New Britain herald., 1926-06-22
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jealous of him, and his love affair with this Elsie Leopold girl.
 "Why, of course she doesn't mind." Elsie was saying now, flick ing the gray ash from the tip of her cigaret. Women don't put their husbands under lock and key these days the way they used to-"
 Then she looked across the table at Sylvia's pale ,unsmilins face.
 Your aunt will probably call you Iup tho firat thing in the morning and tell you that your husband is running around with a wicked Isiren!" she said, with a horrid little laugh. "The older generation doesn't understand us at all. They're all so straight-laced and''-she grored for q word-"and so dumb"
 She took her cigaret out of her mouth and leaned toward Fanny | her imitation pearl beads swinging gently with q suggestive sway of her body. She laid one of her little paws cn his hands, batting them.
 But wc understand each other, don't we. old kid?" she asked him. "I understand you, at least-wheth- | CT you get me or not, You're not quite so smart as you think you aro?"
 Sylvia looked at the pair of them | for q long moment as they looked at each other. Then she quietly gathered together her handbag and Ihcr gloves-her worn-out gloves with their beautifully mcndod tips.
 She knew now why Ranny had Iaskcr her to come down town to Ihave dinner with him and Elsie Leopold simply because Aunt Agony would tell Sylvia about seeing him with Elsie!
 ] And not only that but she might Itcu his own father about 1t. She was iquite capable Of doing if, as Fanny Iyorv well knew, He had been mor- ltally afraid of Aunt Agony and her tongue ever since she had threaten ed to tel his father that Sylvia was giving music lessons. Hes using me to protect himself lin this love affair."" Sylvia summed | it up to herself, "and l won't let him. It's the last straT!'
 CHAPTER XLIV Several couples near the table Iwere staring curiously at Elsie. now, as she leaned close 10 Fanny, blow ling cigaret smoke playfully into his eyes. He kept blowing it back at her, ! his mouth all but touching hers ieyory now and then.
 Sylvia thought she had never seen Ianything so disgusting in her life, never!
 Aunt Agony had always taught her to behave in public place, and her face grew hot with shame as she looke1 around her at the people Watching Elsie and Fanny.
 Suddenly she pushed her chair back from the table.
 Lets go, Peter" she said 10 him, "I cant stay here a second longer. | I shouldn't have come! Above all, l ishouldn't have asked you 10 sit here with us." She was all apology.
 Peters hands frightened and he turned his head away so that she should not see the look that was in his eyes. It was look that he had ! for no one in the world but her faithful Dobhin that he was.
 He stood ur and helped her out of i her chair.
 "Where do you think you're going you two?" Ranny's voice stopped them.
 "Peters going 10 take me home. I'm getting a little nervous about the baby" Sylvia tried 10 smile as she spoke. She really was nervous about leaving the baby so long with old Mrs. Pigeon.
 "You sit down." Fanny said. with command in his voice. "Wilk can beat ii # he wants to! But you stay here Til ] go, see? So just drop your anchor"
 It wasn't until then that Sylvia saw that he had been drinking, but she saw it plainly now-saw it in Ithe flush that had risen to his lean cheek and in the sullen glitter Of his blue eyes.
 She sat down quietly. It was the only thing 10 do.
 Peter looked at her for a minute. Then he dropped into his chair be- side her.
 T think I'll stay if you don't Imind," he said pleasantly. He smiled as he took out his cigaret case.
 Have oncc" he asked Sylvia.
 He knew that she never smoked, hut he wanted 10 say something to startle Ter out of her somber thoughts. He could sec that she was on the verge of tears.
 Against the pearly pallor of her face, her mouth, that was like some passionate flower of the south, quiv- cred with it's pain. Her eyes were Ibig and soft and wet.
 But at Peters words she laughed faintly. You know I.don't smoke!" she said to him. "What made you ask me to have a cigaret?"
 Smoking, she added, was all right for men, perhaps.
 But not for women" she said. Were the mothers of the race, aft CT all, and it's up to us to keep our selves as sweet as we can, no mat ter what you men do."
 Peter didn't answer her, but once ,more his fingers gripped each other as he looked first at her and then at IRanny and the other woman across the table.
 An hour later Sylvia and Peter stood on the sidewalk outside the ITangerine Gardens and watched IRanny's roadster carry him and l Elsie Leopold away into the lamp starred darkness of the town.
 When even it's tail-light had van, ished, Sylvia climbed wearily into Peters car and sat beside him with. |Out c1viDp n word all inc way hack