New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-08-20
Sa1yS; . Shoulders !!!!s !! 81; =;
~ BY BEATRrcE BURTON,

| lately" he said, throwing an arm
| carelessly along the back Of Sally
seat in his swift-running LITTLE
"Cheapsides."
Sally sat up straight. She knew
that there was nothing careles.
about that arm. She had ridden with
Ted so many times that she knew
Just what his technique was:
First he would put his arm along
the back of the seat, as ii by acct
dent.
Then he would let his fingers just
flick her shoulders. Then they would
tighten there. and presently he
would be trying to draw her close
to him so that he could kiss her.
1t had happened that way hun
dred times, and the outcome had
always been the same. Sally simply
would not let him make love to her.
Tonight she began to sing to her
self as if he were not in the car
at all: Bend way down and shuttle
around, and"
Il wish you would stop that fool
noise and listen to me-" Ted cut in,
angrily. I'm trying to ask you to
marry me, Sally. I'm beginning 10
make a lot Of money, and l
could"
"Oh, don't lose your head be-
cause Aunt EN- bought a car from
you just now" Sally interrupted,
breezily but sensibly. Zone swallow
doesn't make summer you know.
old boy. And besides. this isn't my
year for getting married. Something
tells me that" She laughed. She
felt light-hearted and care-free. The
music and the brightness she had
just left behind her had done that
to her, as music and a good time
very often did.
What is your year for getting
married." Ted asked, stolidly.
Nineteen hundred and ninety
nine, you poor crack-pot," answer
ed Sally. Didn't you know that"
Ted groaned. Il don't like you
when you're like this. Sally he
told her helplessly. Il wish you'd
talk sense to me tonight. Won't
you?"
She shook her head.
And then, all at once, she made
a queer little strangled noise in her
throat. 1t was rather like the chirp-
ing sound that little bird makes
when 1t is frightened.
whats wrong?" Ted asked, star
tied. He leaned forward to look at
her with straining eyes, and so he
did not see the brown open car
that had Just flashed past them like
some swift dragon of the night.
Nothing" Sally answered, with
out knowing what she was saying.
Her eyes were ahead Of her on the
dark road where the brown car was
nothing but a red point Of light
vanishing into the shadows, already
But her minds eye still held the
vision of the two people who We're
sitting close together on the front
seat, as she had seen them a mo-
ment before-John Nye and Mile,
on their way home from an eve
nings pleasure.
She sat back against the seat of
the car. Imply. with her hands,
palms upward, in her lap. Her
whole body dropped dejectedly.
Her spirits, that had been as
sparkling and light as a skyrocket,
dropped like the bare. ugly stick
when the sparkle is all gone. She
came down to earth, as she told
herself, with a bang.
On the last Saturday afternoon
in October. Sally stood alone in the
center of Mr.. Peevey's office, look
ing at 1t for the last time.
1t was quite bare. The chairs and
desks We're gone, the funny old red
calico seat cushion were gone, the
electric stove and the tin Of health
waters were gone.
Mr.. Peevey, himself, had gone a
moment before. And Sally, in her
shabby felt hat and her blue serge
suit. was all ready to go.
She turned and stared at the door
that led into the hall, trying to
make up her mind whether to run
into John Nyo's office to say Good
bye" to him or not.
II ought to, to be polite" she said
to herself. But 1 hate TO do 1t,
While she was still debating the
a knock came on the door
walked in.
Sally's heart gave jump and be-
gan to race, as it always did when
ever she laid eyes on him. Through
all the months she had known him,
il never had learned to take him
foolish steadfast heart
of Sallys.
well. so you're leaving." he said
in his friendly way, leaning against
he wall just inside the door and
smiling at her. And you absolutely
'efuse to come and work for me?"
Sally nodded. unable to speak. A
mile was fairly frozen on her lips.
he was dreadfully afraid that II
he stopped smiling she was going
0 cry. She could feel her lower lip