New Britain herald., 1926-05-27

ray or furniture that Sylvia had picked out for The Nest. She eyed i it grimly.
 Aunt Agony" the girl began 1 quietly, and her little chin was held proudly high, Aunt Agony. I don't care if Peter Wilk's wife has a palace! I don't care a snap Of my finger what anybody has. so long as Fanny and l have crust of bread and any old kind of a roof ovet our heads."
 But she asked for no better roof than the one that sheltered The Nest. She loved every inch of the tiny flat, and she washed it's win dows and it's ivory woodwork until they fairly shone, loving every min ute of the work she put in. too. She had never been so rapturous. ly happy, so deeply contentcd. as in these first days of her wifehood, working as busily as q bird making it's nest.
 Sometimes Mother Phelps or Lolly came 10 help her hem curtains or arrange the now Delft blue dishes on the cupboard shelves, but most of the time she was alone in this dream place of hers.
 At night when Ranny would stop 10 get her and take her back to his fathers house for the night, it was all he could do to make her leave The Nest.
 Look at yourself!" he would laugh, dirty and frowsy and tired and-lovely!" And to show her just how dirty and frowsy and lovely she was. he would put his hands on her shoulders and pull her toward him and kiss her on the soft nape Of her neck--and she could feel his heart beating and his nerves a-quiver. as she lay there against him in the circle of his arms. No wonder she loved the little Nest!
 No wonder she hated 10 leave 1t every night and go back to the big house on Winthrop street and talk to Ranny's family! She didn't want 10 talk to them. or to anyone else. these days. She wanted Fanny alone.
 .s At last, on the second day of June, it was ready for them-the little Nest.
 Every curtain was hung. every picture was placed on the wall just where it should be. The davenport was gay with dozen cushions orange and yellow and green and blue ones, There were cigarets in the silver-box beside Ranny's arm chair. anC new magazines In the rack above it. Tn the flower boxes Sylvia had planted scarlet geraniums and above the ferns in the dining room window was q wicker cage, with Tetrazzini, the new canary. in it.
 And Sylvia, herself, very pink and starry-eyed, was in the kitchen at five o'clock. cooking her first home dinner for her lord and master.
 If is true that Aunt Agony had helped her. with it. She had shelled the peas and seasoned the lamb chops, and made the salad dressing, and the pie-crust.
 I'm going now" she had said at half past four" and let you get the rest of it by your lonesome. Too many cooks spoil the broth you know. We'll, goodby, my dear. hope you'll be happy in your little dolls house."
 And with one last sniff, she had gone back to the loneliness of the Bleak street house, with its furni- ture that would last forever! At six o'clock the little dinner was all ready. The table was really beau tiful with its embroidered cloth, it's sparkling new silver and glass, and it's roses and candles.
 Lolly had brought the roses from her own garden, at home. Be sure to put one or two on the front of your dress" she said 10 Sylvia as she arranged them in n low glass bowl on the table. "A girl can he the best cook in the world and the spuzziest housekeeper, but if she doesn't look pretty, herself, she's absolutely blah as wife--do you know that?"
 Sylvia pinned the roses on her breast, thoughtfully. T suppose you're right, Lolly," she said, but isn't 1t funny, I'd love Fanny just the way I do If he were lame and halt and blind. I see him with my heart. I guess"
 Well. he won't see you that way!" said Lolly, with the wisdom of the serpent Hen give you the once-over and compare you with other girls, and if you're not as pretty and poppy as they are, you're sunk"
 She stopped, and gave Sylvia look that swept her from head 10 foot. "Oh, but you are! You're the prettiest and sweetest thing that ever happened!" she said. q love you to pieces, and I'm glad you're my sister,"
 When she had gone Sylvia sat down to wait for Fanny. He had promised to be home at half past five, and here it was six fifteen!- what could have happened to him? ! Sylvia turned over the pages or new magazine idly. All her brain was centered, not on the book In her hands, but on the sounds in the street below.
 At last she heard the rumble of a car turning into the driveway. Then came the banging of the vestt- bule door downstairs.
 She ran into the tiny hall of the flat-footsteps on the stairs! She
 flung open the door; but it was not
 Fanny who had come up, but only
 the man who lived in the suite above them--a middle-aged man who had
 lent her tack-hammer the other
 day
 How do you dor" she said to
 him. "I thought you were my hus-
 band" and closed the door.
 N,, tho rocLr heetdn her hun9 Ram