Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 49, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 May 1936 — Page 29

MAY 7, 1936

Today's Short Story —

NO REGRETS By Isabel Johnston

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After the first drink, Ellen gained a desperate kind of courage.

'"I'HERE were 40 sandwiches in -*- the icebox—cream cheese and fresh strawberry sandwiches, husky onion sartd'/ifches on rye for men, chopped cl cken livers for epicures. Plate upoi plate of canapes were ready, canapes of caviar, canapes with chopped chutney, perky little sausages, bacon curled lovingly around olives, Ellen Hartzog had spent all afternoon and a lump out of her salary buying and making them. It was 6 o'clock Saturday night and her apartment was spotless. Ellen had risen at 7 that morning to wash woodwork, vacuum rugs, wax the floor and polish furniture. The curtains were as crisp and freshly tubbed as a small girl waiting for company. Extravagant pink roses and blue tulips nodded f f im tall vases. Ellen had borrowed ten extra glasses from a girl friend. Wood laid on the hearth waited expectantly for a match. There were three impressive bottles of Scotch in the kitchenette. Ellen had invited twenty people and now, now, only seven were coming! Three girls, a married couple and two men. n tt SEVEN! The telephone rang. It was Eric Crawford, sorry he couldn't make the party because he had a cold. Ellen was sympathetic, but she couldn’t help wondering why a man as ugly and ineligible as Eric should take such care of himself. David Benson never would think she was attractive when she couldn’t even produce another bachelor for a party. Party? David Benson would never date her after she'd given such a flop! Five women coming! For three months, Ellen Hartzog had looked deep into the clear blue eyes of David Benson—and asked him to please pay her in small bills. The assistant cashier was everything a girl could wish for, but Ellen had despaired of knowing him—socially. "Going to buy anew hat?” he'd ask when she came for her salary before lunch. It looked as if their flirtation acquaintance, really would never get past the cashier's barred window. n a a A GIRL can’t ask a man to come up Saturday night to keep her from being lonely. She can’t hint that a 15-cent movie would be heaven with him. She can’t accept his suggestion that they go dancing when a man hasn’t mentioned it. A party seemed the solution—the casual invitation even the nicest girl could make. Some of the office people were coming. Wouldn’t he like to come, too? Tonight, fared with humiliation, Ellen looked back with pity on the girl who had been so happy because David Benson had said yes. Grimly, Ellen went to her closet and took out the rose velvet hostess gown she had. bought for the occasion. She had w-anted David to &;e her, surrounded by admirers. Five women! If only she knew David’s home telephone number, she’d tell him she had been taken suddenly ill and the party was postponed. She should have taken warning when the first four men she invited pleaded other engagements. But no! After that she had merely requested that each girl bring her own escort.

LIKE a woman dressing for her execution, she laid out her filmy rayon stockings, rose slippers and dainty underthings. Until this morning, she had fuly expected at least fifteen people would arrive. A blinding rainstorm began the debacle. All day long the telephone had been ringing with regrets. Doris tearfully couldn't get a man —the weather—called out of town on business—illness—broken down cars—as if there weren’t such things as taxis and subways—the weather—illness. Mechanically, Ellen turned on her shower and wished that she would drown. The telephone rang while she was still dripping. It was Dorothy. Ellen was almost glad to hear that she had sprained her ankle. Two extra girls weren’t quite so horrible. Maybe Ellen could laugh It off as a little home gathering. The overweight Cornelia would at least make a dent In the sand-

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wiches. And red-haired Jane was attractive—probably too attractive. Jane had airily refused to bring an escort, said it cramped her style too much. nun A FEW minutes later Jane was glibly explaining that a rich boy she was crazy about had just asked her to go to the Rainbow Room, and she knew Ellen would understand. Then Cornelia pleaded—indigestion! Mrs. Mitchell added disaster to disaster by phoning that her mother-in-law had arrived unexpectedly from Maine. No, they couldn’t bring her. The old lady didn’t believe in cocktails and would die of shock. It was 8:10 and Ellen’s party was supposed to begin at 9. Desperately she took up the telephone book and tried to round up forgotten suitors .. . suitors who had forgotten her . . . enemies . . . relatives . . . any one. In vain. They were out. They had other engagements. If shj had only let them know earlier . . . The doorbell rang. It was David. the honored guest and the only one. In her rose velvet hostess gown, Ellen drew herself up and forced herself to open the door, smiling. Somewhere she had read that the perfect hostess ignored catastrophies. "I hope I’m not the first one,” David was apologizing.

I like guests that come . . . v-J early,” Ellen managed to say lightly. (She would make some ex* cuse to go out ... to telephone . . . send wires . . . force people to her party. She would tell Eric he had to come if he came in an ambulance! ‘‘You can show me how to mix highballs,” she laughed, fightipg for time. If a guestless evening hadn’t stretched before her, she would have enjoyed chattering and joking with David in the kitchenette. His admiring eyes told her that her frock was lovely. They lingered with awakened interest on the golden lights of her hair. After the first drink, Ellen gained a desperate kind of courage. Let him think what he liked! For a little while at least she wasn’t going to put into words the disappointments that had piled on her! Something would happen, something . . . Gaily, she ran end turned on the radio. She would forget the 40 sandwiches. She glided to him, dancing. ‘‘Say, I’m glad I came before the others,” he said boyishly. ‘‘After the mob arrives, I’m afraid I'd hardly have chance to dance with you.” # u “TV/f AYJfc<E, ’ she pamea. ■tVA “You’re the hostess.” a bright idea possessed him. ‘‘You just tell them at this party there's to be no cutting in.” ‘‘Would you like that?” ‘‘lf you’d dance all your dances with me.” ‘ I might.” She hoped her attempt at an arch laugh didn’t sound desperate. They danced. They had another drink. They lit the fire. They gossiped about the office. They danced some more. It was 10 o’clock, 10:35. Ellen struggled against hysteria. She noticed that David was growing nervous, too. “Say,” he stopped short in the middle of a step. “You did invite me for tonight, didn't you?” “Oh, it doesn't matter.” “You mean to say that I got the date mixed?” “Perhaps all the other guests couldn't come at the last minute,” she ventured with a brightness she didn’t feel. “You are sweet to say that and make me feel better, but of course, it was Friday night!” he exclaimed ruefully, “But you looked so pretty in that dress, at first, I didn’t realize . . ."

m w m I always put on a nostess yj gown in case any one happens in.” she improvised and laughed off his apologies. There were 40 sandwiches in the icebox, but Ellen ignored them and tried eggs for her guest. At 1 a. m. there still were 40 sandwiches and caviar canapes, but as David begged shyly for just one goodnight kiss and a date, Ellen looked bacx on her worries lightly and decided her party was a huge success. THE END (Copyright, 58, by New* Syndicate Cos., Inc.).

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

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FP.ECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

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WASHINGTON TUBBS II

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BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

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TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD MEN

Waving the magical hyena tail at Tarzan once more, Sobito concluded: "By this fetish you will die within seven days.” The villagers were duly impressed. They had no doubt that the witchdoctor's curse would take effect before the appointed period had elapsed.

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But the white man stood calmly, with folded arms. “I am Muzimo” he said dramatically, "I am the spirit of Grando's ancestor. Sobito is only a man; his fetish is only the tail of Dango, the hyena.” As he ceased speaking his hand shot out and snatched the fetish.

With Major Hoople

OUT OUR WAY

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"Thus does Muzimo with the powerless fetish of Sobito!” he cried. Then Tarzan threw the hyena tail to the earth and ground it under his heel. The villagers were seized with consternation. Their age-old world of voodoo and taboo was collapsing.

—By Edgar Rice Burroughs

The rage of unreasoning fanaticism flamed in Sobito’s mind. The froth of madness flecked his blue-red lips. His yellow fangs gleamed in a hideous snarL With no thought now of caution, he flung himself upon "Muzimo,” a naked blade in his upraised handl

. COMIC PAG*

—By Williams

—By Blosser

—By Crane

—By Martin