Atlanta Daily World

Worlds separate young Alison Van Dyke and Teress, her glamorous half-sister. The latter, ambitious and domineering, was one of Washington's most successful interior decorators, while Alison and Kitty, their mother, lived quietly in Vermont. Alison was 16 at the time she came to Washington for Teresa's wedding and something happened to her heart when she met her sister's fiance, attractive Sam Tarrant, quiet, idealistic newspaperman.

The wedding reception was held at the home of Teresa's wealthy friend, Kindly Edna Castine. It was a gala affair.

CHAPTER FOUR

ALISON caught snatches of conversation as she wended her way among the guests.

"I never wear black any more."

"I don't know why it is, but I just can't wear black any more."

"We're not prepared."

"It's self-preservation."

"Isn't Teresa ravishing? They're such a handsome couple."

"Does anyone know where the fleet is?"

"And I said that it would be foolish for them to try because they could never make a go of it again. They'd murder each other in three weeks."

"Can you imagine air raid sirens in the capital of the United States? Can you imagine our cities blacked out and our citizens on rations? I can imagine it! It's too ludicrous. Like a fairy tale. I was too young to remember the last war. of course. but I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a country at war. I don't see how you could concentrate on anything."

"The Japanese..."

Laughter.

She wandered out to the terrace. Seeing a man with his back turned to her, she turned to go inside again when the man called "Please don't go in."

It was the young man on whose arm she had walked down the church aisle.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Philip Spencer."

"And I'm Teresa's sister." Why did she say that? Why couldn't she have said, "I'm Alison Van Dyke?" Had she no identity of her own?

"I know you are."

The light from indoors fell on him and he had what could be described, Alison thought, only as a nice face, an honest face. He was of medium height and was thin and he wore glasses. Nondescript dark eyes, dark hair, a friendly smile. A young man about whom there was an aura of tradition and dignity and becoming simplicity.

This was all his, this house, these beautiful grounds, and yet at once she felt she had known him and liked him for a long time. Loneliness rode away. She had come upon a friend.

He said, "It's rather chilly out here. Shall I get you a wrap? But Teresa and Sam will be leaving in a few minutes. You don't want to miss that, do you? After they go, it will be just a party. I hope you'll dance with me." He shook his head and smiled. "I'm terribly sorry. I know you're Teresa's sister, but I don't know your name."

"It's Alison Van Dyke."

"But Teresa's name was Hill"

"My mother's first husband was named Hill."

"Oh, I see. She should have told us more about her family. ... I'm afraid you're cold."

"It isn't nearly as cold as Vermont."

Edna came out on the terrace. In the church Alison had scarcely seen her. but now she saw that the friend who had been so kind to her sister was so tall that she towered above her brother and her. She would tower above Nicola, too. A stately, middle-aged woman with calm eyes and a sweet mouth, she gave Alison precisely the same feeling that Philip had given her-that nice, cozy feeling of friendliness. She wore a beige frock with lace at the sleeves. But how could she have noticed Edna in neutral beige when Teresa wore electric blue?

Edna put her arm around her as naturally as Kitty did, "I've been looking all over for you, dear. I'm Edna, in case you don't know. and I've been trying ever since you came to have a word with you. I see you've met Philip. He's my brother. Or has he told you? I know this is all very confusing to you, all these strange people thrust at you and the excitement of a wedding."

"She's going to dance with me," Philip said.

"Good. Give her one more year and you'll beg for a dance. Just about one more year." She smiled gently down at Alison. "What I wouldn't give to have a daughter like you. Sam and Teresa are about to leave. Don't you want to see them?"

"Yes. I do." But she wasn't sure. It was so pleasant out here with Philip.

"And you and your mother are spending the night here with us," Edna said. "You should have come in the first place. No reason at all for you to go to a hotel. I'd be annoyed with Teresa about that if I didn't know she's been so busy lately." When she turned to go in Alison turned to go with her. Over her shoulder Edna asked, "You're not coming, Philip?"

He didn't answer at once. Then he said, "No. ... I'll miss that."

Alison felt a chill. He didn't want to see Teresa go away with Sam on a honeymoon. Philip was in love with Teresa. Was that it? There was so much she didn't understand and tomorrow she would go back to Vermont and never understand it.

Teresa and Sam were at the front door and the crowd had pressed upon them, throwing rice and confetti. Seeing Edna, Teresa stood on tiptoe and called in her rich voice, "Goodby, darling. Thank you and goodby . . ." Sam didn't have to stand on tiptoe to see Alison. His eyes seemed to pick her out, but the smile he tried to manage didn't quite come off. For the first time as he stood there in the moving, excitable crowd she noticed that his black hair grew back from a peak in the middle of his forehead.

All at once she found she was standing alone in the great hall where the candles were flickering in the draft. No, not quite alone Her mother had come from nowhere to stand beside her.

"It's all over," Alison said.

Kitty shook her head. Her rouge had faded and her skin was white and transparent again

"When you're 16. that's what you think-that it's all over. But when you're my age, sweet. you know it's just beginning."

There was a party. She danced with Philip once and they talked a little about winter sports. But his face had closed. telling her nothing of what he had felt while he waited on the terrace for Teresa to go away with Sam. He had stayed out so long that his hands were very cold. When the music stopped he took her to Edna

"Your mother has gone upstairs to her room," Edna told her. Perhaps you'd like me to show you yours."

The room with the canopied bed and the chaise longue was so beautiful she didn't want to go to sleep in it. She just wanted to look at it while the music came up from below. Unreal, touched with magic all of this. ending with silk sheets and solitude and a song of possessive love.

(To Be Continued)