New Britain herald., 1923-09-19
The HsAsaa Nadse Felt She Must Ask Mrs, Marks One
 DlIeel Question

AH1lt RaE<ttH
 Why Il is that women name A s'mlnuisn as the length Of any stated eensefsstl0n and then proceed 10 talk ten st least is one of the mysteries of feminity, fhst Nellie Fssseit the girl with the Nss England name and the Southern European type Of beauty, whom l had met in Mrs
 Marks' apartment, was no exception to the general rule of w0man-kind. was made plain 10 me when, | quar- ter Of an hour after 1 had left the two women together that they might talk undistnrbed. heard their foot. <teps in the hall, the closing Of the outer door and a tapping upon my own.
 I'm awful shamed to have kept you waiting this way" Mrs. Marks said eontrifely as l opened the door. but poor Mollie is in n peek of trouble. and she just had to tell me about it before she went back again. She wanted me to apologize to you. She knew you slipped away on pur. pose 10 let us talk. and she felt awful had when she found out how long wed been.
 "You said Youthful !"
 No apology Is needed" assured her and seized upon the topic which guessed would banish most quickly the troubled look upon her face. be- traying the priekings Of her social conscience.
 What rarely beautiful girl your friend Is !" said with stress l did not have 10 force.
 You said mouthful then !. Mrs. Marks replied with equal enthusiasm. T thought she'd hit you cold. Look out that handsome hub Of yours don't think the same way when he spies her.
 ] stiffened with distaste al her 1 familiarity, but an honest glimpse of | my own heart made me realize that | my displeasure was tinged with a | vague, jealous fear of soupcon of | truth in her insouciant warning. 1 l knew. who better, remembering cer- tain episodes of Dicky's life, how susceptible the artist soul of my Peter Pan was to feminine beauty, and the exquisite loveliness of Mollie Fassett, with it's extreme youthful ness, and it's sweet wholesome won1anliness, was most alluring.
 T am sure he would admire her beauty very much,' I managed to say al last with an effort of casualness, realizing that there was no more use trying to subdue Mrs. Marks flamboy- ance with show of dignity than in |. using the same tactics upon an un- couth gambling puppy
 Mrs. Marks Is Wistful
 ''I'll tell the world he'd be a queer man if he wouldn't !' she retorted , But come on into my apartment and get your tea, I poured the hot , water on just now. and it ought to , be just right" f
 1 echoed her verdict, when. after following her again down the hall, , drank the surprisingly good tea she , had made. and ate some appetizing , little cakes from the corner bakery. e One thing 1 cant do is to bake , anything my hostess remarked, and : there was a wistful little note in her voice. My mother always kept me at the washing and ironing and scrub ping when I got big enough to do 1t. but she never would let me help her with the cooking. She was a good q cook, too, but she said 1t made her z crazy to have me messing around. s'pose 1t did. but I wish sometimes she could have bothered with me. All know how to do is to fuss up a 'tew and fry pork chop and some t il The vision of the Marks daily ,uisine rose disturbingly before me put l managed complimentary title smile. o You forget your tea" I said Any 1. me who can make a really good cup u