Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1925-04-03

their arrival Mabel could talk about
nothing else; she had o taste for
grandeur and loved to pretend an &C
quaintance with important personages.
Up in the front box sat the once
famous Sally Livingstone Peake, a
beauty faded to the point where one
must look twice to see traces OF lowell
ness. Yet her eyes and her shoulders
were expressive as she flirted with the
rather heavy man on her right. He
was not entirely unfamiliar to Admah;
indeed, when he turned his head there
was complete recognition. The
man who had come once to Mabel's
porch and asked Admah if he worked
around there.
"Oh, there's Bobbyl" cried Mabel,
simpering toward the box.
Admah wanted to say some uing
sarcastic to the effect that Bobby might
come down and introduce them to Sas-
siety. But he held his tongue for lack
Of words. He was thinking of the day
by the church door when Garnett Peake
had been slim and rather staggering as
he followed his baby daughter to her
christening. He was growing stout
and bald and sullen. His appearance
stirred the Dutch Hill boy to something
Of the same resentment he had, felt whac
the older Of the Peake girls, astrids 4
stone lion by HelicOn Park, had wan'sd
to buy his peppermints and referred .
him as the Candy Boy. But he haS
liked her little sister. sitting there
just like doll, her pink hand reaching
out for gift of candy. The little ones
hand had been so sweet to touch. No,
he couldn't feel any resentment toward
her. Possibly it was because, in accept
ing his present she had put the Peakes
in debt to the Hotties.
The play was of no great Importance
to Admah HOltz. 1t was full of music
and singers like lively church choir in
shocking skirts that showed what
shouldn't be seen every time they
whirled around. One funny man fell
out of balloon and landed on a glass
roof; another one was Scotch and said
'HOot mOnl" every time his kits
dropped off.
Mabel Sick developed a cough. That
was about all she gave him for his |
trouble.
CHAPTER 10
But who was the boy Admah to have |
jried poor Mabel Sick and found her
wanting? Poor Mabel indeed, and
Door world we live fnl
Another Spring thaw had rutted into
he Forts soft clay and brought out
cattered violets behind the negro
.abins before Dutch Hill began to
understand about Mabel. Her mother
old Ma Holtz that she was away visit
ng Pas folks in Cincinnati. Pa Sick
OOk to corn whiskey and some nights
Admah could hear his monotonous
either praying or swearing, on
he other side of the chimney.
Once Admah met her coming up
tate Street, right around the corner Of
he new Federal Building. She had her j
air all hunched up in the new way and /
stylish hat on her head. There was I
brilliant about her COM I
lexton and defiant about her walk. f
he swept by him, looking straight
head. Gosh. She must a had {
n at least hundred dollars worth o. /
othesl {. And why didn't her folks 2
" anythin' about her bein' back? 7
Another time he was certain he saw
er driving behind two handsome bays I
ut along the Eastern Boulevard to- n
ard the new Casino. It might have =
zen some other lady, but Admah was a
lightly sure it was Mabel. And thae
an beside her, smoldn a big cigar and !,
Twin with yaller gloves? 1t took +,
me time to remember him. Then h
dmah knew-the sort Of fat, stylish y
le who had come once to the Sick
orch.
Late one night-that came in the
iddle Of June-Dutch Hill was 4
by an explosion. It was one
those passionate family rows where :
ople bare their hearts obscenely,
aving bad memories. Admah, who :
d drawn his bed up to the open s
tchen door, because the night was :
ltry, was aroused by animal roars
I'M the room beyond the partition, s
broke-some heavy wooden ;
women's voices mingled in :
9ading screams. One of the voices 8
recognized, but it was distorted like :
'ehection in a crooked mirror. =
Il. Poppa-I didn't mean that. :
idn't mean. =" =
cit outa here. Out. OuH IneveP z
e you to come home. Take yer race e
ok sports and go to" =
But Poppa. =" q
rrn DE- rOArrrAurrr,N