New Britain herald., 1925-12-17

Shc let the pieces drop from her t1n- gers. When Bruce looked up, she was standing close beside him, Good night" she said. Its very late, and both of us are tired"
 He took the white hand in that she held out to him. As he passed through the door, he turned and looked at her. She was leaning against the piano, her face suddenly quite wan.
 Good night" she said again. "Goodby." Bruce rallied a faint smile. "Only au revoir, L.ydia,' he said, with a hint of fatigue in his voice.
 She merely smiled.
 Miss Cranby's door stood open as he passed through the boarding house hall a half hour later. She called to him to enter.
 He found her seated on the floor, working with q rickcty spirit lamp.
 "Why, Niolctta." he said, what are you QOlQB
 Making a cup of tea" she an swered gayly. Thought you might like to drink one with me-" Bruce glanced toward the door. "Oh, we'll leave 1t open" Violetta replied to the glance. "Old Hadley will be satisfied with that. She knows I'm a perfect lady anyway. V Bruce frowned. But Violetta went rattlng on. Most of our little talk fests come after midnight, don't they?" She turned and faced him. Say, now what's the matter? You look as white as a ghost? Has she done you wrong again?"
 No, there's nobody to blame. Fio- letta. I'm just a bungler with wo- men. Nobody seems to get along with me but you. We do have good times together, don't we?' His voice was almost pleading.
 Sure thing, kiddo." Violetta ad- iusted the spirit lamp for the fiftieth time and turned her back to him. You and me were meant to pal around together Her shadowy han made an aureole about her head. 1 Bruce looked at her slim shoulders as she bent over the chafing dish.
 "Violetta," he said, Twill you tell me something"
 Sure thing, if know it." she an swered.
 Does a woman ever love man just because he is himself-love him enough to give herself to him with out thought of anything else? Or is the world and its schemes always in her thoughts while she is loving i him?'
 Vfoletta considered. Well, when I'm in love, there isn't anything else in my mind at all," she said. I'm just plain cuckoo. Whats the use in figuring all those things out any way? Loves love. and there's noth- ing else in the world like 1t. That's enough for me"
 Bruce was staring at her fixedly' Her eyes were large and childlike' Suddenly he crossed the room and leaned over her.
 Before she could guess what he intended to do, he had kissed her and abruptly gone away.
 When she heard his door slam, Violetta rushed to her bed and flung herself upon it, giggling hysterically. After a few moments of laughter she rose and searched in tumbled dresser drawer,
 From between a topless cold cream jar and a stack of soiled pow der puffs she pulled tattered bit ot newspaper.
 There was passage marked. "Be always sympathetic. Let him tell his troubles. Invite him in to tea snd let him talk about himself. And above all, be feminine, Men like woman best when she is just plain woman"
 The clipping was from the love lorn column of the Telegraph. McDermott was deep in the morn ing papers when Barbara opened the door of his office next morning. He looked up, with the half smile that always betokened preoccupation.
 Pardon me, NIT. McDermott," she said, but I have a message for you from Mrs. Stacy. She told me to asl you to call her this morning. Sh' wants to give out an announcement ] l. .a- 17 say she is going to put a great dea of money into it."
 Good for Lydia," said McDer