New Britain herald., 1926-07-01

Let me kiss you-once," he pleaded in |, voice mike his own.
 Sylvia shook her head again. No, Peter" she said. No, Peter. Don't -" She pushed him away from her.
 "Tf you really like me-you won't do things like that" she told him breathlessly, when the length of the msntel-piece was between them once more. i've always bank ed on you. Peter. to behave your self"
 "T know" he said. I'm sorry. I forgot myself" He filled his pipe again and struck q match to it,
 Well. so that's that!" he remark ed, presently, a~d smiled at her al most cheerfully. He was the Peter she knew and liked again. The Faithful Old Dog that he always had been.
 If there's anything Sarah and I can do for you--'' said 10 her, And she turned wide, puzzled eyes on him.
 "Do:" she echoed.
 "Yes." he answered. "Tf you need any help in this thing, let me know, won't you""
 Ii flashed upon her that he was offering to lend her money. and a slow, painful flush crept under her white skin. Her chin, with its deep dimple, lifted itself proudly, She and Aunt Agony might be poor. but they would never advertise the fact by borrowing money from anybody, even from old friends like Peter and Sarah.
 Yes, there is something you can do for me, Peter" she said. quietly. ' ou can tell me the name of q good divorce lawyer when I'm ready for one. I'm going to see Ran my tomorrow and then I'll know eX- actly what l want to do."
 Peter nodded silently and pulled out his watch.
 "Ils about time your aunt and Sarah were coming back, isn't it?" he asked. looking down al il. Just then there came the sound of Aunt Agony's key in the front door.
 An hour later. when the two Wilks had gone, Aunt Agony came 10 Sylvia's bedroom with her parrot gray eyes alight as they always were when she had bit Of gossip to "sprin&."
 "What do yOu think Mrs. Shirley told me touight?" she asked, in an excited whisper. with a glance to- ward the sleeping baby. Pays go- ing 10 be a mother in June. Doesn't that take the cake?"
 Ii certainly did "take the cake" Sylvia had never been more sur prised over anything in her life. She was glad. too. Glad that Fay had settled down at last with Eddie Carter and was going to make him Ia good wife.
 ENcrybody's marriage turns out well but mine,' she thought bitter ly. as she lay in bed. staring wide eyed into the darkness of her room.
 Fay had married Eddie Carter, Hating him, and still she was hap py now. The eXtravagant Lolly had married chauffeur who didn't have Ia red cent, and was making an ideal wife for him.
 Sally and Woody King got along beautifully, despite the fact that both Of them had minor flirtations by inc dozen.
 "Everybody but Fanny and me. Sylvia said to herself.
 Her sleep was fitful and restless. When the baby's hunger cry" woke her at daybreak her face was hag- eard and there were violet shadows under her eyes.
 At o'clock. when she walked into the big orf"es of the Jamison Phelps comany, Thomas Boyle came up to her and asked her what in the world ailed her.
 You look like the wreck of the Fesperus, he told her with his us- nal unflauering franHncss. You were alv :-s sure Of getting the plain, unyarnishod truth from Thomas.
 "I am the wreck Of the Hesper- jus." she answered him. trying to smile and failing. Where's Ran ny"
 Thomas held out his empty hands and looked blank.
 Ask me something easy" he sug gested. He hasn't been here since yesterday noon. Mr. Phelps just asked me about him."
 Thomas always called Lolly's father "Mr. Phelps" just as he had in the days when he drove the family car to earn his living.
 Through an opened door Sylvia caught q glimpse of her father-in- law limping across his private of flee, leaning heavily on his cane. "I wonder if Father Phelps is too busy to see me-" she said to Thom- as, and a minute later she was sit ting in her father-in-law's office.
 Has Mother Phelps told you about me and Ranny?" she asked him. She didn't want 10 shock him with the news, and she knew that Mother Phelps tried 10 keep all wor- ries from him these days so far as she could.
 He nodded, "The wild young whelp wants a divorce, so his mother tells me-" he said.
 Sylvia nodded. "Yes,' she said and Landed Rannys cruel little note across the desk to him.
 Don't divorce him." Phelps, Sr said, when he gave it back 10. her He does t really want one. He doesn't know what he wants"
 He stared out of window foi a minute. Then his eyes came back 10 tho girls anxious, unhappy face
 "Whcre do you suppose he is to- day." he asked. Was he at. his own house last night?"
 Sylvia shook her head She had stopped at tho Little White House on her yay down town and had found it empty Empty and silent and deserted