A Bridge for Judith by Clarissa Ross

Author:Clarissa Ross [Williams, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4405-7512-9
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 1968-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Millicent Barnes was delighted at the news that Judith intended to go to Pauline Walsh’s party. Her happy frame of mind was only slightly marred by what she had read about the petition to the city council concerning the bridge.

“I must say,” she told Judith dolefully as she stood in her room watching her try on one of her cocktail dresses, “that the newspaper accounts don’t put Alan Fraser in too happy a light.”

“They aren’t intended to,” Judith said, studying the dress in her mirror. “Don’t forget S.C. North owns the paper.”

“Well, I don’t see what that has to do with it!” her mother exclaimed.

“I thought I made it clear to you last night,” Judith said, glancing at her. And then, seeing the perplexed look on her mother’s pale face, she gave it up as useless. “Don’t worry about it!”

“But I can’t help worrying,” Millicent said. “If Alan is as smart as you claim he is, how could he have made such a blunder?”

“I think I’ll have to shorten this an inch or so,” Judith said, holding it up to judge.

“What I mean is,” her mother went on, “he ought to have made sure the public knew what he was doing. I’m sure the North End people would have protested at once if they’d had any idea the spur to their part of the city had been dropped.”

Judith sighed and quickly slipped the green dress up over her head. “I hope I have the right shade thread,” she said. “I won’t have more than time to do this if I’m going to wear it tonight.”

“The editorials called it the error of a young and inexperienced man,” Millicent said forlornly, sticking to the subject. “But they pointed out it had caused just as much trouble as if he’d done it deliberately.”

“Ah!” Judith said with satisfaction as she bent over the sewing basket in which she kept her thread. “I do have almost a full spool. I’m in luck for once.” And she took out a needle and the thread, prepared to hem the party dress.

Her mother meanwhile continued to fret about the newspaper stories. “I don’t think the paper would print anything like that if they didn’t think it was true. I’d say it looks as if he might lose his position as chairman.”

Judith was seated with her dress and threading the needle. “Don’t worry about it,” she advised her mother.

“Well, it could mean your job as well. I can’t help worrying.”

“It will be all right,” Judith promised, as she folded the hem and pinned it preparatory to tacking it up. “I don’t know why skirts have to be worn so high!”

Millicent Barnes looked happier. “We have to follow the styles, dear. I don’t know how many different skirt lengths I’ve seen fashionable in my time. And you should be glad you were invited to the party.”

“I’m not sure I should go,” Judith said as she began to sew.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know whether I’ll enjoy it. I’ve been away from that group so long I’m sure I can do without them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.