New Britain herald., 1927-08-02
Sa1k$; ;.:|.!! Shoulders ?s!!!! !?! !?: E

1 enough to pay the debt to Ted Sloan and the one to MT. Peevey! Beau's debts.
 And then I'd have my own money clear for the house, thought Sally. T could pay the rent next week. She was always a couple of weeks behind with the rent, some how.
 Mothers going to buy Beau and Mabel something with a hundred of it, so she says. But l made her promise me the rest of it-I've just got to have some fall clothes, if I'm going to trot around with John Nye," whined Nillie. T look like a scrap-bag as it is, and even Mother has sense enough to see that I've got to look decent if I'm going to land a man like him."
 She pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. There was something wrong with the water-heater tonight she vawned, "and there's only enough hot water for ore bath. That's your hard luck, Sally" And she vanished into the bathroom to take the nightly hot bath, that both girls took religiously-whep there was enough hot water. Usually there was not.
 Left alone, Sally stood looking down at the two radio batteries standing on the floor of the room, under the windows. She looked at them for a long time, and then she bent down and just touched them with her fingers, very gently, as she might have touched the lean, tanned hands of the man who had set them there,
 Sc turn:d out the lights and went to bed.
 Aunt Emily's dinner the next day was a family picnic.
 For the day was hot and sum- shiny Sunday, and the trees in Aunt Emily's garden were stlll green and fresh. Lacy shadows pat termed the grass beneath the old elm tree, where Aunt Emily hau laid a long tablecloth.
 Beau and Mabel were there when inc others arrived. and Mabel kissed everybody and the quarrel was made up.
 "And now everything's just fine again." as Mrs. Jerome said plac'o- ly. as she took her third helping or chicken salad.
 Mrs. Jerome was more than like 1v 10 think that everything in the world was "just fine' so long as she had plenty of chicken salad. com tortable garden chair. and a daugh- fer to brush the flies aSd mos ouitos away from her, as Sally was doing now.
 But it seemed that everything in the family was not "just fine.'
 For after dinner Mabel drew Sally away, behind the currant pushes along the fence, and told her a story of disillusion and disgust.
 "Im just having the most awiui time with Beau," she began, hotfy. not looking at Sally as she talked. He got paid yesterday noon, ana last night at 5 o'clock he sailed in with half of his salary gone. He knows a bookmaker. and he'd been playing the races He picked the wrong horse, of course. You'd just know he would. And he wears so many clean clothes! You should have seen our laundry bill this week, and had to pay it! What he had left last night he spent on quart of liquor and big tin of cigarettes"
 Hes always spent his money that way I've told you so thou sand times" Sally spoke gravely, her compassionate, understanding eyes on the unhappy face beside her.
 'I know you have! But I never believed you till now" Mabel an- swercd frankly. You see, I was so much in love with him--''
 Aren't you still?" interrupted Sally. "You've been married only week, you know"
 Mabel put her head down on her knees and began to cry.
 Sure, I'm in love with him." she wept. Do you think I'd stay with him, and pay his board bill and his laundry bill if l didn't love him? I spent every nickel of my salary except five dollars yesterday. Sally, settling up for the week-I tell you, we're just up against it."
 Very slowly Sally opened her lit tie gray leather handbag, and took out a five dollar bill from it. She sncw what she was expected to do end she did it.
 T can only lend you this, Nab sy," she said, folding it into Mabcls eager little paw. "Mother was go- ing 10 buy you a wedding present, but I'll try to persuade her to give you tn" money instead. And then you'll have to pay this money back 10 me, I'm sorry, but I've got to have it again."
 "Sur2, I'll pay it back. You know I will!' And Mabel jumped up, brushed the tears from her eyes,