New Britain herald., 1927-07-21
Sa1lyS; . Shoulders !ag!!s !! =:

I his five-dollar fee to him.
He guessed more about her than
she knew.
Once in his life. at least, every
man makes a fool of himself over
a woman.
And that was exactly what John
Nye was doing over little Mile
Jerome.
Sally knew 1t the minute she saw
them enter the flat together that
Saturday night.
She had been nodding over her
mending basket and had not heard
them come up the stairs and unlock
the door. But suddenly they were
in the room with her-Millie radiant
in the lamp-light and John Nye,
darkly handsome. looking at her as
if she were the only thing in the
world for him.
Her heart seemed to give great
throb in her breast and then stand
still, as she caught that glance. But
she gave no outward sign of what
she felt.
well, II I'd known you were
bringing Mr.. Nye up I'd have
changed my dress, Mile" she said,
looking at them both with her nat
ural sweetness of expression. Wont
you-would you like some lemon
ade? I'll make some"
She started up from her chair.
Her whole impulse was to escape
to get away, In her old cap and
apron. to the kitchen where, she
told herself fierceiy, she belonged.
Mile. in airy white, with her
soft little snowflake of a hand on
John Nye's coatsleeve, made her
feel like Cinderella, all at once.
The familiar kitchen seemed to
welcome her-to twinkle at her
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES she went out
to crack ice and squeeze lemons
into the old glass pitcher.
You look a perfect sight" she
told her reflection in the mirror
over the sink. But what's the diff
ference. John Nye doesn't know
you're on earth tonight"
Mile was perched on the arm of
John Nye's chair when she returned
to the lanp-lit living room. She was
trying to make his cigaret lighter
work, and he was watching her with
that same intense look in his eyes.
LET me show you how to do it."
he was saying. and he covered her
little fingers with his hand. as he
showed her how to strike light to
his cigaret.
Have a smoke ?" he asked, offer
ing her his case.
Mile smoked constantly, but now
she shook her cleaning head.
Little Mile never smokes" she
said in her best baby-talk, and even
that didn't seem to disgust John
Nye.
On the other hand. It seemed to
charm and amuse him. Hes pretty
far gone" said Sally to herself, as
she watched him. and the thought
was dull agony to her.
She picked up Miles coat and
hat and started out of the room
once more This time she was not
going to come back, she firmly
made up her mind.
"Where's Momsie ?" asked Mile.
who never spoke lovingly of her
mother unless there was man
around to listen to her.
Sally's eyes widened. why, she's
in bed, of course" she answered.
"You knew she was sick when you
left her this afternoon"
Millie shook her head. why, no,
darling. You've got your dates
mixed. She was all right this after
noon" she fihbed smoothly and con-
vincingly. "Otherwise I'd never have
left the house"
She smiled straight down into
John Nye's eyes. Not even with
you" she said. Mother always
comes first with. She always has"
And. leaving that brazen untruth
to get in its work. she swayed out
of the room like tall lily blown
III DTetZt. JUIu wye dark eyes
followed her hungrily
Sally saw that before she got out
of the room-just how, she never
knew.
But presently she was in the rear
hall, on her way to the bedroom at
the back. There was light in It,
and Mile was standing before the
dresser, carefully outlining her soft
mouth with lipstick.
II thought you We're going In to
see how Mother was" Sally said to
her, ana her voice was cold.
Millie looked bored. ooh. don't
be silly" she answered calmly. Il
know there's nothing really the
matter with her. She Just stuffs her
self, and then her tummy aches. ]
told her SO this afternoon when she
was yipping all over the place. Tell
me lovey, have l too much red on
my mouth ?"
She swung around lightly, her
skirts billowing out from her slen-
der hips, and softly closed the bed
room door. Then she dived into the
pockets of the white coat and