New Britain herald., 1926-06-03

l---srs.

ond, My dear" she said, with that
 deep note of love in her voice that
 was there whenever she spoke to her
 husband. You know there's nothing
 I'd rather do than lend you that money. And I'm dressing now to go
 over 10 Aunt Agony's. I'll bring il
 down to you on my way there.'
 She meant what she said, with all
 her heart. She really was glad to
 lend Ranny the money.
 Love makes some women selfish.
 It demands gifts from the beloved
 gifts of all sorts--not only money
 and jewels and furs and flowers,
 but constant flattery and attention
 But with Sylvia Starr love was q
 very different thing.
 In her it awakened all the mother ing instinct It filled her with a ten derness toward Fanny, her husband
 that was like the warm protecting devotion of q mother tn her young
 Ranny was not only her lover, but her child.
 She passionately wanted to do things for him, not only little things, like getting his bath ready for him and pressing his ties. but bigger things such as lending him every penny she had in the world.
 So it was with great choerfulness that she took every penny she had in the world-Aunt Agony's fifty-dollar bill-out Of tho top dresser drawer and put it into her handbag to turn over to Ranny.
 Then she went on with her dress i ing.
 She was paying more attention to her clothes and her looks these days than ever she had in her life. For ever since tr { night Of the party. she had known that there was still | q powerful attraction between Ran ny l Fay-an attraction that drew | him toward Fay as a needle is drawn irresistibly toward magnet. | And Sylvia was pitting her whole strength against that attraction l h,, hcaIty. her brains, her charm. | All the allure that Nature had given to her. not to mention Art! With the breathless interest of an Iartist in his masterpiece, she pow dered her face with a new beach, blow powder that gave it the smooth Creaminess of silk. She leaned close to the mirror of her dressing table and outlined the full curves of her mouth with poppy-coIored rouge and turned up the points of her lashos with perfumc-moistencd fingers.
 Fay resortod 10 these arts. Sylvia reflected. So why shouldn't she? If the Fay sort Of girl was tho kind of girl that Ranny wanted. Sae would be that sort of girl, so far as it was in her to he ii,
 She wasn't sure whether she could do it or not. But she was going 10 try her level best!
 As she turned her head this way and that before the mirror 10 see if she had pulled out her hair far enough from under her hat, sharp little knock came at the outer door of The Nest.
 Sylvia opened it to Aunt Agony, standing there as straight and stiff as Mrs Noah out of a child's wood en Noah's ark Without q ghost of a smile she stepped into the tiny hall and gave her niece a chilly kiss.
 How lovely to see you" Sylvia buhbled, I was just getting ready 10 1 go over to your house." She pulled i off her hat, as she spoke, and threw it down Cn a chair
 Aunt Agony shook her head
 My dear. I can hardly believe that" she said frankly. Do you realize that you haven't stepped into ried Randall Phelps? And that once was just 10 pack up your clothes, Well. as they say. 'Tho river | passed the saint forgotten I brought ! you up and took care of you while , you needed me. but now that you . don't need me any more, you've for gotten mel"
 She sniffod as she sat down on the very edge of a straieht-backcd chair. A sniff was Aunt Agony's substitute for tears, as well as for scorn or for laughter.
 Sylvia crossed the little room and leaned over her, kissing the dry, sal low check.
 Aunt Agony, I need you more now than I've ever needed yon be- fore in my life." she said. shaking her head slowly. q really am in trouble. If I tell you all about II, will you promise not to say unkind things about Ranny?"
 The older woman peered down at her like some gaunt old bird. "Ill | try 10 keep my tongue between my toeth!' she snapped, and her lips rli"'' shut.
 First of all I'm going to make you a cup of tea. I bought some k Ming Cha the other day, just to have it in the house for you when you came" Sylvia said getting up from the arm of the chair.
 It was four o'clock and every day at four o'clock. for as long as she oould remember. Aunt Agony had had her cup of tea. It sustained" her, she said, whatever that meant.
 Now, then. what were you go- ng 10 tell me?" she asked, when she had drunk two cups, and Sylvia sat facing her, across the little room.
 Its about Fanny and Fay Shir- ey," Sylvia began, with her eyes on the floor.
 Aunt Agony gave a loud snort.
 ''Humph! I knew it!" she said. Didn't l tell you that Randall Phelps never would stick to one woman ;,., ong ,,s he wpa looking o+ { ler! I told you just what to cx- oect if you married himr
 Sylvia lifteu warning hand. , Now. Aunt Agony. remember that