New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-12-29

lnty UuIlitu pul u 'H' l'H''"'
rant. The building In which IA"
new apartment was located was on
Church street II WAS Just O'Clock
when the racer landed at tho door
and Barbara climbed over the side.
I'D like to come in and help you,
Barbara" said Rob grayely. But
I've been thinking perhaps you'd
rather didn't. Maybe you want 10
be alone"
Barbara took his hand impulsive.
ly. mo, indeed, Bob" she rras'
sured. ~ want you 10 come in
Please don't mind my jumpy nerves
tonight. I'm not myself you know"
Eyes, Rabs. ! do know, And I'm
, sorry about it all"
| The little fat was in exactly N"
state OF chaos that Barbara expect
ed. She gave one lock al The
| heaped.up boxes and scattered fur
! niture in the living room and fa'
| down suddenly on the window sill
There were tears in her eyes.
"Oh, buck up, old GIRL" shouted
Rob. diving into the midst OF the
debris. wen clean this up IN q
iiffy" Bue Barbara had TO wipe
| her eyes before she could face him.
At midnight. the place was begin
ming TO show signs of being habita"
BILE. Bob paused in the center OF the
living room and. thrusting his hands
in his pockets, leaned back AMI
looked at the pictures that barbara
had hung. Every single frames
crooked, Babs," he said.
Barbara descended from her lad
! der and stood beside him. so they
are" she admitted ruefully. We'll,
! never was meant for a picture
hanger anyway"
Man was not made to live alone"
quoted Bob. land woman wasn't
either. You need a little male picture
hanger all your own. Tabs"
barbara smiled at him. Are you
proposing to me, Bob?" Fob turned
and fled At the door he turned
back. II should say not. Heaven for
bid. Gosh no."
well. that's not so compliment
tary either" reproached barbara.
But come back and all will it, well.
] promise not to accept, even though
you Should propose
Bob returned cautiously on tptoe.
and stood beside her, poised for
flight Nope, Babs," he said SOL
EMMY. I'm not marrying man.
I'll never fall. believe firmly in the
institution, but not for myself. ]
love to stand off and sec my friends
get married. and say Bless you. my
children and then go on about my
nice Independent business"
| you are always urging domestic
ity on me. though" retorted Bar
bara, you forget that I'm just as
much Of vagabond as you. And
my wings would be as hard TO clip
as yours
why should anybody want 10 SET
tie down with one man. when there
are so many good travellers around.
Just waiting to be friends for a
while and say goodby without re-
grets?"
! Bob was rubbing a bruised finger.
But there's the trouble, Babs," he
d said. you just find one of those
I good travellers and she decides 10
travel away. It's such an uncertain
4 arrangement. But anyhow, It's bet
ter than the ball and Bhackles." He
\ climbed the ladder, whistling
you and III be good friends any
way. won't We" asked Barbara,
looking up at him from the foot OF
the ladder.
! "You tell EN-" replied Bob. fitting
his head to one side and surveying
I the picture.
When he had gone whistling
away a little after midnight. Bar
bara sat down in one OF the living
room chairs and looked about her.
This place was hers. No echoes
would sound through 1t save from
her own steps.
She rose and went into the little
kitchen. where the shelves were
stacked with dishes and pans and
jelly jars. Thence she passed to
the bedroom. with its furniture
standing stiffly about where the
moving men had placed 1t. Here
too there was emptiness,
Barbara went back TO the living
room and lay down on the couch.
She covered her eyes to hide the
staring pictures and the stiff chairs,
but she did not weep.
1t must have been an hour later
that the door bell rang. Barbara
leaped from the couch and ran to
the window. A taxicab was standing
in front, under the street lamp.
The door bell rang again. ana WAS
followed by knocking on the door.
Barbara looked In a mirror and
smoothed her hair. She glanced
about the tumbled room and again
out the window. The cab was pull
ing away,
At last she went to the door and
opened 1t. A girl stood IN the hall.
She was richly dressed and carried
smart travelling bag. Her eyes
were blue under the little velvet hat.
She held her hand out to Bar
bara I'm Fancy MeDermott," she
| said. Dad didn't expect me for two
} weeks, and he's out OF town. But ]
just got tired Of waiting and here
| I am"
(To Be Continued)