New Britain herald., 1926-06-19


 night. It seemed to beat out ths melancholy that lies at the bottom
 Of everyone's heart, under all the laughter and the brave words
 Then, very softly. the band swung
 into the soft melody of syivia's own
 song. When Everything's Said" The song that she had written to Fanny. The song that was bringing her in tidy little sum every six
 months.
 Everyone in the room but her
 self was dancing. now. Even Eddie Carter, who hated 10 move. was re-
 volving slowly around with the lis
 some Sally in his arms.
 Hey, Woody" he called as the last notes of the music died away,
 Can kiss your wife? She wants
 me to!"
 Why, you perfect hbber," Sally
 shrilled, and slapped Eddie smart ly on the mouth with her thin little
 hand. T do not want you to-" Then,
 without any warning. she leaned 10
 him, teetering on her high heels,
 and left a rouged imprint of her
 little mouth on his fat cheek. She laughed wildly as Shs did 1t.
 Sylvia glanced at Fay nervously.
 She was sure that Fay would be
 furious because Sally had dared to
 kiss her Eddie. But Fay, unmoved,
 vas lighting a cigaret and zever
 raised her eyes.
 Everyone seemed just az careless just as reckless. The cocktails had done their work, and nobody in the room seemed quite sure Of what was happening. Even their eyes looked
 blurred and misty.
 Somehow or other the sight dis gusted Sylvia. She never got used to these wild" parties.
 ] It always rave her a shock 10 see
 the girls making love to their best friends husbands. It gave her a come up behind Fay and pat her on both shoulders. and to see Fay smile up at him as If she wanted
 him to kiss her.
 { Be good and you'll be lonely i and I'm never lonely" Fay had
 often said. in answer 10 Aunt Agonys proyerb. "Be good and you'll be happy"
 ! Sylvia thought about it now, as she sat, lonely as a wall flower in 1 one corner Of the Ernoke-filled room. Everybod~ else vas gay and noisy, Through the smoke, the candles ! On the mantel-shelf flickered hazily and the girls shoulders gleamed against the black coats of the men. ! like pearl. The smell Of the cigarets ] and the perfumes and the gin drinks made Sylvia faint and giddy. as she sat there alone.
 ! She knew that, g Fay would have put it, it ras her own fault that she sat alone. If she had got up and kissed Woody King, or sat in Eddie Carter's lap, she too, would be popular with the men. Be good and youll be loneiy--'
 Suddenly fragrance of black narcissus perfume, surged up 70 her nostrils and Fay bent over her, whispering In her ear. Come here and I'll show you something"
 Sylvia got up and followed her out 70 the dining room. Beyond it was tiny breakfast room. and there against the wall. in the dimness, sat Ranny and Elsie Leopold. You brave little kid. you" Ran ny vas saying to her. They were holding hands and gazing deep in- 10 each others eyes.
 She's l. fast worker, isn't she ?"
 Fay whispered again. If I were you Td sail in there and take Ran ny away from her the way Grant took Richmond. You could do it. look" In her excitement, she pinch ed Sylvia's arm.
 For Ranny and Elsie Leopold had swayed close 10 each other. and very slowly Ranuy's lips came down on the girls nplifted face. Fay stepped into the room, laugh ing at them both. When you kiss 'em they stay kissed. don't they Ranny?" she giggled brazenly. Ranny looked up at her as If he wished she were on the other side of the earth.
 If he said anything to her Sylvia did not hear 1t. For she slipped through the kitchen, and went out on to the back porch. She felt as if she wanted to get away from all of , them-from Fanny and his new girl, from Fay and Eddie. the whole 1azz-mad crew. She lonsed ! unbearabiy in that moment for the dead mother whom she had never seen. for 2. wide. deep breast where she could rest her head and sob out her misery and her disappointment. In the dark blue bowl of the sky, the stars seemed very close, to- night-so close that if you reached out your hand you could almost touch them.
 But, Of course, you couldn't touch
 them. You just thought you could. | That was life, for you. You reach 1 cd out for the stars-for simple happiness. for peace and content ment, and you grasped the empty ! air. The stars were still a mil Hon miles away. And always would 1 be.
 You married the man you loved, and you did your level best to keep | him happy. And what happened |? Why, the minute he had you, he went chasing off after somebody else. Any woman was more attrac- tive than the woman he was mar ried 10. Any Elsie Leopold or Jane Bracket meant moro to him than his own wife.
 At least It seemed that way to Sylvia on thIs soft October night. Behind her she heard the door nf