New Britain herald., 1926-05-17

 quvered but she went onabou herself and Fanny Phelps They're going to be married in June"
 To her asonishment, Aunt Agony betrayed sign of surprise.
 She simply went on shaking the wet garments before the and then hung them chair covered with papers.
 When she did look up, there was little better smile around the of her dry lips And she nodded wisely
 That's just what thought going to happen" she said, shaking her long, thin forefnger I've known for month that your beautiful Fanny was ealing across the street three four times week. But thought I'd let you find it out for yOurse knew youd never have believed if had told you"
 The bitter little smile left her face serious as it faded Never you mind Sylvia she comforted the girl hed only have ruined your life if you had married him! He's good for anything but riding around in his fathers and mak ing dates with girls! You're better off without him! l wouldn't give you 10 cents for the best earth any way I've lived without all my life ard I'm perfectly happy Woman.'
 "A perfectly happy woman she repeated again. after It she trying to convince herself of the fact that she sealy perfectly happy
 "And anyway it's tragedy to lose beau she added
 My mother used that the loss of one the gain of two and the choice of 20 more"
 Sylvia shook her head and stared down into the yellow water of the mustard foobath q don't want 20 moreI wanted just Ranny," she said hardly above whisper.
 Then quite suddenly with queer little strained sound in her throat she threw herself sideways the bed and began "Oh wish were dead wish were deadr she sobbed into the clean, fresh bed
 Aunt Agony stood looking down at the shaking figure for minute or two and tears stood in her and then rolled down her eathery cheeks.
 She gave her familiar snort she dashed them away with the back of her work-hardened hand
 She had seen this moment coming for than month and she ready to meet it, she met all things, without any show of weakness emotion.
 'You wish you dead? What nonsense!' she said You'll be all in two days and powderng and fixing up for Peter Wk other crackerbarrel hero! Women don't die of broken hearts when they're your age Sylvia Starr! Not by long chakr'
 The next morning when Sylvia awakened she felt as if cloud were hanging her. She lay with closed eyes for instant wondering what made her feel unhappy and depressed The whole world seemed as gray the dull light Siftn in he Of harb
 Then suddenly she remembered.
 Fanny had tilted her. thrown her down-Ranny, whose en- gagement ring still crced the third finger of her left hand She held it up and looked at it. twinng and wnking at her like star in the haight With pang she remembered how Fanny had kissed it when he put it her finger last Thanksgiving night
 W you love forever and ever, amen? he had asked her soeny and just soemny she had promised that she would
 She had been of him then She had been so sure of him all along right until yesterday afternoon So blind ed she had been by the radiance of her Fools Paradise that she hadn't what going right under her nose hadn't that he falling love with Fay and that he had fallen out of love with herself!
 The door of the opened sealthy and Aunt Agonys long, straight face and lynx eye appeared in the "Asleep?" she whispered.
 Sylvia shook her head in reply. "No wide awake" she answered. evenly.
 Fay Shrey's the phone. What shall tell her?" Aunt Agony asked opening the door wide and stepping inside the You don't want to talk to her. do you?"
 Sylvia shook her head more "No-tell her have throat and staying in bed this morning. she said It was the truth as far as that went For Syva throat really and crachy and her head ached with the cold she had caught yesterday sitting out in the rain waiting for Fanny toccme.
 Phone Miss Hope too, will you please Aunt Agony" she called second later her aunt started down the stairs land tell her won't be able to down to the library today She felt that she just couldn't face Miss Hope today after what she had told her yesterday that she going be married in June.
 Oh msery she groaned to herself as she got slowly and painfully out of bed few minutes later and into the bathroom to turn the hot water in the old tin tub
 While it filling she cleaned Rannys ring with an old toothbrush dipped in alcohol and packed it neatly away in little pasteboard box she found in the spare bedroom
 Aunt Agony had never been known to throw anything away and the spare bedroom catcha for old boXes wrapping paper and string of every kind and color.
 Waste not, want not of Aunt Agonys favorite sayings She given to proverbs and had least to fit every occasion
 When Sylvia fresh and fragrant and stayeyed from her bath down to breakfast she found her aunt buried iii the morning paper She intent upon whatever she reading that she did hear her niece come into the room.
 Sylvia stood in the doorway looking around her at the familiar old with its wood fire and the high narrow windows that commanded view of Bleak street. dismal in the rain.
 (TO BE CONTINUED).
 How does Sylvia feel when she realizes that Ranny Phelps has not only broken their engagement but has added insult to injury by falling in love with her best friend? How she above the fact of losing both lover and illusions?
 In spite of the rejoicing of Aunt Agony over the