The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-28
, CHAPTER
 NEARY DAYTON, my sister-in-law,
 lKM inuifad I.ncila tn snend a week

" AIRY DA4TON, my slster-ln-laW,
 V invited Lucille to spend a week. ~ end with her at her New ter sey home. While I disliked Mary, feared her influence over Lucille, l had no good reason to refuse to let her go. And surely a quiet Sunday with Mary and Clifford could do little harm.
 Mary had said nothing of expecting other guests, but Lucille insisted upon taking her best dancing dress.
 Aunt Mary always does something nice for me, perhaps we'll go some where, or she will have people in. Everyone likes her."
 Mary was popular with certain peo- pie and with young folks. As a rule women of her own age didn't care for her, she was too selfish, too self-cen- tered. But with men she was un- doubtedly a favorite. Dorian once re- marked:
 That sister-in-law of yours would rob the cradle or the grave to get at tention."
 I sometimes wondered if it were Clifford's dullness, his moodiness, that lay at the bottom of her constant chase for pleasure, for admiration. Yet l knew he loved her, was indulgent-tOo indulgent in the present state of his finances because of the poor business the firm was doing. She seemed to be plentifully supplied with money, dressed extravagantly, although she constantly grumbled because of their poverty. While had cut down expenses in every possible way to help Mort, the only concession she had made to the changed conditions was, as far as l could see, in reducing the number of her ser wants. She still kept two where for merly she had four. She still had her car, her chauffeur, believing that living in Jersey made them a necessity. She spent much time in the city, and drove back and forth in her car.
 l tried to be fair to Mary. She now had no children to dress, feed and edu- cate, yet even so I often resented her lack of sympathy for Clifford's troubles;' her indifference. Yet overlooked this because of her grief at Grants passing. He had taken cold, pneumonia devel- oped and in two days he was gone.
 Mort rather liked his vivacious sis ter-in-law and would invariably take her part if I mentioned her. She flat tered him Handsome" and declared that had he been old enough when she met him she certainly would have chosen him instead of Clifford. Mort was i'll college when they married.
 The house always seemed lonely when Lucille was away, and was glad when Mondays afternoon brought her back.
 Did you have a nice timer" I asked.
 "I'll tell the world I did It was good thing I took my dancing dress. I would have had to come home and dress if I didn't. We came into town to the Back-Door and danced until they put us out"
 "You mean you came back here Sat urday night?' was amazed. Why had Mary asked her to New Jersey only to spend the time in New York?
 ''Yes. Came over in the car. Aunt Mary's a peach. She gave a lovely party for me-eight of us in all"
 'Did Uncle Clifford come with you P
 'Mercy, no! There was a new man with us, a Mir. Starr, Keith Starr. Isn't that a lovely name! He was older than the rest, about 40, but so fascinating. The others were the usual crowd I go with-the ones Aunt Mary likes," she added in answer to my question as to who composed the party.
 Was there any 'drinkingY I mo- ticed her blush at my query.
 "Of course! Didn't suppose she would have a dry party, did you? Mir. Starr wanted to get champagne, but finally we had only highballs, because they had good stuff with them. It was awfully funny" she went on quickly. II think Aunt Mary was jealous. Keith Starr paid me an awful lot of attention. I told aunt I had stolen her beau. But we had an awfully jolly time"
 I said no more-what was the use? But I determined to keep Lucile from Mary if I could. I gave Mary the benefit of the doubt; she did not think she was doing wrong. that anything