light. "Good heavens!” exclaimed Janice and almost let the canoe fall back again to cover him. But Jerry was too quick for that. He sprang to his feet, lifting the light shell above his head, and set it down right side up. on the sand. "Where’s your manners?" he inquired, his merry brown eyes sweeping her ap provingly, from the becoming blue bath ing qap to the tips of her bright blue slippers. “Why didn’t you knock?” 'Well, you see. sir," she said, smil ing back at him. “I Just didn't expect to find you home.” “Lucky for you. ma am, I was or you wouldn’t have met Jerry Frost ’ “Lucky for you, sir, 1 called, or you wouldn't have met Janice Wood.” “I thought this morning when 1 got up,” said Jerry, “that there was some thing special about today.” ’And came out and hid under a canoe so it could happen ’’ she suggested amicably “Well, it did happen, didn’t it? You can’t deny that. It’s a pet theory oi mine that we make too much fuss and bother straining after things. We ought to sit around once in a while and give them a chance to happen. Sit down a minute while I explain my philoso phy ’’ predators like New York. tJne almost wished she had been bom bow-legged, with a squiift to boo£ “You haven’t forgotten that I *im leaving for my vacation tomorrow night, Mr. Castleby?" “Trent told me, Miss Wood. But l got you . in mind for a very special case. When will you be back?” "Late in August.” Mr Castleby nodded, pleased. “Good,’ ne said. “You know we been trying to get this big firm of Walton & Nephew from California, for a long time. They got a pull with the movie people and it’s a tie-up should make us plenty in the long run. Miss Wood. “I am confidential with you because I can see you are a girl with brains, who knows which side her bread is but tered on, Miss Wood, and how impor tant It is to the firm we should tie up with such a firm as Walton & Nephew dVTOW I happen to know. Miss Wood, this nephew part of the firm has oeen out of college just a little while, get ting the ropes for a few months with his uncle. And now to try him out the uncle will send him this Summer to look over the line for next Spring He is taking a leisurely trip East, Miss Wood, and is expected in New York the last week in August, which as you see will be when you have returned. All I want you should do, Miss Wood, is to be a pleasant companion for a dinner or supper or theatre engage ment to this young man, who is, you can see for yourself with college and all. a perfect gentleman, Miss Wood. And each night you should wear the Castle by line in that stylish way you got which Miss Kelton noticed.” Here Mr. Castleby. in his enthusiasm, drew nearer and touched her shoulder lightly in a fatherly fashion. "And I give you two per cent, besides salary. Miss Wood, on all th order we get from Walton & Nephew orig.nating from the first trip. Miss Wood.' If that ain't 'a generous proposition, ask me ” Janice eyed him coldly, but attempted to keep her true feelings to herself Well, inasmuch as this young man won't be here until after 1 return, sup pose we make the arrangements when I get back from my vacation, Mr Castleby.” Mr Castleby rubbed his hands to . gether and beamed “1 said you got brains, M.ss Wood. •pHE delightful part of Willoughby Manor was. to Janice Wood, that she could not afford it, that it was fai beyond the means of her ordinary rou tine of life, though it was a world in which she felt she belonged by some birthright that had gone askew, some flow. somewhere along the line, forcing her to work at Mr Castleby’s figures for S2B a week. The place fed some great need of her i in the desert. Miss Wood. Why should I have some one waste tin»e adding accounts who could be selling the big fellows who mMte the accounts with vir tually no effort, Miss Wood?'* JANICE wished he would tell her what all this was about. She wanted to get away. She looked up nervously. ‘What is It. Mr. Castleby?" she asked, suddenly courageous. Suppose you tell me right out what you want to say to me." ''That’s the way I like some one to talk," said Mr. Castleby approvingly, right straight from the shoulder. After all, business is business and only for Miss Kelton I would be missing an opportu nity right under my nose, so to speak. Miss Wood.” Abruptly his tone changed He became brisk and shrewd and ob servant. “Miss Wood, you know how important it is we should show our stock to the best advantage. You know how lots of the big buyers send their men here to New York to look things over before they place the orders. You got sense. Miss Wood, and I don’t have to tell a girl with sense that it’s easier to sell a man in the right mood than when he’s all sur rounded with la business atmosphere, on his guard, so to speak. Miss Wood. That’s why I make a point to give little dinners now and then and sometimes arrange for tickets to the big shows. Miss Wood It’s business and you got to do it the way it brings in orders.” Janice did not say anything when he paused. She was beginning faintly to comprehend what he was asking of her. “Now it’s only natural. Miss Wood, and no harm done, these big shots should want to have an intelligent companion, not so hard to look at. Miss Wood, when they see the big town. It’s only natural Miss Wood, and who is hurt if some one should take her to dinner dressed in a Castleby creation or some other line we get profit on. especially when they know how to wear it to such advantage as yourself. Miss Wood?" Janice eyed him and nodded. "I see,” she said. “In other words, you want me to help put over orders by accompanying your customers' representatives to the night ‘spots? Wearing, of course, the Castleby line ” Mr. Castleby nodded and beamed. ‘Eggsackly. Miss Wood, and no harm done. Dinner,' the show and escorted back to your home with no improprieties, seeing I wouldn’t ask you to accompany some one I should doubt would be a gentleman.” Janice thought rapidly. Os course, she would starve, she told herself, be fore she should consent to any such “du ties" as Mr Castleby had just outlined But if she told Castleby so, flatly, it would mean losing her job at once. It was like him, to ruin her vacation for her in this fashion, for bland and suave as was his manner, his request was, she knew, an order that she could take or leave. Unless she controlled her chaniment whereof she had dreamed Two vivid* vital weeks . . * Miss Wood locked at Mr. Trent, feeling aery sorry for him because he wasn’t going to live . not even for two weeks. Mr. Trent, she felt, was virtually dead forever . . his coffin sealed under a weight of names and figures. "I guess that’s all for today. Miss Wood," said Mr. Trent, shutting his note book with a gentle little plop and getting tiredly to his feet. “Thank you, Mr. Trent." said Miss Wood politely. The moment his form had slipped through the door in the glass partition she sprang to her feet, smoth ered the detestable adding machine in a black hood and slammed the drawers ol her desk. She was just reaching for her * hat and gloves when BUly, the office boy. his freckled face grinning maliciously at the opportunity of bearing such unwel come news, put his red head inside the door. “Castleby wantsta seeya before ya go ” he announced with a flourish. and withdrew. But the next Instant his * red head popped back again and the grin was wider than ever. “Tough luck," he added with relish, and was gone. Miss Wood flung down her gloves in exasperation. Castleby! What in heav en’s name did the old walrus want? At quarter- past 5, too! She could have wept with vexation. Oh, well . . after all, he might not keep her long. If he thought she was going to take dictation at this hour . with that engagement to keep with the vacation man . . jV/TISS WOOD did not like Mr. Castleby he was round and fat and suave and oily. His nose shone. His whole bland, ingratiating countenance with its three chins looked oily. And she knew in matters of business the same adjec tive might well apply. Mr. Castleby was none too scrupulous. Still, it was Castleby who had made it possible by his “contacts" for her to buy all her expensive-looking, flne-styled va cation clothes at cost. When she had asked him if he would mind giving her a card to Annette, Inc., he had eyed her appraisingly nodded and said at once: “Sure. Miss Wood.' Sure, I fix it up." She supposed she woqld feel more grateful to Mr. Castleby than she did. Mr. Castleby did not come to the point at once. He smiled. He rubbed his hands together. He looked her up and down approvingly. Then he said: “Sit down Sit down. Miss Wood. What’s the mat ter? You ain’t afraid of the boss when it’s after office hours?" Miss Wood smiled weakly at this pleas antry and sidled into a chair. “I have an appointment," she began “Well, well, we won't keep him wait ing," said Mr Castleby. knowingly and smiling more ingratiatingly than ever “We come *o the point rigty away. Miss Wood You remember Miss Kelton?” Janice blinked, trying to recall the name. "Miss Kelton?” "Sure, up to Annette, Incorporated
Zebulon Record (Zebulon, N.C.)
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Aug. 27, 1937, edition 1
17
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