New Britain herald., 1926-06-21


 that there was-milk. toys, dry
 toast to bite on. and a warm breast
 that was the loveliest pillow in the
 world for his baby head.
 Sylvia raised herself with
 yawn. She was only half awake.
 She stretched and turned over,
 with a. long, sleepy sigh. Oh. how lovely it would be to lie in bed until noon; she was so tired that she ach-
 ed all over.
 For a moment she was tempted
 to ring for the janitress 10 come up-
 stairs and dress Junior, so that she could have just forty winks more. Then she remembered that she had Ito get up early anyway: the Lister twins were coming at eight o'clock for their music lesson.
 She sat up in bed, swung her slim bare feet over the edge of it, and then gave a sharp little cry of | Iamazement.
 Ranny's bed had not been slept in!
 ] Its snowy spread was as smooth 1 and untouched as an Arctic snow field. His blue silk pajamas were still folded neatly on the foot of the bed, where Sylvia had laid them twelve hours ago. His pipe and his ! book were on the table beside his bed. The apple that he ate every night just before he went to sleep stood on silver plate on his chif- fonicr.
 Everything just as 1t should be, but no Ranny!
 Sylvia stood on the rug in her bare feet, blinking at the bed as if it could tell her where it's owner was, for minute. Then she answered the persistent vail from Juniors tiny room Mother. Mother" He was sitting up in his little crib, holding out his hands in their flannel mitts, asking her to free them. Junior sucked his thumbs, and the gloves were slowly breaking him Of the habit.
 Docs he want his little bath. my birdline?" Sylvia crooned to him, ! picking up the little warm body and l carrying it Into the bathroom.
 But as she bathed the baby, pow dered him and put on his little gar | merts. her mind was busy with . Ranny.
 Where could he have gone last night? Back to Lolly's house?
 Where had he slept?
 Where was he now, for mercy's sake?
 Sylvia remembered one other night when he had not come homo the night when Junior was born. And 10 this day she didn't know where he had spent that night.
 He had never told her, and she had never had the courage to ask him where he had been. He hated to be nagged and ross-questioned by her.
 I'm not going to be en-pecked." was one of his favorite expressions when Sylvia asked him questions about himself.
 And so she had got herself into the habit of never asking him any thing personal. She didn't even know how much money he made these ; days.
 He spent most Of it on himself anyway.
 His chiffonier was filled with shirts of dull white silk and the finest of underwear. He had silk ! socks, and socks of wool, hand-knit by Scotch peasant women. His hand lerchiefs were monogrammed and had handrollcd hems. The long box on the top of his chiffonier held fifty ties soft and bright-hued and expensive. S
 One of Sylyia's weekly tasks was .o steam and press those ties. She { usually did 1t on Saturday night when Fanny was out playing cards
 It was labor Of love. She adored 10 see Fanny well-groomed and handsome. ]
 He said that it was good business Q look well and she wanted to do s everything she could to help him I dong in the world of business. She ( knew that 1t was part of a wifes ' ob to help her husband get along. s
 At eleven o'clock with Junior in l Ter arms Sylvia rang the doorbell of Pays eleven room apartment, (
 A maid, trim in black dress and 2 white apron, answered the door.
 Mrs. Carter's not mp yet" she I iaid primly, but at that moment ' Fay opened door down the long c 'orridor and called: "Yes, I am e 'ome along, Sylvy!" c
 As she passed the dining room. c Sylvia caught a glimpse of Eddie F 'arter sitting at breakfast. all alone T t one end of the long table. He put Town his paper and half rose from q lis chair when he saw her, V
 Hello, Sylyy!" he said in his fat II oice. Have cup O coffee?" V
 Somehow he struck her that q morning as pathetic. Plump and leek and wcll-dressed as he was r here yet was look of misery about W i'm. Even his round cheeks seem- n d to hang over his collar in hope W ess unhappy way. a
 Whats wrong with Eddie this n norning?" she couldn't help asking f. Fay when she went into the silk a lung. perfume scented bedroom r where the mistress of the establish nent was having breakfast in bed. a
 Fay shrugged the bare shoulders S hat peeped above her black geor- e .ette nightgown. ?
 How should I know what's wrong t with him?" she asked, holding out l, Ter thin arms to Junior. "I suppose g le's been making pig of himself n gain. noticed last night at Lolly's c hat he was eating everything in 8 ight!" She shuddored, daintily. W
 Then she called to the maid who 'as passing in the hall: Shut that c GOT, Gertrude!" {,
 Fay never said Please" or Il Thank you" to anyone She had '