New Britain herald., 1926-06-10

they think well of you!" Sylvia | cried. She was trembling. all over
 angry as she never had been angry 1 before in her quiet. uneventful life.
 She sank down on the floor and covered her face with her hands, the heavy lows of her dress all around her like a silver-white pool. She was too hurt to cry. To think that Ranny would let Fay think that he was still in love with her simply to hide the ugly l fact that he was jealous of Peter Wilk! How selfish of him! How lln- fair. She looked up at him and seemed sec him. for the first 1 time in all the years she had known , him, a5 he really was.
 She looleG at him-looked him oyer from head to foot--the thick blond hair like q gold helmet above his fine forehead and brilliant blue eyes, the square jaw. the set of the broad shoulders, the tall slenderness of him.
 And sh, asked herself for the first time: "Is it because of these things that l love him? ?' After all what did she know Of the inner Randall Phelps, the man back of the deep blue eyes and the fascinating grin? She wondered.
 While she was still wondering he stopped to her suddenly and laid his head down on her breast so that the Odor Of that thick blond hair came 10 her nostrils-an odor that she had always loved because it was so much q part Of Ranny--an odor like whiff of hirch-bark in the woods.
 She bent and kissed the nape of his neck and knew in that moment that. no matter what he did, she would always lc him! No mat Ter what he was. he vas her man! She had given herself to him and there could never be any taking back. Why. even the feeling of his firm neck under her lips stirred her as nothing else anywhere had ever stirred her-could ever stir her.
 q love you, love you" she said over and over foolishly, and then. just as senselessly. she began to cry. She didn't know why. either. Perhaps because they had quarrel ed. Or was it because he had told Fay he still cared for her, or be- cause he had lied?
 Sylvia couldn't figure it out,
 It was q week later that Lolly telephoned one night, while Sylvia was cooking supper.
 Hello, there Sylvy! Guess where l am!' her saucy little high pitched voice greeted her.
 Before Sylvia had time to speak, she was answering her own ques- ton.
 I'm right over here at Mothers house, Tommy and l 'Forded' into town this afternoon and we're hav- ing a family reunion over here! We want you and Fanny to come right over."
 Sylvia called out the cheerful news 10 Fanny as she danced into the kitchen to turn out the gas flame under the Irish stew and put the salad back into the ice box.
 I wish We had wedding present for them" she said to him wistfully, q few minutes later, as they swept along the dark streets toward the Phelps homestead. T suppose some silver butter plates would be nice for them"
 Better give 'em something sen sible-kitchen utensils or a vacuum cleaner" growlel Ranny. "Remem- ber, Lolly's married a chauffeur" He broke off short, as if his dis pleasure were too great for words
 But Thomas Boyle in 8 plain gray suit was q very different Thomas Boyle from the chauffeur in uniform who had driven Mrs. Phelps around town to make calls and go marketing.
 He was every inch a gentleman, and his eyes met Ranny'S unflinch- ingly when he shook hands with him that night. If he felt that in marrying Lolly he had married above his station in life, he certain ly did not show if.
 He thinks he's as good. it not better, than anybody" Mother Phelps said humorously to Sylvia after dinner, when the three wom- en were together in Lolly's room.
 Lolly shook her bobbed head. lifted it. and opened her agate brown eyes very wide with surprise. He IS just as good as anybody on earth!" said she. Hes a wonderful person. whether you know it or not. He was captain during the war, if anybody should happen to ask you! And if he drove our car 10 pay his way through law school, you should worry! Don't be snob, Mother,'
 She jumped up suddenly. shook out her short taffeta skirts and ran downstairs 10 join the men in the library. "Sometimes I cant stand women!" she sang out impudently, as she went, "they're such snobs and busy-bodies!'
 Mother Phelps looked pained. .Tolly's rude little thing" she said, biting her full red lip. "She always has been! I've taken more