New Britain herald., 1925-12-16

strangers forever and ever. Bu she's 50 gone on you she'd even b, jealous Of your past
 Bruce stammcred. What silly nonsense, Iar0ara. I'd never hart expected srch talk from you. Bu let's have it out here and now.
 Are you satisfied with the course you've chosen or not? For heaven. sake hc honest with me, Babs. May. be our whole future happiness rcsts on it. You don't look like d happy woman, Barbara"
 Barbara snilfed. "A happy wo. man. And since when did you take mp mind reading, Bruce" she asked I'm happier than I've ever been ir my life before. So don't flatter your self I'm regrctting our broken en- gaSement, That's so far in the past l something's find it hard to believe that l ever really knew you at all" l.. "A o0Ss sSsnsS4% he answered calm
 She was s,supg, I'm telling tho solemn tssa.,tS'T 'T'4I[0u I[E0.u simply don't eX- lst for @aassSsass+..yts @aas orc, And the life I'm liYing%1 tsp only life I'd ever want to livea6p Nou may go ahead with your rich widow as soon oa you like"
 Bruce answered slowly. T don't know what you've heard, Barbara, ," ne said. But there's never been any girl for mo but you. I don't like your ideas and don't like many of inc things you do. And most of ail | don't like your sclfishness. But I've loved you. And that's more than l can say of any other woman"
 Barbara spoke reflectivcly. "Of course l haven't any money 10 offer you for your personal ambitions. And l wouldn't flatter you by giving up all my own interests 10 rluaro into yours. Youn do better after all with the rich widow, Bruce"
 Look here, Barbara. You don't know what you're talking about. But it's darn near insulting. There's nothing between us. Lydia's q rich trlfler interested in architecture and architects this season just as she was in Buddhism and Budlhists last sea- son, Next year it may be honiton lace or Chinese chow dogs. She just naturally collects things.
 Anyhow, that is beside the ques- tion What about you and me? If you told the real truth, you'd ad- init you're lonely and miserable and ovcrworked, And you'd admit you still loved me, too. And maybe we could pick up the broken ends and make go of il after all, Ii would be worth it, Bahs"
 Barbara's anger had died down. She was too tired to maintain any intense emotion. No, Bruce. II won't do, We want different things. Nou want a Victorian heipmatc. and l want q life of my own. I'l be no better than a turnip if I lived under your regime. We don't understand each othcr and We couldn't ever really have cared for each other. You go ahead and marry Lydia Stacy and let her money help your schemes. And I'll worry along hy myself and have a rather good time Of it, too."
 The car stopped at the IIcwley floor, Shall I send the man bacl, and come in a willie, Barbara 9" asked Bruce as he opened the auto mobile door.
 Barbara wavered. Then she caught sight of her wrinkl6d yellow dress under the lamp light. the dress that had accompanied Bob's wagging coat tails up that endless line of people 10 the regal Lydia.
 "No," she said, I'm too tired. Besides, why draw out the agony? Whats done is done"
 Bruce was helping her out of the car. She dashed past him and up the steps to the house. He leaned against the car a moment, straining his eyes for a last glimpse Of her through the window as the lights flashed on inside.
 Then he climbed into the car and it rolled away.
 The great Stacy house was quiet and dark when he reached it. save where one or two windows in the main hall thrust streamers Of light across the front walk. The door opened as he climbed the steps and Martin, the butler, addressed him.
 Madam would like to see you in the music room, sir" he said.
 Bruce followed him through the