New Britain herald., 1926-06-30
HER MAN .: ,:;:: ::;::: ;::: ;;;:': ;;;:: @@ @@ &&z"@ 91 w@ G@ a&A6@ A2Aa@ Flappe
 


from her large, well-formed mouth,
 when she saw Sylvia's face. | She gathered her to her plump ] bosom and kissed her on both icheeks before she led the way up
 the wide stairs to her own room. | Mother Phelps bedroom was like |herself-large and cheerful. The
 rain might beat upon the window panes as it was beating now, but within the room all was eternal summer
 There were roses on the cretonne chair covers. Flowery silk cushions were piled on the low-backed couch at the foot Of the big bed. The novels in the bookcase had hap py endings-all of them. Even the pictures on the wall were cheerful pictures.
 A fire cracked rol fly in the grate this morning, and Mother Phelps pushed Sylvia down into one of the chairs near it. With her fat white hands she lifted the wet hat from the girls pretty head and helped her out of her coat
 NOW, then" she said briskly, and her big black eyes became intent be- hind her glasses, now, then, what has Eanny been Up to-"
 She knew that whenever Sylvia's face wore that white, tense look it was because Fanny had been "up to something" And she was not pre- pared to take his part.
 The mother-in-law who makes trouble between her son and his wife had nothing in common with Mother Phelps. She was as just as judge on the bench--and she liked Sylvia. Moreover, she knew Fanny her son, from A to z. Sylvia bit her lower lip. Before I tell you about this. please promise that you won't say Q word about it to Father Phelps" she pleaded. Hes just beginning to be proud Of Fanny, and you know, yourself, that Ranny had been wonderful for the last year. I mean. not only with me, but at the office, too"
 "Yes, he's tended to business" Mother Phelps agreed, with a nod Of her handsome head, but that's no more than he should do. Now, tell me. has he lost his mind over some girl or other, again."
 Sylvia glanced at her sharply, She had had no idea that Rannys mother understood him so thorough ly. She had yet to realize that a mother usually knows her son better than any other woman ever knows him.
 "Yes, that's just what he has done" she answered slowly, with her eyes fixed on the dancing fire ill the grate. lies head, neck and heols in love with Barbara Delano."
 Mother Phelps drowned, Not that great COW of a girl who was visit ing you last week." she asked. She had met Babs one afternoon when she had dropped in at the Little White House with a rattle for the new baby.
 Sylvia nodded. "Yes, that's tho girl" she said. He wants me to divorce him 50 he can marry her. And she tells me that they cant live without each other!'
 Mother Phelps gasped. Her white hands, with their sparkling rings, went up in horror. "I cant believe e1, nP anything so immoral in my life never! My own son, too! Oh, cant believe it."
 She rustled up from her chair and paced the length of the room two or three times before she sat down again.
 And what have you made up your mind to do about it, Sylyia?" she asked at last.
 "Nothing," the girl answered dull ly that's why l came to see you. I don't know what to do. Part of the time l think I ought to stick to him and part Of the time I think l ought to give him up to Babs--"
 "You'll do nothing of the kind" Mother Phelps put in, sharply. .'You've got to stick to him, now, as you always have stuck to him! That's the biggest part of a vife's iob-to stay on the job, no matter what happens. You're not the only woman in the world whose husband is unfaithful to her. There are thousands and thousands of them grittiug their teeth and bearing it."
 Sylvia shook her head and clos ad her eyes to keep back her tears.
 "But you don't know how awful it is" she began.
 "Oh, don't I?" Mother Phelps asked. She leaned forward in her chair and took the girls cold hands between her own warm, cushiony palms.
 Listen to me, Sylvia" she said, I'm going to tell you something hat I've never spoken of to a living soul. I'm only telling it to you now, because I know what you're going trough. I know-becaus I've been trough il with Ranny's father"
 Sylvia opened her wet eyes and stared at her. Father Phelps?" she asked, shaking her head, unbeliev- ngly, She couldn't believe that Father Phelps had ever been a Don Juan. like Ranny. She had always bought of him as the kind of man who is under his wife's thumb, and always has been there
 "Ycs. Father Phelps! He was just ike Ranny when he was young" she said solemnly. 'I cant begin 1 0 tell you how I felt when I found | put about him and Mrs. Brownlee. l She's dead now. so it's all right for ne to tell you her name."
 She paused for q moment and | ooScd ont of the window. And her | syes were heavy with memories. ! Then she gave herself q little shake. md went on with her story.
 "Jamison was in love with Mrs. 3roWnlce for four wears. and 1 never ]