New Britain herald., 1918-01-01

e4ace was not one which ac-
 4d with the strict ideals of be- yNsAvior held either by Cousin Agatha or my mother -in-law. l fancled that I saw disapproval in my mother-in- laws eyes also, and hated myself for the hot, flush that rose to my cheeks. 'Hope You Don't Object You have done very well, Cousin Agatha said slowly at last. That hel- met fits as well as it evidently will be appreciated,
 The words were innOcuouS, put the tone pointing them was unmistakable.
 I dropped my hands abruptly from
 Alfred Durkee's face, only to find them caught and held, knitting and all, by that young man, whose eyes were flashing with indignation. You can just bet it will be appre ciated!" he said, and then turning to Dicly he said half -defiantly: Hope you don't object, Dicky- bird"
 He fairly swept me from my feet at
 the words. kissed me full upon the lips and set me down again.
 That just expresses a tiny part of
 my gratitude, my dear he said, bow
 ing low. And I'll be the proud man
 when I'm wearing the whole outfit
 Gee! those things sure ought to Dc
 nice and warm
 Little Mrs. Durkee clapped her
 hands softly as her son so enthusi-
 asticalIy showed his approval of my
 work.
 Aren't you getting to be the popu-
 lar lady, though, Madge?' she said
 "You ought to go down to one of
 those booths where the pretty girls
 are giving kisses to the men who vol
 unteer for the army. The most hard
 ened stacker would volunteer if he
 had a chance to kiss you, Madge.'
 ''Rent Your House. It was an unfortunate little speech in view of the fact that Dicly had as yet given no indication of volunteering
 or even of thinking seriously upon the subject. And it was the more for tunate because for the space of q. long half-minute no one answered it. l saw a slow flush creep up from Dicky's neck, knew that the uninten- tiunal point of the little speech had pierced him, and for the moment was tiercely resentful toward my little neighbor.
 1 It was she, however, who changed the subject the next moment She did it feverishly, abruptly, in a manner which unintentionaliy pointed her ill- tention, but the topic she introduced 1 was absorbing enough to enable us to ignore her previous words. Do you know anyone who wants to rent our house?' she demanded. Rent your house!" Dicky coun- tered quickly. l realized that he was i glad to seize the ball of the new topic and toss it back to her. ''Why, you've 1 just bought it.
 Yes 1 knoW,' the little woman re- turned. But l never could stay in
 that house alone after Alfred goes, 1 even with you so near, Madge." She 1 stopped to blow a kiss at me prettily. But what will you do?' Dicky kept 1 strictly to his questioning. "Why, I shall go to Plattsburg g 1 first" Mrs. Durkee replied. I'm go- , ing to keep near Ali just as long as 1 can''-I shivered at the heart-breax l the little Womans words covered-"I l have nothing to do but follow him ! around. Perhaps l shall even go to ] France. I spent one year in London, you know, and have always wanted to | go back
 You wouldn't cross the ocean with i those submarines i7 action, would YOu?' Cousin Agatha's voice ex- | pressed mortified incredulOusncss. "I shouldn't care for either Zeppe- lins or submarines" little Mrs. Dur