New Britain herald., 1926-06-25

room, Babs was leaning back in her deep chair, with closed eyes while Fanny smoked in silence. Sleepy, Babs?" she forced herself to say cheerfuliy.
 Babs opened her eyes, and smiled at her. "Awfully sleepy after my Journey" she confessed, By tomor- row I'll be all ready for a good time, 1 though"
 Sylvia jumped. Ready for a good time, eh? An. Babs expected to be | Ientertained then. She hadn't thought i Of that. when she heard that she was coming.
 ! But the old Babs hadn't been the | sort who WoIld want 10 be given i parties and thrills. The old Babs would have settled herself down i'll corner with he1 1sheII-rimmed glasses and an armful lof books, and have 1 been content.
 "I hope you're going to find me beau" the new Babs was saving now. with coy sidrwise glance at Fanny, "I want you 10 introduce me to some lovely bachelor with lots of money"
 Sylvia blushcd. The only bachelor she knew was Peter Wilk. He had lots of money, too-but somehow, she knew that he wouldn't care much for Rabs However
 Well. ] to know a bachelor she said slowly, His name is Peter Wilk, and he's ~atLer dear. l know you'd like him."
 Babs nodded her head. with it's permanently waved hair All right bring him on. I'll do the rest" she said with all the sclf-cOnfidenCe in jthe world. There was no doubt that she considered herself something of a siren.
 Rannv turned in his chair, and looked first at Sylvia and then at Babs. Don't let her kid you about Peter Wilks. Babs,' he said, grin ming chcerfully. He may be bachelor. and one with money. but he's Sylvia's own special property, He's only waiting for me to die, to step into my shoes"
 Sylvias blush deepened 10 the dark rose color of sun-ktssod peonv "Why he is not" she cried, but Babs only laughed easily.
 "Tet me have a look at him, any way" said she, Ask him to dinner tomorrCw night, and I'll see whoth- I,i,,, not '
 And so it was the Peter Nilk came back into Sylvia's life,
 Peter came to dinner at the Little White House the next night.
 Ii WAS the first time Sylvia had laid eyes on him for more than year. and he seemed thinner and taller and more serious to her than ever before.
 When she c"mc downstairs and found him standing in front of the fire. he semed curiously cmbarrass- cd. He said How do you do?' to her as if she were a stranger, but his eyes were the eyes of an old friend and a good friend, just as they had always been.
 They asked her how she had been this last year? And she smiled up into them, as if she wanted to tell him how happy she had been, and how happy she was now.
 "Tve missed you, Peter, all this time" she said 10 him, and just then Babs came into the room.
 Babs had on a black chiffon dress that showed great deal of her shoulders, and all of her arms. She filled the room with the odor of the spicy perfume she used, and she talked every minute.
 At the table she sat next to Peter. He had hurt his hand and it was bound up in gauge bandanges, so she cut his meat for him, leaning so close to him taht her hair brushed his cheek.
 You helpless baby" she said 10 him. giving him one of those coy gIances from under her lashes. You need someone to take care of you. You are the most helpless things ip the NOGlU-N Uu JdIiitlOI 0'
 Peter grinncd. and looked eX- tremely ill at ease.
 You don't havek ko feel sorry for Peter. Babs," Sylvia told her sharp ly. He has the loveliest sister in the world. who takes such perfect care of him that he's never felt the need of taking a wife, who'd sew on his buttons for him, and put his clothes away in camphor ball.
 Then she was sorry she had said il. For Peter gave her a quick look tha. made her realize that he still remembered that day in the woods when he begged her to marry him, and she had refused.
 The worst of it was that Babs saw that look of his, too.
 Your Peter Wilk man is in love with you, just as Fanny said he was," she told Sylvia accusingly, as they were getting undressed for bed that night. q don't stand a chance with him when you're "round.'
 There was bitterness in her voice. For what Babs Dedalon wanted more than anything was husband a rich husband. And Peter, who was rich, was her idea of every thing she would wish for.
 That's perfect nonsense Babs' Sylvia answered sharply, Peters an old friend of mine, and nothing more. Don't get wild ideas into 1 your head"
 But Babs was a woman of one | idea. and she made up her mind | that Peter was in love with Sylvia. 1
 She took to calling him "Sylvia's | beau" when he was not around. And | Sylvia was powerless 10 stop her.
 "I wish Babs would find place of her own, and go to live in 1t, she said one night to Ranny, as she made up his bed on the living-room couch. I'm awfully tired of having