New Britain herald., 1926-05-24
(NOW GO ON WITH THE sTORY)
CHAPTER VII

! CHAPTER VII
 In the inky darkness under the trees. Slyvia smiled and her throat shook a little with a sigh of pure happiness,
 ! If there were any heaven on earth for her, she knew that 1t was right here in Ran Phelps arms, with her head pressed down on the pocket of lis flannel shirt and the sound of his heart beats in her ears.
 What difference did it make really if he had held Fay there, too-and not so long ago, at that? Nothing mattered except that ne had left Fay and come back to her-that he loved her still!
 In the throbbing stiffness she put up her hand and laid it against his face with a lovely tender gesture.
 You do like me 9 little bit some times, don't you. Ranny?"
 He held her tight Always, sweet est thing in the world"
 And you're very, very sure that you're all over your crush on Fay? | --CGGSS your uFdTl
 1 He kissed the top of her head. Gross my heart. I hope to die" he swore, 6olemnly and then laughed at her chiIdishness.
 Then" Sylvia drew long breath, "then-why don't we run away and get married-right now, this very night?"
 She was going to take no more chances of losing him-as Aunt Agony often said, "A hird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
 She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him on the mouth. "How about it, old sport?"
 Fair enough" Ranny answered, recklessly. And 50 the thing was set tied for good.
 Like a pair of thoughtless run away children, they went stumbling through the woods hunting for the road where Ranny's car was parked. When they finally did find tt, it was filled with gin bottles and glasses, orange rindS and cigarette ends. A little pochet-nasl1 of Fay's "Quelque Fleur" perfume lay broken on the floor and her beaded bag was thrown on the seat
 Some party you two must have had before you got here. No won der you were so late" Sylvia be- gan and then stopped-she would not be jealous of Fay. She would not--she would not!
 Ranny was hers at last-and she was going to forget that he had ever belonged to Fay Shirley.
 She picked up the little flask and threw it into the bushes at the side of the road and swept the broken glass and the fruit rinds into the road, Then she put Fay's beaded bag into Eddie Cartar's car.
 AS she turned away from it faint sound of music came from the center Of the woods where the fire could be seen-a dull red glow through the trees. Someone was playing a uIlulele and singing the sad little bit of jazz that was the hit of the moment: "I wonder where my baby Is tonight, T wonder why my baby doesn't
 write"
 For some hidden reason it made Sylvia suddenly remember Peter.
 T suppose he's wondering where I am this minute" she said to her Gelf, and ran back to Fanny. who had climbed into his car and was sunk into the corner behind the steering wheel.
 "Tl be back in q couple of min utes-I forgot something," she told him, and was gone.
 When she reached the -irclo of light around the fire, the first person she saw was Peter. He was sitting on q log and he and Sally March and the Man from Yale were singing in unison, It was the Man from Yale who strummed on the uRulele.
 The minute Peter saw her he got lip and came toward her, singing the last words of the silly. wistful song: She didn't treat me fair.
 And I know l shouldn't care. But I wonder where my baby is
 tonight?"
 She had always thought Peter Wull homeIy, and so he was. But that was about him something so wholesome and decent and depend able.
 Sylvia had never realized until this moment how much she liked him and how much she was going to miss his friendship.
 She looked up at him. wondering how she was going to tell him what she had to tell him.
 Peter" she said, and held out her hand, Twill you wish me lucll?"
 Wish you luck?"
 She nodded. Randall and I are going to be married tonight" Her eyes were starry with excitement and happiness in the fiickering light | from the bonfire. T wanted you to be the first to know it-don't tell the others!"
 If she had slapped him squarely in his face she couldn't have startled him more. He stepped hack, with out a word-just looked at her.
 The sound of the ukulele and the song had stopped when Sylvia got back to the car.
 They had driven a little more than an hour when the car began to slacken speed.
 Full O carbon, probably" Ran ny muttered, thickly. He had his right arm around Sylvia and was driving with the other one.
 His voice was sleepy and when Sylvia glanced at him she saw that his eyes were half closed.
 q feel dopey," he remarked when they had gone a quarter of a mile 1 farther. What do you suppose ails his bus p''--fOr tbn cnr r-oc cIidinu