New Britain herald., 1926-07-01
HER MAN .: ,:;;: :';::: ;::::' ;:::. York cbH)



 1 She vas a teaLtiful character, but she liked a bit of scandal just as well as the next woman! And there are few women in the world who wouldn't rather hear a bit of gossip than a symphony concert, any day in the week. .;arah was only human, and feminine.
 "I mean" began Sylvia. slowly peeltng off her wet gloves before the grate fire, "I mean that Fanny and l. l have separated"
 She just couldn't make up her mind 10 toll Sarah that Fanny had left her That he had discarded her |the way she would discard these
 gloves when they were old and use less!
 Separated? For good?" asked Sarah, who knew that Sylvia had lived apart from Fanny once before.
 "Forever." Sylvia answered, her l eyes darkening as if she were in pain. As q matter of fact, it hurt like Ithe stab Of knife. to even speak Iof Ranny.
 1 But she knew that she would ! have tu speak of him. and she might ! inst as well try to do it, naturally. This was only the beginning of the | explanations she would have to make to people,
 ( 4, t..1 iC Ialways harder to tell our friends Iabout our misfortunes than it is 10 ! let our enemies know about them, sympathy is often a bitter dose to l swallow.
 I'm going to divorce Ranny," ] Sylvia went on, you needn't say anything 10 Aunt Agony about it, . because she doesn't want me to free him. But I'm going to! I wouldn't mold him against his will!" 1 She walked over to the dresses land stood with her back to Peters sister. But Sarah could see her face i in the mirror. and she knew that sylvia was crying softly to herself. ! She longed to go and comfort her. But she didn't. Something told her that the kindest thing she could do was 10 slip ont of tho room, and ! leave the girl with her sorrow. l But before she went, she said one sentence. very earnestly: My dear, I've prayed for this thing to hap pen.'
 Sylvia stood still for q moment after she had gone, and then wheel od around from the dresser and ran 10 the door.
 "Sarah!" she called. "please come back here for q second," What did you mean when you said you prayed that I'd leave Ran n.y." she asked a little breathlessly, when Sarah was back in the firelit room.
 Sarah flushed uneasily. q should n1 hav, said it." she answered, looking away from Sylvia's white white fac "I shouldn't have said ii. But since have said it, I'll tell you why"
 She broke off talking, and bit her lip. "Yes?" Sylvia prompted her. She remembered that Aunt Agony had hintal at some dark secret about Fanny, the other day. And what Aunt Agony knew. Sarah vas pret- fly sure 10 know, also. Well, then" Sarah went on, ."Kanny isn't worthy of you, Sylvia. He isn't worthy of any good Wom ans love. Only month or two be- fore the baby was born, Agony and 1 saw him driving through Buchan- an park with I girl!' "PrObabIy one of my friends began Sylvia, quick 10 defend him, but Sarah shook her head.
 Not this grill" she declared. This girl had bleached hair, and enough paint for a signboard-No, she wasn't one of your friends! Agony and l have seen her since. with other mcn!" She pursed up her lips yirtuously.
 After q moment of silence, she went out of the room and down inc stairs to help Aunt Agony get the supper,
 Left alone with the baby, Sylvia washed her tear-stained face and brushed her hair. She even dabbed ] her white checks with rouge. i She bat.d the thought of going dovnst. irs tC face the two old maid and Plrer. But she knew that ii was the only thing to do. She must keep stiff upper lip now, or sho knew she would go all to pieces. and this was no time to go to pieces--il only because of the Ibahy.
 She would probably have to put her shoulder 10 the wheel, and make a Twins for inc baby, from now on! i Ranny wasn't the sort of man who .would willingly keep up aGmonv payments.
 She souared her jaw. and went
 downstairs to face the ordeal of SUD- per.
 The dining room table was set '\lln me pest SllN'l olilb Nlilll'N '7ii''' ing on us smooth white eXpanse. Jelly and pickles and chili sauce were in the old-fashioned cut-glas' vase like bouquet of flowers There was butter and rolls on the i"Lazy Susan" in the middle of the table.
 Eyer si .ce Sylvia could remem- bor. Aunt Agony's supper table had Hooked as it did tonight.
 Hu'. somehow. it brought 10 Syl. via the vision of another supper
 tanIe-tho round one in the Litilc White House. She remembered how
 E;nny had leaned across it on'
 night 10 take her hand in his anG
 had told her how much he cared
 for her.
 That has been a month or so be.
 fore the birth of Sylvia. the Second Just about the time that Sarah anC