New Britain herald., 1926-06-22

ready to crop.
 Her face looked as if it had been washcI only ten minutes before. Her clothes were spotless, and her hair as smooth as if she had just stepped out of her bedroom.
 But Sylvia's eyes had left the girls fresh, saucy face. They were fixed on the flowers that she wore on her coat-big, double violcts with two or three gardcnias in the center Of them.
 Tiolcts and gardenias! How many many times during the en- chantcd days of their engagement Ranny had sent just such a bouquet 10 Sylvia! He had told her that her eyes were more blue than the vio- lets, and that the white gardenias always made him think of Sylvia S satiny, white skin.
 "Thcyre your flowers!' he had told her dozens of times in the days when he loved her, "Thoy belong to you, Sylvia"
 And now he vas giving them he was giving her nowers-to Elsie Leopold.
 Ranny saw her looking at them, and he had the grace to flush and give a half-ashomed grin Then he turned away from the hurt that was in her lovely c.cs.
 The head waiter came up 10 show them thc way to their table.
 Qui,'- as a flash, Sylvia turned 10 Peter. and just brushed his coat sleeve with her fingers. There was an appeal in that touch, and Peter fclt if.
 "Won't you come and have din- nor with Us, too, Petor?' she ask ed. "Wc'd love 10 have him, would- mt we. Fanny"
 Rannv had no choice but 10 say "Ycs." He looked sulky and angry, but Sylvia didn't care.
 She know that she just couldn't have sal there at tho table, sharing Ranny with this girl who wore his flowers on her breast! Her eyes said "Thank you" to Peter, as the four Of them sat down at their table.
 She looked at him again, and an other thought slipped into her mind how good and dependable he was
 She felt. as she sat there beside him, that no matter what trouble she might ever be in. he would be able 10 help her, somehow! There was air of quiet power about him. Of r-liability
 If Peter married a girl' she thought bitterly, "hc wouldn't be falling in love with every fresh face that he saw. He wouldn't be around buying flowers for strange girls when his wife had to give music lessons
 Then sho put that thought out of her mind. It wasn't loyal 10 Ranny 10 compare him to Peter Wilk. for, after all. Peter wasn't the sort of man that women liked, and Ranny was.
 Women didn't run after Peter inc way they ran after Fanny with his blue eyes, his charming, reckless smile. and his figure of Greek god. Women didn't try to tempt Peter as Elsie Leopold was tempting Ranny' even now, under the very eyes of his wife,
 Sylvia looked at her narrowly. sho was smiling up at him as she ran lpsticll over h"r fnll purscdI = up lips. "Did l get too much Of It on?" sho asked him, making a round red rose of her mouth and flaming her cycIashos coquetlshIy'
 He answered her in a low tone' but Sylvia heard what he said, Aes' you did, If wc were alone, I'd KISS some of it off for yOu!' Then they both laughed. !.
 For the first time Sylvia began to wonder why Fanny had asked her 10 come down 10 dinner with them that night. Ii was plain that they didn't need anyone else. They were , ncrfcct case of "Two's company, threc's crowd"
 "Thcn. why, for pity's sake did Ranny ask me to come down here Sylvia kept asking herself.
 She found out, not more than live minutes later.
 Fanny looked up from his soup suddenly. and spoke 10 her across the table. By thc way, Sylvy, l sa" vour Aunt Agony this aftcrnoon,' he said.
 Elsie Leopold filtered. "Yes we both saw her" she chucIiled, "and she saw us! That was the point that eac saw us, Honestly she near lv stared d hole through us, too!'
 Despite the dull ache in her heart Sylvia managed 10 smile brightly ai ncr. as she went on with her story
 You see. Ranny's been helping mc collect some things 10 put in my shop-cwtains and hook rugs ana such truck. He has such wonderful taste. you know.'
 Sylvia raised her eyebrows. Nhoh she wondered, had Ranny ever shown any taste about curtains and rugs? All he had ever done to dec oratn The Nest was 10 hang his .wrinkIcd tics over his mirror and tc strcw his papers and cigar ashes al oyer the living room.
 "And your A~nt Agony camt along while we were looking in al a window full of paintings up here on Sloane street." Elsie went on ioyously. "Shc vas in Ford cal with another old fright"
 That was probably my sister Miss Sarah Wilk. She has a Foro car" Peter cut in quietly, "and sh' and Miss Agony are very goot friends"
 Elsie Leopold blinkcd at him fo' ] q minute. But she finished he story just the same.
 "WcU. you should have seen th' two old things rubber at us! The! almost fell out of the car, didn' .thcy. Ranny?" she asked.
 Ha didn't answer at once, and sh' 'uuJoad him DlayflllV with her Cl