New Britain herald., 1926-01-22

groups lollntu OH lll' HF''N WI ners 10 talk. Barbara wandered on alone, her head sill throhbing dullS'
 Al the corner of l'orly-eighih street she did not turn toward the ofiicc,
 At the corner ot the street, Bar, hara found flower stand, banked with hyacinths in pots and mar cissus and daffodils in vases The lavcndcrs and pale y"lloNS shohe against the dull grays Of tn" street
 Barbara stopped n moment to looE at the flowers. The hyacinlhS Wtr. as fragrant ns those that hloomeo long ago beneath tho railing Of hof mothers front porch,
 How much for the hyaclhlhSi she said to the man in charge ol the stand,
 "Lecta ones frefta cents, bccsa ones dollar apiece" ,,
 Barbara selected hyacin'h W,'h two pink spires of blossom wrap this up, ploar~" The man "'"' away to get paper,
 Someone close hrsid" H8rhara called her by name, hroathl'ssl' Barha, looked up.
 "Why, "prbara. dear' l' was Fancy McDermott. "Why BOW III you look. Babs',"
 Barbara stammcr"d slightly. flr- lious with hcrs'lf for feeling embar- rassmcnt. "I'm not i'll, Fancy h's good 10 sec vol.
 Good. I'm Nckl"d silly no" long have you been in New (orE. Dad didn't tell me- "Prrhaps he thought it wouldn't matter 10 } IL" Barbara stopped short. biting her lips. Fanry pu' her hand on Barbaras shoulder. "Hc knew better than that, EaIis she said, softly. Thcn. with tucf"tS- cd gi,yrty. "Comr on out home win inc now and stay for dinner. Im dying for you to sec my cut" place
 Barbara glanced at FancY's ltt' hand. Fancy was not wearing wedding ring. She had not spoken of Jerome,
 "Why. ycs. Fancy, Id like 10, was wondering what 10 do with Idull Saturday afternoon. Where do you livc?"
 Fancy dimrlod. "On Eiycrsid" drive. Isn't tn; gorgeous" It's JuS' la little bird cage Of Il kitchtnette, but so cute. all ivory and blue. And everything electric and easy 1o worl: with, You'll never believe I'm good housckccper, will you'"
 Barbara laughed. "I'lj believe II when l see you at york; she said.
 They caught a Riverside bus on Fifth avenue and took seats on top. i Fancy chattered necessarily, asking Iquc7tions about Barbara's work and about friends they had in common. | Barbara answered quietly. No men. ton of their last meeting vas made. | Central Park was Haunting q few banners of young greenery. A walm greeted them as the bus numbered past the park.
 At 10th street Fancy rang the bell. This is our corner" she said to Barbara.
 The apartment was all that Fancy had said. Barbara glanced around it's sunny living room. It was fur nishcd with old walnut and costly Chinese rugs.
 Fancy buzzed about in the tiny lllitchen, calling to Barbara 10 come out an. sit by her. She had slipped into q huge apron and was scrub ping potatoes with vegetable brush.
 The preparations for dinner went ron. while Fancy and Barbara talk cd. They could see the Hudson riv- or from thc kitchen window The fleet was in the river.
 "rheres q big gray battleship that is my special pet said Fancy. "I like to lie on the sofa in the other room and look at it and pretend I'm the captain. And when it. goes away don't feel right at all till fl comes back She giggled childishlv
 The doorbell rang. Dear mo, cried Fancy, That's Jerome. you lei him in. will you, Barbara? My hands ar" all Wct.'
 Gro Be Continued)